Church Nuts

This morning’s Sunday school hour discussion at our church focused on reducing the (currently 85 percent time) pastor’s hours. We broke into small groups to gather feedback for the leadership team about making the position quarter time, for a salary of $17,000.

One lady in my group said, “I work full time in the poultry plant and get paid $18,000 a year. My husband is a chicken catcher, and he gets paid that much, too.” (Only later did I think of a semi-suitable response: “Your jobs deserve higher pay.”)

(Speaking of poultry, the Sunday before, I listened as a local man told a small audience during the coffee break that if you hit a turkey in the back of the head in the summer, it will instantly die, but in the winter you can hit it all you want and it won’t die.)

From another group came a lone comment encouraging growth: “Maybe we could make fliers and pass them door-to-door inviting people to come to our church. Maybe it could say, ‘Now accepting different beliefs.'”

Little did the speaker know that my attendance was evidence that variational doctrine had already entered the fold, albeit unannounced. An overview:
….The demand for eye-for-an-eye, sacrifice-based justice is a human tendency incorrectly attributed to God when it comes to Jesus’ death. I don’t think God Who Is Love requires–or ever required–bloodshed.
….Real “salvation” is what Zaccheus experienced. This pitifully selfish and thoughtless man became enabled not through the Jesus-centered, murderous attempt to quell rebellion but through gracious opportunities to make things right and refocus on that which is life giving and just. After all, according to C.S. Lewis (via Anne Lamott), grace is the only element of Christianity that separates it from all other religions. (By the way, its very presence refutes God’s bloodlust theology.)
….The Bible reveals a lot about how people of Judeo-Christian lineage have understood God throughout the years, understandings that I imagine might be flawed and continually developing.

Doctrine aside, I recently provided my own input to the church, since M and I have decided to attend: “Some things I like to experience in church are study, singing, and support…. The small size of this church is to its advantage: the services and structures can be flexible, intimate, and meaningful–maybe it’s a house church with a building. Here’s something I envision: Sunday morning services of singing, discussion, sharing, meditations/sermons–whatever. I’m all for abandoning traditional expectations and just letting planners decide how the morning can go. I’m also all for weekly potlucks (maybe with some organizational oversight) for after the service. This will allow for further meaningful connection with each other. As things develop, small groups and mission-focused groups could continue or form as people want.”

Selah and Amen.