Note: I very rarely post on politically related issues and don’t intend to make it a habit. I hope that this post is not taken politically, but as a commentary on the role of church in a Christian’s life.
John Hobbins posted an excerpt of Senator Obama’s explanation for resigning as a member from Trinity UCC. I don’t have a specific issue with him leaving his longtime church home, but his comments on what he’s looking for in his family’s next church struck me particularly cold:
[...] what I want to do in church is I want to be able to take Michelle and my girls, sit in a pew quietly, hopefully get some nice music, some good reflection, praise God, thank Him for all of the blessings He has given our family, put some money in the collection plate, maybe afterwards go out and grab some brunch, have my girls go to Sunday school. That’s what I am looking for.
Milk milk milk! This is church as the Sunday social club. What about strengthening your understanding of God’s word, Senator? Becoming a more mature Christian? Learning what wisdom the Bible instructs us about? Surely these might be beneficial to you as a man, a father, a husband, a Senator, perhaps even a President?
But no, the good Senator seems to feel that a church is a place to go and feel good about yourself. Is the Bible taught in your church, Senator? Or is church a social platform to see and be seen? I see no difference in what the Senator has described and going to the park, listening to a free concert, dropping a few dollars into a fund raising bucket, then getting ice cream for the kids. Do you?
10 Comments
Thanks for sharing your political ecclesiastical thoughts on Senator Obama’s public statements as he and his family must explain to a nation some aspects of their churchgoing.
What are your thoughts about the other two senators on the same topic?
Is Senator McCain Becoming a more mature Christian? Learning what wisdom the Bible instructs us about? Getting what might be beneficial to him as a man, a father, a husband, a Senator, perhaps even a President?
Is Senator Clinton Becoming a more mature Christian? Learning what wisdom the Bible instructs us about? Getting what might be beneficial to her as a woman, a mother, a wife, a Senator, perhaps even a President?
J.K. - I don’t have any thoughts on Senators McCain and Clinton; I was only responding to an excerpt that John posted on his blog. I’m sorry that my post has offended you.
He’s a politician for crying out loud. He’s just trying to escape from the viper’s nest where he’s comfortably hung out. This is political expediency and not anything about milk, meat, or a PRWG. Even so, I’ll still probably vote for him because I think his administration will definitely be something different.
Okay, so put politicians aside. If this quote had been made by John Doe, average American churchgoer, what would your reaction be?
Is that what church is about? This type of environment is a large part of why my wife and I left our previous church and sought a new church home that teaches the Bible, not how to feel good about your life.
What I liked about Barack’s comments about Sunday worship is that he mentioned music before the sermon. I’ve attended worship at Trinity UCC several times, and it is choir-led worship.
There is a lot to be said for this. When I’ve preached in an African-American context, it’s been a joy to be “teed up” by the choir. The spring is tremendous.
[...] he mentioned music before the sermon.
Is there any other way?
Okay, okay - I guess if I think back to my couple of years after college in the Lutheran church, then I remember the liturgical order. But I’ve spent the past 10+ years and all my life before/during college singing songs and then listening to the sermon in non-liturgical churches…
No offense taken on my part, ElShaddai. When it comes to bashing presidential candidates, I just like equal opportunity offenders. I do like what David says about crying out loud and shakin’ things up, which is why I also like what John says about singing out loud while shakin’ things up in worship.
Why did I say, “for crying out loud”?!? Thanks for a calm reaction to my inflammatory words. Must’ve been hypoglycemic at the time…
You know I actually feel for him and understand his desire for a relatively uneventful but uplifting or encouraging Sunday church experience. As the possible future president of the US, the most important position in the world I could see him just wanting to find some comfort and peace and encouragement one day out of the week in the midst of his extremely stressful role. I think his life is pretty eventful as it is (and will be more so if he becomes president) and just wants to get away from that once a week and I can understand that.
BTW I don’t think he meant that response to be exhaustive. By saying “some good reflection, praise God” I think he would probably include a lot of things you asked about when you said “strengthening your understanding of God’s word, Senator? Becoming a more mature Christian? Learning what wisdom the Bible instructs us about?” I doubt he would say no I don’t want any of that.
Anyway I kind of understand where he’s coming from (not on the same level of course because he deals with a quite a bit more than I do). I can remember times in my life, even recently, when I just wanted a quite, peaceful and uneventful Sunday worship.
Blessings,
Bryan L
I hear what you’re saying, Bryan. I’ve just been so hungry for teaching lately that I can’t wait to get to church and hear those words from our pastor, “let’s turn our Bibles to…” But I suppose even that is inward, refuge focused rather than outward, hands in the community work. It’s hard to know what to emphasize for that hour on Sunday…