In 1947, a friend invited me to Sunday School. She and I still correspond. My father had been hurt by formal religion--I never found out how because he didn't talk about it--and my adolescent rebellion in later years was to continue church because of the people who cared about me when I came alone in grade school. I knew my parents loved me--that was critical--and I knew I was valued in Sunday School. I was too shy to make friends easily, but people in that congregation accepted me. I ended up as "woke" like my parents, but I have followed Jesus ever since. I am sure that when I face Him sometime soon, He will not ask me, or my spouse, about our theology, but about how we treated our children, foster children, and others who entered our home. I now belong to a church which will be there for me when I can no longer go there, because they make sure others are visited, and we are finding, by trial and error, ways to reach beyond our tendency to intellectualize our faith. The message needs to be, "You are loved..."
That really hit me too. The most kind and selflessly generous folks I know have no religious affiliation. No ulterior motives or need to score points creates a pure desire to help your fellow mankind.
Thanks you so much John, for this marvelous, grace-filled conversation with Charlotte Clymer! Such an inspiring dialog and so rich in looking at the subtleties of the basic differences between progressives and evangelical-right folks! And expecially that huge gap about how the fundamental folks know how to reach out to the underlying loneliness and welcome people in - and mean it!! That was a stunning truth for me to realize - and thank you for that. Meanwhile, both of you are two of my heroes, guides and companions on this journey; you give me heart, inspiration and expand my heart and willingness to do the next right thing over and over. I hear you!
Wow very powerful, love and grace what we need. It is so true we argue that the democrats not doing enough and where is our savior? So tired of this and that we do not give love, appreciation and grace to the ones in the trenches and fighting the current situation everyday.nit is not just these several hundred/thousand or so elected officials to carry 350 million on their backs and save us. We the people we in community we with love and grace must support and join the movement!
I believe you got the key points exactly right. And yes, I think loneliness is a major reason for joining a church. The idea of community is the most comforting aspect of organized religion. I have discussed Christianity with my son since he was a tot, but never have taken him inside a church. He wants to live a Christian life but sees no need to go to church--it cuts in to sleep time. Like mother, like son. However I encourage him to find a church home as an adult specifically to fill the loneliness hole. To be a part of a community, where he can share his thoughts and strengths with others and get the same in return.Also he can learn tolerance for those he calls brother or sister, but who may have different life styles or world views. I should say my son is an only child, and while he has his fair share of friends he is pretty much a home body.
And I definitely agree we should share our religion more "out loud" as well as in deed. I personally allowed shyness to overcome me whenever a group of work friends would talk church. Living my life in Oklahoma didn't help. My Baptist friends once came to a mutual friends wedding at the Methodist church we attended. They looked around the sanctuary nervously, then sat huddled together like they were waiting for the devil to jump out at them. Even though the pastor reminded the room that anyone baptized in any church was welcome to join in breaking bread for communion, they stayed even closer to each other in their seats, wagons circled as it were. Point being i always strongly felt nobody wanted to hear about my "hippie Jesus wore sandals and had long hair" church. A coworker I could barely tolerate for work reasons looked down her nose at me for my Bible not being KJV. Anyway, we do need to take some joy in sharing about our church and church family. If we stand outside of that, then engage people in conversation about beliefs that could make them and us think.
Now, John, I want to give you a huge thanks for this series. It seems like something you could continue maybe a couple times a year. I have no idea how much labor is involved in a work like this, but I suspect a lot! Maybe too much. But there are so many of us out there thirsting for this. It is a way to feel connected in the midst of confusion and turmoil. There is power in numbers. We are right here!
In 1947, a friend invited me to Sunday School. She and I still correspond. My father had been hurt by formal religion--I never found out how because he didn't talk about it--and my adolescent rebellion in later years was to continue church because of the people who cared about me when I came alone in grade school. I knew my parents loved me--that was critical--and I knew I was valued in Sunday School. I was too shy to make friends easily, but people in that congregation accepted me. I ended up as "woke" like my parents, but I have followed Jesus ever since. I am sure that when I face Him sometime soon, He will not ask me, or my spouse, about our theology, but about how we treated our children, foster children, and others who entered our home. I now belong to a church which will be there for me when I can no longer go there, because they make sure others are visited, and we are finding, by trial and error, ways to reach beyond our tendency to intellectualize our faith. The message needs to be, "You are loved..."
She got that right. Not everyone can be rich and famous, but that is what they have sold us.
What she said about atheists doing good for good,,,not fear of hell or desire for heaven reward certainly rings as true and more honorable
That really hit me too. The most kind and selflessly generous folks I know have no religious affiliation. No ulterior motives or need to score points creates a pure desire to help your fellow mankind.
Thanks you so much John, for this marvelous, grace-filled conversation with Charlotte Clymer! Such an inspiring dialog and so rich in looking at the subtleties of the basic differences between progressives and evangelical-right folks! And expecially that huge gap about how the fundamental folks know how to reach out to the underlying loneliness and welcome people in - and mean it!! That was a stunning truth for me to realize - and thank you for that. Meanwhile, both of you are two of my heroes, guides and companions on this journey; you give me heart, inspiration and expand my heart and willingness to do the next right thing over and over. I hear you!
Wow very powerful, love and grace what we need. It is so true we argue that the democrats not doing enough and where is our savior? So tired of this and that we do not give love, appreciation and grace to the ones in the trenches and fighting the current situation everyday.nit is not just these several hundred/thousand or so elected officials to carry 350 million on their backs and save us. We the people we in community we with love and grace must support and join the movement!
I believe you got the key points exactly right. And yes, I think loneliness is a major reason for joining a church. The idea of community is the most comforting aspect of organized religion. I have discussed Christianity with my son since he was a tot, but never have taken him inside a church. He wants to live a Christian life but sees no need to go to church--it cuts in to sleep time. Like mother, like son. However I encourage him to find a church home as an adult specifically to fill the loneliness hole. To be a part of a community, where he can share his thoughts and strengths with others and get the same in return.Also he can learn tolerance for those he calls brother or sister, but who may have different life styles or world views. I should say my son is an only child, and while he has his fair share of friends he is pretty much a home body.
And I definitely agree we should share our religion more "out loud" as well as in deed. I personally allowed shyness to overcome me whenever a group of work friends would talk church. Living my life in Oklahoma didn't help. My Baptist friends once came to a mutual friends wedding at the Methodist church we attended. They looked around the sanctuary nervously, then sat huddled together like they were waiting for the devil to jump out at them. Even though the pastor reminded the room that anyone baptized in any church was welcome to join in breaking bread for communion, they stayed even closer to each other in their seats, wagons circled as it were. Point being i always strongly felt nobody wanted to hear about my "hippie Jesus wore sandals and had long hair" church. A coworker I could barely tolerate for work reasons looked down her nose at me for my Bible not being KJV. Anyway, we do need to take some joy in sharing about our church and church family. If we stand outside of that, then engage people in conversation about beliefs that could make them and us think.
Now, John, I want to give you a huge thanks for this series. It seems like something you could continue maybe a couple times a year. I have no idea how much labor is involved in a work like this, but I suspect a lot! Maybe too much. But there are so many of us out there thirsting for this. It is a way to feel connected in the midst of confusion and turmoil. There is power in numbers. We are right here!
Thanks again
Charlotte Encapera
I