Dean’s Musings . . . “Beware . . .”

   Bill Gee stopped in the office to sign a check the other day.  Before signing the check he stepped into my office to tell me a story or two.  He mentioned that Lynn and he are to stand in for friends at the Presbyterian Church on November 1st as that Church remembers their members who have died this past year (November 1^st is “All Saints Sunday”)—Bill & Lynn’s friends lost a parent this past year but will not be able to attend the service.  Since the Presbyterian Church’s worship service is at 9:30 A.M., I reminded him that he can still attend the 8 A.M. worship service as well as the service at the Presbyterian Church.  Bill looked at me and said, “My dad told me to beware of the person who goes to church [services] three times in one week.”  We laughed about that advice, and I began to analyze what was wrong with that thought.  The more I reflected on the statement, however, the more I decided that what Bill’s dad meant is true.

    I understand the statement to mean:

  (1) “Beware of persons who wear their religion on their sleeve.”  Our faith should be personal—not for show.  We dare not be like the Pharisee to whom Jesus refers in Luke 18:9-14:

   ⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ ¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

     (2)  “Persons who feel compelled to go to three church services in one week don’t have their ‘act together.’”  They are struggling with whom and what they believe . . . or they would rather be a spectator than a participant.  We all need spiritual nourishment—but, then we need to be out in the world exercising (doing) our faith; it’s the only way we grow stronger.

     Bill’s dad was a very smart man.