The awful service took place more than 50 years ago. The announcements were 17 minutes of scolding the members for various infractions like not wiping their feet sufficiently before entering the church. Then began a sermon which harangued the congregation about one thing after another. I had never thought about being a pastor at that point in my life, but it occurred to me that this wasn’t the right way to be one.

It came back to me as I read a book by Reinhold Neibuhr about his experience as pastor of a church in Detroit 1915-1928. He wrote: “On the whole, people do not achieve moral heights out of a sense of duty. You may be able to compel them to maintain certain minimum standards by stressing duty, but the highest moral and spiritual achievements depend not upon a push but upon a pull. People must be charmed into righteousness. The language of aspiration rather than that of criticism and command is the proper pulpit language.”*

Neibuhr was absolutely right. People have to be charmed into righteousness, not scolded. It’s part
of what I like about Pr. Art’s preaching. He gives an image of what is possible under the Kingdom of God. That’s Gospel.

For many outsiders Christianity is a religion of scolds. I’d never be a Christian if all I saw was a bunch of people angrily pointing their fingers as they shouted condemnation. What would win me over was people who showed a life of hope, joy, love, and compassion.

Sorry.  Here endeth the griping for the day.

Read Philippians 2:1 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne, a not-quite tamed cynic

Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic, p. 75.