Gut-wrenching, God-awful, and tooth-pulling!

Thursday morning, September 20, 2007
As most of you know, I am a pastor and not a novice; after all, 28 years does give one a bit of experience. As I look back over the years, I wonder how I have survived them, as I have “enjoyed” some gut-wrenching, God-awful, tooth-pulling experiences. Sometimes I think that “church” folk are the meanest folk on earth; to be sure, many of them act as if they are, whether they are or not (thank God for the remnant!).
What most of you do not know is that I am also a member of a country club; I love to play golf and I love to eat, both of which are well-accommodated at this club. I have noticed something about these folk, many of whom are also members of some local church, and it is this: they all pay dues, they get along well, treat each other with utmost respect, have fun, support each other, encourage each other, and never judge each other.
I must admit that I often wonder what happens to these people between the country club and the church; well, I should say that I used to wonder, but now I think I have a better understanding. You see, the country club is not religious, the church is, and therein is the problem; religion kills but relationship brings life.
There is something else that most of you do not know about me: I live adjacent to the 16th green on the golf course that is a part of the aforementioned country club. Oftentimes, when I am sitting on the deck, golfers are filing by, as if some major tournament is taking place and I am able to make some incredible observations. Have you ever watched the behavior of golfers? Other than the occasional “speaking in tongues” and the occasional “bet” and the occasional “cigar smoke” and the occasional “improper moving of the ball” and the not-so-occasional “cold beer consumption,” golf is a game of gentlemen. It is just incredible to watch and to play, especially if you are a pastor. It matters not whether I am playing or watching, I often wonder what in the wide-world happens to these men between the 18th hole and the church pew; well, as I said, I used to wonder, but now I have a better understanding, or at least I think I do. You see, religion has no place on the golf course; however, it is the theme-song of most churches.
Is it not ironic that when these very same men are in the church pew, they feel they have to hide their “speaking in tongues” and their “occasional bet” and their “occasional cigar smoke” and their “occasional improper moving of the ball” and their “not-so-occasional cold beer consumption”? You see, the church teaches that our not allowing these things somehow makes “church” more holy (or protects it holiness), like what my friend said about the Eucharist (we make it more holy by substituting grape juice for wine!). Can you imagine what it would be like to attend a church service where “speaking in tongues” and the “occasional bet” and the “occasional cigar smoke” and the “occasional improper moving of the ball” and the “not-so-occasional cold beer consumption” were not only allowed, but encouraged? Wow! That is a novel thought!
You probably cannot imagine it, but I will tell you this: if it were possible for behavior to somehow cause “Holy” to be “More Holy,” this would definitely get the job done. Why? It would not only eliminate the hypocrisy that religion produces (See Matthew 23!), it would also reduce (at least, reduce) the “gut-wrenching, God-awful, tooth-pulling experiences” that are so common not only to pastors, but also to lay people. Remember? Religion kills but relationships bring life!
You would have loved our home group last night, especially the absence of religion and the presence of relationships! Isn’t this what Christianity is about?