“Take your Bibles, and kids, this means you, too. And turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter 14.” After waiting for the shuffling of pages to quiet, Pastor Will opened his Bible at a bookmark. He had no notes, and he didn’t sound to anyone as though he was reciting a sermon. They wondered when they would sing.
Beginning at verse one, he read straight through the whole chapter. His head tilted and his voice raised for emphasis, as though he was telling it as he had heard Paul speak it. At last he finished, and he took a deep breath. His eyes settled on the older members of the congregation, each look a prayer that they would accept his next words.
“I know that this will be hard for most of you to accept. I know I’m risking my job. But in good conscience, I cannot be your pastor without letting you know that what we just read, only one of many passages in which God tells us how we should conduct our church gatherings, doesn’t match how church is done in America today. From this Sunday forward, we are going to abandon tradition and go back to the book. This book.” He held it over his head.
Some people gasped. A few cheered. Most just stared. What was he saying? This was a Baptist church.
What did he mean: the Bible said they were doing church wrong? From this Sunday forward? Forever? Surely not. What would they do on Sundays? Maybe it was only a preaching style. After all, he’s young.
To God be all glory.
See index for first and additional chapters.
Beginning at verse one, he read straight through the whole chapter. His head tilted and his voice raised for emphasis, as though he was telling it as he had heard Paul speak it. At last he finished, and he took a deep breath. His eyes settled on the older members of the congregation, each look a prayer that they would accept his next words.
“I know that this will be hard for most of you to accept. I know I’m risking my job. But in good conscience, I cannot be your pastor without letting you know that what we just read, only one of many passages in which God tells us how we should conduct our church gatherings, doesn’t match how church is done in America today. From this Sunday forward, we are going to abandon tradition and go back to the book. This book.” He held it over his head.
Some people gasped. A few cheered. Most just stared. What was he saying? This was a Baptist church.
What did he mean: the Bible said they were doing church wrong? From this Sunday forward? Forever? Surely not. What would they do on Sundays? Maybe it was only a preaching style. After all, he’s young.
To God be all glory.
See index for first and additional chapters.
Oh, you delight in vexing me!
ReplyDeleteThe suspense is just too much!...Quick Jane, my smelling salts!