[December 2005 journal entry]
At the invitation of some friends, I attended the Christmas Eve service conducted by a large Presbyterian PCA church located in an affluent suburb of Memphis. This church is in many ways a typical mega-church – e.g., heavily orchestrated (both musically and otherwise), evangelical tilted toward fundamentalist theology, media savvy services, largely affluent membership, recreational facilities (with a full calendar of activities), police and security guard parking assistance, tension with surrounding neighborhood organizations over zoning restrictions, a coffee shop in the foyer, . . . . The church is in some ways not a typical mega-church – e.g., understated architecture/décor, casual dress, a mission not limited to itself, financially supportive of struggling churches.
As we returned to my friends’ house after the service, I anticipated I would be asked my thoughts about the service. The question came shortly after dinner was served. I expressed a few polite reflections I considered true but superficial. When questioned further, I explained – “The many references in the music led me to think about Bethlehem today as well as in the time of Jesus.” I then described the violence, the thirty-foot ‘security’ wall that now surrounds the town, the clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli solders at checkpoints, the healthcare crises, and the despair I have seen/heard in Bethlehem during trips there the past two years. I went on to observe – “I reminded myself throughout the service that the Israeli and the United States governments most closely align with Rome in Jesus’ day, that Orange Mound or Binghampton in Memphis (very depressed/decayed sections of the city) most closely align with Bethlehem in Jesus’ day.” I chose not to comment on the parallels I see between a mega-church and the ‘religious’ establishment that was so antagonistic to ‘Jesus’. Nor did I express my doubt that more than a handful of those assembled for the Christmas Eve service ever venture into an Orange Mound or a Binghampton and, therefore, my doubt that more than a handful would have trekked to the ancient Bethlehem highlighted so prominently in the service.
I tried to use a soft/gentle tone. I would have remained silent if I had not been questioned. Once questioned further, I would have felt neither peaceful nor honest if I had stopped with the true though superficial responses. But did I go too far? I was not questioned again after the more pointed responses. I was not surprised. I dread such situations.
At the invitation of some friends, I attended the Christmas Eve service conducted by a large Presbyterian PCA church located in an affluent suburb of Memphis. This church is in many ways a typical mega-church – e.g., heavily orchestrated (both musically and otherwise), evangelical tilted toward fundamentalist theology, media savvy services, largely affluent membership, recreational facilities (with a full calendar of activities), police and security guard parking assistance, tension with surrounding neighborhood organizations over zoning restrictions, a coffee shop in the foyer, . . . . The church is in some ways not a typical mega-church – e.g., understated architecture/décor, casual dress, a mission not limited to itself, financially supportive of struggling churches.
As we returned to my friends’ house after the service, I anticipated I would be asked my thoughts about the service. The question came shortly after dinner was served. I expressed a few polite reflections I considered true but superficial. When questioned further, I explained – “The many references in the music led me to think about Bethlehem today as well as in the time of Jesus.” I then described the violence, the thirty-foot ‘security’ wall that now surrounds the town, the clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli solders at checkpoints, the healthcare crises, and the despair I have seen/heard in Bethlehem during trips there the past two years. I went on to observe – “I reminded myself throughout the service that the Israeli and the United States governments most closely align with Rome in Jesus’ day, that Orange Mound or Binghampton in Memphis (very depressed/decayed sections of the city) most closely align with Bethlehem in Jesus’ day.” I chose not to comment on the parallels I see between a mega-church and the ‘religious’ establishment that was so antagonistic to ‘Jesus’. Nor did I express my doubt that more than a handful of those assembled for the Christmas Eve service ever venture into an Orange Mound or a Binghampton and, therefore, my doubt that more than a handful would have trekked to the ancient Bethlehem highlighted so prominently in the service.
I tried to use a soft/gentle tone. I would have remained silent if I had not been questioned. Once questioned further, I would have felt neither peaceful nor honest if I had stopped with the true though superficial responses. But did I go too far? I was not questioned again after the more pointed responses. I was not surprised. I dread such situations.