West Cocoa Chat

Good morning,

I actually typed, posted, and then withdrew this post yesterday and then two things occurred that prompted me to re-post this post.

The first was a call from one of our members. He was in full agreement with me about this past Sunday at our church - powerful! Our Worship Minister filled in for Don who is on vacation. He delivered a powerful sermon on "doubt." Because he preached our worship was all acapella. I love that part of our Church of Christ heritage and I know I'm being a bit partial when I say that I think we "do it" to a high degree of enthusiasm and energy. There are so many things to be, I'll say it, proud of our American Restoration heritage. Then there are other things -

(Judy, if you're reading you might want to skip to the next paragraph due to your love of cats.) On the way to work this morning I witnessed depending on your perspective - something amazing and, or quite vicious. I take a country back-road on the drive to work that is mostly woods and horse farms. As I was driving I saw a bald-eagle, seemingly larger than my car, swoop down and gather up a cat in its claws and carry it off. I'm sure the cat had no idea what hit him.

I think that's how this member felt after being confronted by a visitor from out of State. He had greeted this gentleman before services and ended up sitting in the pew in front of him. When our service ended, he asked this visitor what he thought. Like that eagle, this visitor proceeded to launch into an attack on our worship minister, our church, and our service. He said we should take the name "Church of Christ" off the sign. You're probably thinking what I am, what would he have said if we had our usual "blended service?" This is the part of our "heritage" that disgusts me. I cannot ever imagine any situation where upon visiting a church and attending one of its services, that I would feel compelled enough to tell one of its members what this guest did. I might think it but never would I feel I had the right to do what this gentleman did.

To our member's credit and also being caught off guard by this guest's tone, he wished him a blessed day and invited him to come back again. Sounds like something Jesus would have done.

Here's my question - How would you have replied? If you were on your game and not completely caught off guard, how would you answer? Have you been in this situation before?

I am convinced of one thing - we must be doing something right. It seems Jesus elicited those types of responses from the religious "know it alls" of his day.