Yesterday, standing in the rain, more was coming down on me than
just water. I was standing in the
parking lot of a strip club (isn’t this the beginning of some bar joint joke?)
trying to hold my Bible from the elements, listening to a preacher’s
loudspeaker enhanced voice. Let me set
the rest of the scene.
There were about 40-50 people there. Across the street, a billboard hung over a McDonald’s
that read, “Jesus is Muslim”. A local
preacher who has had his share of publicity over the years (more on that later)
organized the event. One lone Islamist
stood across the street with his own bullhorn defiance, and nothing he said
could be heard from where I was standing to make a difference.
There are Christians, and then there are the ones who bring
signs. I wear various shirts that advertise my faith, but carrying a sign is
another level entirely. There was Clever
Road Sign Christian—Jesus is the only way—Burn in Hell Christian—with a picture
of an omniscient twister—Repent or Else Christian—red letters on black sign
always points one to hell more emphatically that a Times New Roman on white—and
Abortion Christian—complete with graphic detail poster zoomed to 1000 percent
intensity. I also met the Islam is Satan
Christian, except he drove around in a van up and down the street where an
American flag sat caboose.
This isn’t typically my crowd. Before my save date (sounds
like an expiration you find on a carton of milk, “best used by”) I always found
the Repent Christian to be scary and crazy. You have to be committed to stand
on the corner of a street telling everyone the end is nigh, with the eyes of ridicule
upon you. That’s exposing yourself. But after my save date, I never felt that
this would be a way to win anyone over to Team Jesus.
I cannot confirm whether or not the prayer rally brought
anyone knew to the party. It drew passerby approval-honks, and it brought out
the Pamphlet Christians, but will the casual person on the fence with their
faith stop and listen?
This blog is not an indictment on the organizers of the
event. Dave Daubenmire was ousted years ago as a central Ohio football coach because
of how he publically stepped out on faith concerning homosexuality, abortion
and a list of ills the country has fallen into.
There’s times when the calling out of pastors for being lukewarm, weak
or sheep only seems to benefit those already under his umbrella of influence.
Because my local pastor isn’t up in arms about Jesus being called a Muslim,
does it mean we have lost our way? My daughter’s
boyfriend was with me, just a few months away from going to seminary, and we
said aloud what must be their definition of a pastor be?
I can’t say my faith was strengthened that morning. While
the ills of the church are many, I won’t be the one crying foul when I could be
doing something about it. I sit in a room every Wednesday planning upcoming men’s
events. I work with the junior high youth at my church because I know the seeds
we plant now with pay dividends later in their lives. We’re all called to be pastors. We’re the Priesthood of All Believers! I also don’t believe that the world is
controlled by the mighty, Godly hand of American faith. Somehow we’ve mixed
patriotism with Christianity. I love my
country. I love my God more.
Later, over an onion ring tower and burgers, we talked at
length about being relational, the meaning of social justice, rainbow communion
bread and our heart for Jesus. We spoke about those hot button issues that
always divide people of faith. Do I want to see a world where babies are
aborted? Do I want to be the one outside protesting an abortion clinic? The
girl who is pulling into the driveway of an abortion clinic has already made up
her mind. Do I see eye to eye on gay marriage and homosexuality? But their
marriage shouldn’t be any indictment on mine. You know who has tarnished
marriage in the eyes of the public?
Celebrity marriages and the increasing divorce rate. Old men who marry younger girls, a second or
third time. The couple playing house before marriage, having kids, struggling
financially, dreams deferred.
After lunch we headed off to see “Noah”, also another hot
button issue for Christians lately. I had read reviews, interviews and articles
from movie magazines to religious publications. I was told not to give the
movie my money, but the stubborn man in me had to see it for myself.
Ironically, the same can be said about “The Wolf of Wall Street” but I went anyway.
I won’t get into a diatribe about my beliefs of
the movie and why you should or shouldn’t watch it. Nor will I itemize the embellishments
and inaccuracies from the bible. Anyone who thinks the Ten Commandments was word
for word from the Bible has another thing coming. What I will admit is reaching
for my bible later that day and reading the account of the flood once more. What
I came to realize too is that in theaters right now are two other films playing
that have the heartbeat of Christians in mind. There are more coming in the
future. I’ll probably be in line for those too, wearing a Jesus shirt and
hoping to start a conversation with a stranger. It beats holding a sign and yelling
in a bullhorn any day.
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