This is my second Sunday at the new church. I can't describe how heady it is to be around people who accept you for who you are and don't try to steer you in any direction. I realize that this is still the honeymoon period and down the road I am apt to find some things that I don't agree with but I think this group handles honest disagreements well. They have some interesting discussion groups. I've signed up for an upcoming discussion on race.
What a contrast between the Calvinist doctrine of "total depravity" that was taught at my former church. You won't hear any of that here. Here everyone's worth is affirmed. The children are taught to respect all regardless of race, creed, gender or orientation. It is truly healing for my battered soul.
Speaking of "total depravity," not long after I started going to my former church, a member committed suicide. I don't know why and they didn't talk about it. But after having gone there as long as I have I just wonder if one of Pastor's "total depravity" sermons put this guy over the edge. Certainly I would not recommend a Calvinist-based church to anyone suffering from depression and/or low self-esteem. As I said before many of these new storefront churches don't advertise their theological leanings, so--if you are thinking of getting involved in one because someone invited you, and this is something that you are dealing with, you need to ask some questions about which branch of the Reformation they see themselves as being affiliated with. Ask whether they believe that humans are totally depraved to the point they have no good in them. If they say yes, you are dealing with a Calvinist church regardless of what else they call themselves.
Anyway today's "sermon" was delivered by the superintendent of the public school system as the regular minister is on sabbatical. He did not talk about God at all, instead he talked about his vision for the public school system and how he wants to change the culture of illiteracy to a culture of literacy. He talked about taking classes to the public library and to the city theater, places that were within walking distance of many of these students but which they had never been to before because it wasn't in their home culture to do so. He talked about the importance of investing in all students, even the special needs students. He said that it says something about us that we are not willing to invest in some of these students, that we are so willing to write them off in the beginning, yet when something goes wrong (as it so often does) we end up paying much much more to house these same people for the rest of their lives in prison. He wants to break that chain. And he said that we in the church have a role to play in helping break that chain. When he was done the congregation applauded.
What a contrast between the Calvinist doctrine of "total depravity" that was taught at my former church. You won't hear any of that here. Here everyone's worth is affirmed. The children are taught to respect all regardless of race, creed, gender or orientation. It is truly healing for my battered soul.
Speaking of "total depravity," not long after I started going to my former church, a member committed suicide. I don't know why and they didn't talk about it. But after having gone there as long as I have I just wonder if one of Pastor's "total depravity" sermons put this guy over the edge. Certainly I would not recommend a Calvinist-based church to anyone suffering from depression and/or low self-esteem. As I said before many of these new storefront churches don't advertise their theological leanings, so--if you are thinking of getting involved in one because someone invited you, and this is something that you are dealing with, you need to ask some questions about which branch of the Reformation they see themselves as being affiliated with. Ask whether they believe that humans are totally depraved to the point they have no good in them. If they say yes, you are dealing with a Calvinist church regardless of what else they call themselves.
Anyway today's "sermon" was delivered by the superintendent of the public school system as the regular minister is on sabbatical. He did not talk about God at all, instead he talked about his vision for the public school system and how he wants to change the culture of illiteracy to a culture of literacy. He talked about taking classes to the public library and to the city theater, places that were within walking distance of many of these students but which they had never been to before because it wasn't in their home culture to do so. He talked about the importance of investing in all students, even the special needs students. He said that it says something about us that we are not willing to invest in some of these students, that we are so willing to write them off in the beginning, yet when something goes wrong (as it so often does) we end up paying much much more to house these same people for the rest of their lives in prison. He wants to break that chain. And he said that we in the church have a role to play in helping break that chain. When he was done the congregation applauded.
