We need to heed all the lessons of the Bible
Since I don’t have enough to do, I watched a governmental meeting from another county this week. The content of the meeting is something I’m not going to discuss. Their issue doesn’t involve Cherokee County and needs to stay that way. There are times we need to mind our own business. This is one of them. Saying that, whoever decided to put that train wreck online, should have done so knowing it would be viewed by others outside their county. It was kind of like driving by an accident. You don’t want to look but you just can’t help it. The meeting was of a serious nature. The crowd was divided and passionate. It wasn’t long before Jesus and Christianity became part of the conversation. At the same time, there was some pretty rough talk. A few times, Jesus and rough talk came out of the same mouth. As food for thought, it reminded me of James 3:10 in the King James Version of the Bible. It says, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
My friend Jeff Bryson came by the office this week to say hello. It seems like every time he stops by; we end up talking about church. When I say talking about church, it is usually me asking him where he and his wife Lizzy are attending. Jeff and Lizzy are beautiful people with hearts of gold. They would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. As long as I’ve known Jeff, he’s attended church somewhere. After he and Lizzy married, this practice continued. Jeff would be the first to tell you, he’s had his share of internal struggles finding the right church. We’ve had many discussions on organized religion and some of the issues associated with it. Every church has issues. Every denomination has issues. The truth is, we all have issues. I’ve written about many of my issues and the issues I have found with organized religion. Some have said I’m too hard on myself. It’s not true. If one person learns something from my mistakes and it prevents them from doing the same, it’s worth it. On the other hand, it’s possible I have been too hard on organized religion.
While driving the other day, I turned on some old southern gospel. The song “I Can Tell You The Time” blared through the speakers. My mind went back to 1974 at Chalcedonia Baptist. I could see in my mind the late James Cain standing behind me leading the singing as I knelt at the altar in search of my Savior. My mind could see Betty Jean Stowers playing beautifully on the piano while doing her best to see what was going on in the altar. I saw the bald head of the Rev. Ray Mauldin standing behind me while crying and laughing at the same time. The faces of many of those who were there that night flashed through my mind. It was a beautiful scene that has taken place in many churches across our land. A chill went through me as I remembered the peace, I found that night among those praying people. At that moment, in my car, I wished everyone could feel what I was feeling at that moment. I wanted to shout.
There are things about religion that bother me. Without mincing my words, I think there are many times that we have humanly judged people out of the pews. It isn’t necessary to agree with the sins of others in order to love them. It is my opinion that we have at least two choices when it comes to sins of others. First off, straighten our own sins out before doing anything. Second, either pass judgment on them or look down on them while running them off. Or, love them and let Jesus do the rest. Saying that, let me say this. Preachers need to preach the Bible. Not just the feel-good stuff. There are some who will preach that anything is alright if it makes us feel good. Well, it’s not. Despite my feelings toward organized religion, sin is still sin. If any called man preaches a sermon and doesn’t hit at least one of my failures, he ain’t done much preaching. May you all find a church where the pastor will preach the whole Bible. Or be like Jeff and Lizzy. Visit until you find one.