Saying "This is God's plan" doesn't make it so

Shortly before she passed, my Aunt Dorothy told me she believed I'd make a good preacher. Though strong in my convictions, I know I just don't have the temperament for it. However, back in the late 1990s, as the internet was gearing up, a lot of things became easier. For instance, merely by entering my name on the website for the Universal Life Church, I became an officially ordained minister. Something needs to be said that seems to be going unsaid. I don't want to be the one to say it, but we lack leaders who are willing to take a principled stand, so it seems to fall to me. With that preamble out of the way, as an ordained minister, here goes:

Warning: This will not be my usual gentile tone. 

Too many Christians (some I admire, some I know personally, and others who embody all that is wrong with religion) have been posting -- either directly or in the form of shared links -- that the recent murder of 27 people was God's punishment because we as Americans have rejected Him. Let me get this straight... you, a Christian, believe that God's plan to bring people closer to Him includes intentionally setting in motion events that would lead to a gunman shooting and killing 27 people, then taking his own life... just to make us all feel bad? You, a Christian, believe God wanted those innocent children dead as a punishment to their families, to the nation, and to the world, despite the fact a majority of the families, the nation, and the world believe in God?

I want to be absolutely, crystal clear about this: If you believe everything in the above paragraph is true, seek psychiatric help immediately. That isn't me insulting you by calling you crazy; that is me stating emphatically and humanely that you are not in your right mind, and you need help before you harm yourself or others. I am concerned for your safety and the safety of those around you. If you own weapons, turn them over to the authorities immediately. If you have children, please have them stay with loved ones while you seek help. This is not hyperbole. This is not me attempting to be funny. You are disturbed, and it is frightening the rest of us.

I believe in God. I attended Christian schools from the 4th through 8th grades. I was baptized and confirmed. I've studied the Bible. The Sunday before I graduated from a public high school, a prayer service took place in the school gym to give thanks to God for having achieved such a milestone in our respective lives. In that same public high school, passages from the Bible, sermons, and stories written by Christians were all part of the language arts curricum approved by the State of California. I've attended churches regularly. In the past two years I have worshipped in nearly 40 different churches alongside more than 15,000 people. The studies show that between 75 to 85 percent of Americans continue to believe in God. The word God appears on our money, in our pledge of allegiance, and in every major speech given by every US President since Washington. Over 200,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetary feature engraved crosses. Men of faith like Martin Luther King Jr. and FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge (killed on 9/11) are revered men who have earned the respect and admiration of millions. Anniversaries surrounding the birth of Christ and the death/resurrection of Christ are national holidays. In spite of one of the worst economies in this nation's history, people continue to donate time and money to charities. People continue to crusade against injustice, intolerance, and hatred. People continue to try to cure diseases and heal the sick. New technologies are developed to allow the crippled to walk, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. I simply cannot take seriously the assertion that God isn't prevalent in our society. He is undeniably a huge influence on America.

I'm not convinced the problems we face as a nation are due to those who don't believe. Let me put it into perspective. God isn't absent from this nation; He is an undeniable force. However, His will is constantly perverted by those who seek to harm others, to spread discord, and -- yes -- sometimes even to kill. To those arguing that we are choosing to remove God from our lives, He is everywhere regardless of whether we choose. What we keep doing as a society is using God as a convenient patsy whenever bad things happen, because to accept culpability and attempt to fix societal problems is just too hard. "It is God's will," people say, or "It is part of God's plan." We rely too much on God to let us off the hook when preventable wrongs occur; we take advantage of the grace of God. No, the problems we face are not limited to those who don't believe. If anything, the problems are greater with those who do believe but choose to work against the words of Jesus, who commanded us to love one another. He was the ultimate teacher who led by example. He showed compassion for those in need. He eschewed violence. And He never, ever hated.

Few things would please me more than if my atheist and agnostic friends saw the light and found God in their hearts and minds. However, I have seen kindness and generosity from those non-believing friends that leads me to believe Christ is working through them, regardless of how they may think or feel about it. Christians need to quit making God an excuse when bad things happen, unless you are equally vocal and credit God when good things happen, because He is just as responsible for those. Meanwhile, God gave us many gifts, and among the most important were the developed human mind and the human soul, both of which we can use for good or evil. Instead of pointing the finger at God, why don't you point it at yourself and ask what you could have done to make the world better, because your lame cop-outs about dead children being on God's hands is beneath you. There is no evidence to support such a baseless claim, and if you believe it to be true, you are ill and need therapy.

We as a nation do not love enough. We as a nation do not do a good enough job educating our children. We as a nation are not compassionate enough to care for our fellow man. We as a nation are too violent. We as a nation are full of hatred. And we are all of those things despite being one of the most Christian nations on the planet. That is the real dichotomy at work here. Christians hear the stories in the Bible wherein God commands us not to judge others because we are all far from perfect, that only He may do so, but then the same Christians proceed to dictate what constitutes love and what a woman may or may not do with her own body. Christians read the commandment unconditionally stating thou shalt not kill, then proceed to execute its citizens. In short, if you were God, which would cause you more anger: Someone who doesn't believe in you but does good deeds, or someone who does believe in you yet continues to disobey your very clear commandments, causing (directly or indrectly) harm to come to others? If you truly believe God is the puppetmaster who caused 27 innocent people to die, you better look to yourself first, make sure you've done what you could to serve humanity (and God), and really look at what it means to believe in God. Because, as someone who believes, I'm tired of having to apologize for you. I'm tired of having to say to others, "We aren't all like that." I'm tired of having to constantly point out that the fundamental and unconditional message of Jesus Christ was to love one another, and that commandment contained no conditions, provisos, or fine print. Love one another.

As politicians, the public, and friends on social media continue to debate the future of guns, health care (physical and mental), the dreaded fiscal cliff, and the meaning of life in general, at the forefront of everyone's mind needs to be the unconditional love we ought to have for our fellow man. When opinions are formed about taxes and liberties and freedom, at the forefront of everyone's mind needs to be the unconditional love we ought to have for our fellow man. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful. If you are unwilling to accept those debating terms, then do not call yourself a Christian. And if you persist with the delusion that God wants more dead children, seek professional help immediately.

First Congregational Church of Riverside

This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for all of us. It feels like the entire nation is wearing its heart on its sleeve. A friend of mine updated his Facebook status to, "What a burden the pastors of the world bear today." It has to be tough to cut through the emotion, cut through the tragedy, and find something about this existence to bind us all together.

I don't have a system for selecting churches to visit each Sunday. Sometimes it is word-of-mouth that draws me in, other times it is simply that I drive by a church and decide to give it a try, and still other times it is through research online or elsewhere. A little research last night brought me this morning to the First Congregational Church of Riverside, an "open and affirming" church just across from the historic Mission Inn in the heart of downtown. The church itself is old and beautiful, giving off the feeling it has been there forever.  In reality, it has been there for over 125 years, purporting to be the first established church in the area.

As worship began, one of the pastors announced a series of candles had been placed on the alter, one for each life lost in Newtown, and as I looked upon it, I couldn't help but think the alter felt way too crowded. Not saying it wasn't a beautiful gesture because it was, but to have to place so many candles for such a reason is nearly devastating to the spirit.

Additionally, a family lit the candles on the Advent Wreath, a welcome tradition to welcome the birth of Jesus. Something poetic about one group of candles celebrating the creation of life while another group of candles marks the passing of life.

The service began with a choral procession, and the choir does resonate through the old church. The order of worship was mostly traditional, a hymn here and a prayer there, here a prayer, there a hymn, everywhere a hymn hymn. Things were routine until it came time for the sermon, when it was announced it would be a bit different.

The image of Alessandro Vittoria's Annunciation was projected onto a small slideshow screen (no PowerPoint setup in the church). As it appeared, one of the pastors emerged in civilian clothes (the rest wore robes and related vestments) and began delivering more of a monologue than a sermon. It is worth noting the children were led away to Sunday School prior to the start of all this.

The main focus was on Mary and her role in the life of Jesus, not just as the mother who carried him to term, but as the woman who had found favor with God and helped shape Jesus into a man. She was chosen to carry a heavy load. The broader theme was that people face hardship and sacrifice, and that joy is sometimes the mask we wear to get through troubling times.

In the monologue/sermon, a woman turns to Mary for inspiration, just as she assumes Jesus turned to his mother. She repeatedly visits a museum and stares at Vittoria's work, hoping for an annunciation of her own. Hoping for inspiration. Hoping for answers to life's hardest questions.

The overall mood of the room was somber, with many spontaneously shedding tears, unable to hold back, and not seeing a need to hold back. A church is a sanctuary, a place for people to feel safe and protected. The people I encountered in God's house this morning seemed grateful for that safety. I hope and pray for the protection of all those in need.

Amen.
______________________________________________________

Sunday Scorecard:

What is the contact info for the church?

First Congregational Church of Riverside
3504 Mission In Ave.
Riverside, CA 92501
http://www.fccriverside.org
951/684-2494

What was the denomination?

United Church of Christ, a.k.a. the pilgrims

What Bible verses were referenced?

Luke 1:39-55

What are the demographics of the congregation?

Mostly white, more older than younger, but some families with children

Was the atmosphere formal or casual?

Semi-formal... feels like an old church trying to embrace the new

What was the music like?

Decent choir, accompanied by organ. Bell tower has some mighty loud bells.

How was the use of PowerPoint?

No PowerPoint, just a small screen on a tripod for the purpose of projecting an image related to the sermon.

Disneyland Candlelight

When one mentions Disneyland, it conjures up many things for many people. Some see it as the ultimate family fun center, while others see it as the ultimate example of runaway consumerism. But many if not most people, when asked to speak about Disneyland, do not mention the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

I've never been like many if not most people.

Last night, I attended the First Church of Disneyland to worship Jesus Christ. So did hundreds of other people. Decades ago, the folks at Disney created a show of sorts, its intended audience to be the major stockholders and other powerful people within the company. Every December, on Main Street's Town Square, a volunteer choir of hundreds joins forces with an army of talented musicians. Nobody wears mouse ears, and there is no hint of Santa. Make no mistake, this show is a tribute to one man: Jesus Christ. Since the event was for company big-wigs, it was never advertised, but word of mouth among the locals spread. Before long, Southern California residents, annual passholders, "cast members," and their families began making an annual pilgrimage to Disneyland to experience the Candlelight processional and ceremony. Traditionally, the event occurred over a single weekend each year, and one celebrity narrator would be chosen to read the story of the birth of Jesus. However, this year, the folks at Disneyland finally conceded that this event has grown beyond its originally intended audience. Disneyland's Candlelight expanded into a multiweek affair, now including several celebrities, each wanting to associate themselves with this event.

My family has attended Candlelight several times over the last 15 years. I've heard the choirs as they formed a human Christmas tree and sang out the good news, and I felt the chills as Disneyland's Fanfare Trumpeters stood atop the Main Street train station and ignited the air with music. Among the celebs who have told of the coming of Jesus Christ were Robert Urich, Edward James Olmos, Dick Van Dyke, and James Earl Jones (alas, I was out of state when one of my favorites, Julie Andrews, narrated). Last night, Van Dyke made a return appearance, the day before his 87th birthday, and I was there with my mother and a few friends. The 5:30pm ceremony was cancelled due to drizzle, but the 7:30pm show went on as scheduled, with only a momentary interuption towards the end. And a theme park best known as a place where 7-foot-tall mice roam the streets became a house of worship.

The ceremony begins as the individual choir members make their way down Main Street USA holding candles and singing Christmas carols (the non-Santa variety). They form up in front of the train station, where over 100 musicians perform with them. Then the narrator, in this case Mr. Van Dyke, joins them at a podium to read, mostly, passages from the Bible. Between each passage, a song is performed. It is a beautiful community moment, and since Disneyland attracts guests from around the world, it truly is a global community moment. Near the end, the narrator reads the words of "One Solitary Life" by James Allan:

He was born in an obscure village. The child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never went to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled more than 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only thirty three. His friends ran away; one of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. 

[More than 20] centuries have come and gone. And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race. And the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned -- put together -- have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life.

As the choir sings "Hallelujah," the show concludes, and the crowd goes in peace to serve the Lord. It is, in every way, a worship service, despite being held in capitalism's playground. And, by the by, they do the same thing in Florida, too (last year's narrator was Neil Patrick Harris).

A few years ago, I smuggled in some semi-decent audio gear and resultingly got some semi-decent recordings of Candlelight. As was the case this year, Dick Van Dyke served as narrator. As a Christmas gift of sorts, I'll post links to the individual tracks here. But Candlelight is a ceremony that truly must be experienced in person. Shows continue this year through the 20th. If you are able to attend, you will be amazed.

Amen, and Merry Christmas.

___________________________________________________________

1 Introduction
2 No Room In The Inn
3 I Bring You Good Tidings
4 Glory To God In The Highest
5 Let Us Go Now To Bethlehem
6 He Who Is Born King Of The Jews
7 They Presented Gifts To Him
8 We Pause To Remember The Child
9 Goodness And Light
10 One Solitary Life
11 For Unto Us A Child Is Born
12 Conclusion

Bonus Tracks

13 Fanfare
14 Introduction - trumpet version
15 One Solitary Life - Edward James Olmos
16 For Unto Us A Child Is Born - Edward James Olmos

Second Baptist Church of Riverside

For years, I've had a standard joke when it came to church names: Why is it always the First Lutheran Church or First Presbyterian Church? Nobody's ever seen the Third Episcopalian Church or the Fourth Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Only the firsts seem to exist in my universe.

Until now.

In my research this week, I was humorously pleased to uncover the Second Baptist Church of Riverside. Their motto: Second in name; first in love.

A lot can be said about Second Baptist. For starters, do not come to Second Baptist wanting to be sad or depressed. Ain't happening. Also, do not come to Second Baptist wanting a quiet, solemn service. Really ain't happening. I'm sure there is a more politically correct way of saying this, but Second Baptist is a black church. I was literally the only white man in attendance, which is not to say I felt isolated or unwelcome. Immediately as I entered, a man named James introduced himself, and others approached me after he was through. It was a warm and inviting environment. It was also crazy -- the good kind of crazy.

The church had an organ, but it wasn't a pipe organ. No, they had what sounded like a vintage Hammond organ, and the man at the keys knew how to play. And the choir in the front of the church knew how to sing. And everyone rose to their feet, clapped, and either shouted or sang along. Some danced. It was up-tempo. It was loud. It was joy.

This was not an old fashioned choir; they were accompanied by drums and an electric guitar, but they were not a modern phone-it-in praise band, either. Approximately 25 men and women sang with such gusto that their emotions infected the rest of us. We all sang three songs to start, then the preacher welcomed everybody and went over some church announcements, then the choir sang another three songs, after which the preacher began to preach. And through it all, the congregation was anything but passive. The preacher welcomed responses to what he was saying. Sometimes what he said caused people to simply shout "amen" or "mmm-hmm," while other times the preacher's rhetoric seemed to force people onto their feet to cheer him on. In much the same way Paul Shaffer will add a musical zinger to one of David Letterman's punchlines, the church organist would sometimes punctuate a thought spoken by the preacher. I sat near the back of the church, but it didn't matter -- he drew me in.

The subject of the sermon was keeping hope alive, and I confess I was in need of that sermon this week. To say the Reverend T. Ellsworth Gantt is a dynamic speaker is like saying Aretha Franklin has an above-average stage presence. But what really impressed me was that this was a preacher who did not talk down to the congregation. Gantt treats people like adults, and approaches the Bible in mature terms. The children were ushered out to Sunday School before he began diving into the Bible, specifically the book of Ecclesiastes, more specifically the portion that says, "... to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." Subjects of death and addiction and suicide were discussed candidly, but oddly without dispair. There is hope, he maintained, as long as we still draw breath.

As was the case at Crossroads last week, near the conclusion of the worship service there was an "altar call" for those wishing to be baptized into the church. However, unlike Crossroads, the baptisms did not immediately occur, the idea being that wanting it is important, but understanding it would seem to be of equal import. Those who approached the preacher were dubbed "candidates" and led away to discuss issues of faith with a church elder.

There were things I did not like about Second Baptist. Behind the preacher on the front wall was not a cross, but a screen projecting a PowerPoint display. That will always aggravate me because from an aesthetic point of view it appears as though we are worshiping Microsoft. Also, though the choir and musicians were good, the audio mix was decidely not; even behind the baffles, the drums were often overpowering. For that matter, when the preacher is shouting so loud that his voice would carry to Yorba Linda, to maintain the same volume through the speakers as when he is calmly speaking -- well -- it hurts the ears.

Having said that, Second Baptist was an amazing church with a vibrant ccongregation. In discussing my quest to find my own house of worship, more than a few of my friends have told me to let them know if I ever encounter one of those vibrant come-to-Jesus/revival type churches, the kind epitomized by James Brown in "The Blues Brothers." Well, I am happy to report that the Second Baptist Church of Riverside is such a church, a harmonious achievement of both style and substance. Admittedly, it takes a lot of energy to regularly attend a church like this one, but if you have never been to a church like this one, then I believe you are missing out on what it means to share and revel in the good news of the Lord. "Joy cometh in the morning," one of my favorite Biblical phrases promises. And -- what do you know -- it did.

Amen.
______________________________________________________

Sunday Scorecard:

What is the contact info for the church?

Second Baptist Church of Riverside
2911 Ninth Street
Riverside, CA 92507
951/684-7532
http://www.secondbaptistriverside.org

What was the denomination?

Baptist

What Bible verses were referenced?

Psalm 100, Ecclesiastes 9:4

What are the demographics of the congregation?

Almost entirely African-American, a healthy mix of ages

Was the atmosphere formal or casual?

Men wore collared shirts and slacks, women wore semi-formal dresses, and the preacher wore a coat and tie. If you were to bring a cup of coffee into the church or attempt to use your phone, I'd be concerned for your safety.

What was the music like?

Decent choir, decent trio of musicians, though the mix was off.

How was the use of PowerPoint?

PowerPoint during most of the service. Not to my personal liking.

Crossroads Christian Church (second visit)

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." That is probably the wrong phrase to have ping-ponging through my head as I write a review of a church, but somehow it seems oddly appropriate. I've spent previous weeks writing about my thoughts on baptism, tithing, megachurches, and nearly everything I'm about to go over again today. But I don't really have much of a choice. After my initial review of Crossroads, a friend whose opinion I respect suggested that a single visit to the church was insufficient. She made me pledge to revisit another time. Today was that time. Forgive any redundancy in what you're about to read, but I think you'll agree I have still managed to offer a fresh approach on things.

My initial plan was to focus entirely on the positive, but to do so would be unfair to the other churches I attend. I will, however, try to emphasize some positives right up front. First, the praise band did one Christmas song, and it sounded really good. One cannot help but wonder why, at the start of the Advent season, the praise band chose not to play more Christmas songs, because the one they played really seemed to energize the congregation.

In my previous visit, I was highly critical of the associate pastor nonchalantly referring to the sacrament of Holy Communion as "bread and juice." Today, however, he seemed to approach the subject more earnestly, and really seemed to encourage all in attendance to do the same. Whatever motivated him to do so, I commend him for doing it.

I chose to approach my Crossroads experience as I saw others behave in my prior visit. To do as the Romans do, so to speak. I didn't dress up, I brought my Vitamin Water inside with me, and I kept my iPhone ready to look up the myriad of Bible verses that were sure to come. Due to congestion on Ontario, I even arrived fashionably late; though that was unintentional on my part, that does seem to be accepted behavior. I sat towards the back, on an aisle, in the dimly lit auditorium. When it came time for the "passing of the peace," I warmly shook hands and greeted people. I smiled and nodded through the much improved Holy Communion blessing, and I passed the KFC bucket down the aisle when it came time for the offering. I admired the bits of the stage that had been wrapped with garland and red ribbon and lights. For the first 30 minutes or so, my friend who wanted me to return would have been proud of me. I rolled with it, accepting that while the style and structure was not to my liking, others seemed to take comfort in it.

It was announced that the focus of the sermons for the next several weeks would not be the New or Old Testaments, but on a book called "The Blessed Life" by writer Robert Morris, also the head of a megachurch. And while some would automatically jump to the conclusion that, because it is new and nontraditional, I would be against it, I'm actually fine with the concept of modern literature incorporated into Christianity. I'm critical that Christians seem to be mostly convinced that the last divinely inspired words were written 2,000 years ago. I've found some modern writers and thinkers whom I feel have been touched by God, inasmuch as they have enlightened and spiritual messages to offer those who choose to pay attention. I've not read "The Blessed Life," nor am I likely to do so, but my point is I wasn't against the idea of its insertion into the worship service. Only that wasn't really the focus of the sermon, but we'll get to that momentarily.

I just want to make it clear that I'm willing to concede that Crossroads as a whole might not be as bad as I initially made it out to be. Though the approach is clearly not to my individual tastes, to each his/her own. That much ought to please my friend who asked me to return. However, I'm going to be issuing a formal apology in the paragraph after next, and I'm also likely going to unintentionally annoy my friend who wanted me to experience Crossroads again and feel better about the place as I did so. I genuinely wish I could feel better about Crossroads, but one thing prevents me from doing so. To be more specific, one man prevents me from doing so.

There was no talk in the sermon about this being the first week of Advent. There was no talk of preparing hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus Christ. There was brief mention made of Mary as one who was immediately obedient when she heard God's voice. Chuck Booher then charged his congregation with the task of also being immediately obedient when they hear God speak to them. As someone who has waited my entire life to hear God speak to me, allow me to state that I stand ever at the ready. But, at the risk of sounding glib, God doesn't call me. He doesn't text. He doesn't burn bushes near me. He doesn't invite me to supper. He doesn't send the Angel Gabriel down for tea. If and when He does, I am fully prepared to do whatever He says. What I am not prepared to do, however, is just accept that Chuck Booher hears God regularly, that God tells him what to wear and where to eat dinner (two things he asserted in his sermon). I have faith in God; I do not have faith in Chuck Booher.

As you can tell, during the sermon, I found myself less able to roll with it. I found myself having to bite my tongue. I do not fault those who are members of Crossroads. I fault the man behind today's message. And though I have no authority upon which to do so, on behalf of all of Christendom, I feel compelled to apologize for Chuck Booher. That's bound to tick people off, though it is not my intention to tick people off. It is my intention to calls 'em as I sees 'em. Please allow me to explain.

I'm going to start with tithing. Booher himself admits he can't shut up about it, and to be frank it is insulting. And the way he treats the subject is insulting, and I am not easily insulted. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. As reported on the piece of paper handed to people as they walked in, last week Crossroads received just under $215,000 in offering. The previous week, they received just under $150,000. For those who are displeased with my harsh reaction to Chuck Booher, allow me to suggest to any member of Crossroads that they spend one month attending worship at any church in the area that collects less in an entire year than Crossroads collects in a single week. Visit any church, any denomination -- visit multiple churches, please. I encourage them to explore a church that isn't taking in that level of "tithing." I encourage them to explore a church that doesn't constantly make tithing the focus of sermons. For those who don't want to leave Crossroads, that's fine; allow me to suggest instead of tithing to Crossroads that they give to other nonprofit and charitable organizations. The long and short of what I want to make clear is a church does not need that level of money to serve in its capacity as a church. Assuming the previous two weeks are typical, Crossroads brings in $8 million annually, not counting revenue from the school, coffee bar, gift shop, book sales, and other sources of income. For Chuck Booher to keep hounding his congregation for money is borderline obscene.

Chuck Booher cited a single Bible verse, entirely out of context, as this week's rationalization for tithing. It was Luke 11:42, the full text of which is not about common men giving to the church. Read in context, it is about wealthy lawyers and holier-than-thou pharisees not giving their fair share to the community. Somehow, Chuck Booher perverted the meaning to be that Jesus was commanding everyone to give and give and give some more. In the sermons I have heard, Booher repeatedly rips passages out of context and distorts their meanings. Booher made a point of mocking those who don't tithe, stating only people who don't give complain to him about how much he mentions tithing. Well I give. Even in my current dire financial situation I give. I give to the homeless when I can. I give blood. I give my time to those in need. I offer prayers to those in pain. And I'm telling anyone who will listen that if people stopped giving money to Crossroads right now -- today -- it would be a better church. Booher made a point of stating people who tithe are going to receive a blessing, and those who do not are not. That isn't tithing; that's a plenary indulgence, and that's the kind of talk that made Martin Luther nail parchment to the door of his church 500 years ago. That's the kind of talk that led to the Protestant Reformation. Make no mistake about it, Chuck Booher is stating that giving money will get you more in the kingdom of God, a concept rejected by churches centuries ago.

And now I have to discuss baptism again, because while roughly half the sermon was devoted to tithing, the other half was devoted to the concept that baptism makes you a new and better person. I have to reveal my inner geek at this point and talk about "Star Trek V." For the geek-impaired, allow me to offer a brief summary of the story, which also serves as a sort of parable: A passionate Vulcan (half brother of Spock) named Sybok appears and tells people that he'll be able to instantly take their pain away and make them new, better, and happier people. When he approaches Captain Kirk, Kirk rejects Sybok's offer, knowing life doesn't really work that way. Kirk added he needed his pain, that it was a part of him, and that there were no quick fixes, despite how much we might want to believe otherwise. Later, Kirk asked what God needed with a starship, but that's a discussion for another day.

Today they had not one, not two, but three dunk tanks -- and an inflatable kiddie pool -- set up in front of the stage. I am not employing hyperbole. Chuck Booher wanted all those who were ready to accept Jesus to come on down and be baptized. Again, trying to roll with it, if this form of baptism is important to you, that is your choice. To me, what I was witnessing was people being baptized as members of Crossroads, not necessarily as Christians (not the fault of those who approached, by the way). And my reasons for believing as I do are Chuck Booher's own words. He pointed out that Jesus walked 60 miles through a desert to be baptized by the aptly named John the Baptist, and we, in turn, are baptized to recreate what Christ did. But Christ walked those 60 miles, did He not? He didn't merely walk down the aisle of a dimly lit auditorium. So why suggest that it is as massive an action when people only do half a thing? By Booher's own statement, we do as Christ did to honor Him, so wouldn't it be more appropriate for those who walked down the aisle to then be handed a compass and a pack of supplies and sent to walk -- not drive -- to Palm Springs to be baptized? If the baptism is so important, which I am not disputing, isn't the journey Christ took at least as important? In life, isn't the journey often more important than the destination? Granted, a 60 mile hike through San Bernadino would be a lengthy inconvenience, but where in the Bible are we promised quick fixes or easy solutions?

I've repeatedly mentioned the name Chuck Booher in this writing because I want it made clear that my problems with Crossroads all seem to stem from this man and what he deems important. A few years ago, Booher ordered Christians teaching at Crossroads to be fired if they were unwilling to be baptized through immersion. Around the same time, I was also fired from a purported Christian school because the way I chose to demonstrate my faith was deemed insufficient. I believe God can question my faith, but I am skeptical of any human who questions the faith of another.

Chuck Booher deems people lesser because they do not immerse themselves in water. Chuck Booher deems people lesser because they do not give to a church that is not in need. For a man who makes such bombastic assertions to lead a congregation makes me ashamed to be a Christian. And on behalf of Christians, I apologize, and I can only add that Booher's opinions do not reflect the management, if you catch my drift.

I've offered two very substantive problems I have with Chuck Booher. Let me close with two relatively minor cosmetic issues I have with Crossroads, both of which are easy to remedy. When I attended Crossroads just over a month ago, I noted with some sadness that the cross (the most sacred of Christian symbols) was not front-and-center, but just off to the side.

I note with some reservation that, since then, two additional screens have gone up, and the cross has been moved even further away from the center, to the far wall on the opposite side.

I cannot emphasize enough that everything I know to be true about Christianity tells me that Christ's crucifixion -- His dying for the sake of us and for the forgiveness of our sins -- was the single greatest act of love ever demonstrated by anyone. The cross is a reminder of that love, and a reminder that what He did far outweighs anything we can do. It is a big room -- move the cross to the center of it.

Lastly, a sign I noticed as I approached Crossroads, indicating the location of various buildings and services. I couldn't help but notice the absence of the word "church" or "sanctuary" among the listed items. To me, an auditorium is where concerts and staged productions occur, but worship services occur in a church or a sanctuary. It is fine if a single room serves both purposes, but it would be a sign of respect if God's house was identified as such on any signage on the property. Crossroads is a church -- tell visitors where the church is located.

And with that, I hope that my friend will accept that my issue is not with her or with any of the congregation of Crossroads, but with Chuck Booher. And I will do as I pledged and return to Crossroads... as soon as Booher has been removed as head of the congregation, or as soon as he publicly retracts the assertions he made that belittle others and question the faith of others. Such assertions are unChristian.

Amen.

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Sunday Scorecard:

What is the contact info for the church?

Crossroads Christian Church
2331 Kellogg Avenue
Corona, CA 92881
951/737-4664
http://www.crossroadschurch.com

What was the denomination?

Non denominational

What Bible verses were referenced?

"The Blessed Life" by Robert Morris

What are the demographics of the congregation?

A good mix of ages, mostly young, less diverse ethnically

Was the atmosphere formal or casual?

A Starbucks is more formal... no alter, no candles, no vestments, casual dress by all involved

What was the music like?

Praise band, power ballad, 'nuf said

How was the use of PowerPoint?

Not exactly PowerPoint, but three big screens were above the stage (the cross was relegated to the far side) and the pastor was projected onto the screens.