Sunday, February 12, 2012

Who knew I was a church snob?

It will soon be February 22.  That means nothing to you unless you are in Guiding or Scouting.  If you are a member of either organization, I don't need to tell you that is our founder's birthday.  This has nothing to do with what comes next, but now you know what Baden-Powell Sunday is.

I took Emmett to Baden-Powell Sunday at the church that hosts his meetings today.  It was a service unlike any other I have been to.  This was a Christian Church where it seemed The Bible was for display purposes only.  Emmett participated in an interactive Bible story, but there was no reference to the chapters and verses that were being acted out for the congregation. (I did some digging online and figured out we were learning the story of 2 Kings 5)  There was no lesson or analysis of the story after the telling of it.  Halfway through the service the Pastor stepped out from behind the pulpit and sat down on a chair next to a woman who gave a presentation and took questions from the congregation, Oprah Winfrey-style.  He addressed God as "Divine Mystery" in his prayers.

My Spiritual Cup was not filled by this service, which felt so hollow and superficial to me.  I came away from this morning wanting more.  It felt like church with training wheels.


My faith waxes and wanes but I think that part of what brings me closer to God is listening to the priest at my own church talk about an analyze the Scripture that is read every week.  I like coming away from a service with something to think about for the rest of the day.  I realized today how much I missed that.  I also found I missed the interactivity of the calling and answering and the familiar prayers and Nicene and Apostle's Creeds.  I missed the rafter-rattling pipe organ and the ancient hymns that while challenging to sing, sound so beautiful.

I guess part of being on a Spiritual Journey is knowing what you need personally to feel fulfilled and enriched.  My writing may sound elitist and snobby today, but I am not for one second telling you, my readers that what fills my cup should also fill yours.  That is for you and you alone to figure out.

3 comments:

tammi said...

Well, I, for one, am excited to hear that you welcome challenging food for thought and that you enjoy Scripture analysis. No matter how any of us feels about it, that is really the only way to know God better. Yes, His Spirit moves us and convicts us all in different ways and areas to apply His Word differently in each of our own lives, but the only way to know WHAT to apply, is to study Scripture.

EmmaNadine said...

I know how you feel. I've been looking for more spiritual meat in my worship lately. It's frustrating when you're just given a twinkie instead.

Ami said...

I don't think it makes you sound snobby that the church service didn't work for you.
Nothing wrong with having your opinion or feelings.

NO church is my religion of choice, actually. For many reasons.

But they're my reasons, and I'm entitled to them, as you are to yours. Don't worry about sounding snobby, you don't.