All The Money-Changers Will Be There!

One of the Yas called last night and alerted me to an event announced in First Baptist's "Visitor" newsletter.

Citing Jeremiah, and members' responsibility to "be a blessing to the city", FBC (the church where I grew up - and to which I now tithe 10% of my gross income) will be hosting Asheboro's Mayor, four City Council members, the Police Chief, the city school superintendent, and the publisher of the Courier Tribune as "special guests" at its 11 o'clock worship service.

The only face missing from that lot of right-folks is that of our "non-profit" hospital's CEO.

At least Bob not being there lessens the chance of lightening bolts from above.

Reminds me of 2008's "Sacred Assembly" - back when all the right types were all pushing hard for booze - as the key to save Asheboro.  Back then, it was all about fostering those "small town values" everybody keeps talking about.

And it just gets old.

I sent the Pastor an e-mail this morning and I asked him this question:

When is the Church where I was raised . . . the Church that the little girl whose life I saved now attends . . . going to ask these very people why haven’t they done right by me?  When are God’s people going to ACT like God’s people?

I can understand why people in Asheboro sit on the sidelines – why they give up.  Some of got involved and gave our all – and paid dearly for it.  And we get tired of watching those who did us wrong – who are STILL doing us wrong – dance and sing and be honored as “guests” at the churches were we tithe.

I told Dr. Rogers that I was very tempted to show up and commit public “blasphemy”.

More likely, I will let Mama take me out for my birthday lunch.

Best to keep Church and State separate.  Save the confrontations for Court - where God and His people's Oaths to Him have no sway.

Author's Note:  This post was written earlier this morning and scheduled for 11 AM - so none of the money-changers could see it and back out.  I've walked away from the computer for the day.

Evening Update:

At lunch with Mama in Randleman, I expressed my concern that inviting the local "Caesars" to Church and putting on "the show" gives them the impresssion that all is well . . . and that nobody cares about what has gone on - i.e. what they have done and/or presided over and/or condoned - in the past. 

These people are very big on appearances and "cheap grace" . . . i.e. forgiveness and reconcilliation without atonement 

But Mama told me that the Church's "guests-of-honor" this morning actually generated some discussion in the Sunday School class she teaches.  Church people are nothing if not polite, but these days they're much harder to snow.  Consensus seems to be that in the next "forty days of prayer", Asheboro's leaders need to get serious about those "small town values" they espouse . . . and take some active measures to clean up their act(s).

I guess I don't have to worry too much about these "honorables" pulling the wool over anyone's eyes anymore . . . no matter how many "sacred assemblies" they throw.