CAFETERIA CHRISTIANITY

We live in a time when faith in "organized religion" is declining and where many are looking for the place where they can find their spiritual niche, that place where our beliefs and faith intertwine. If we are honest with ourselves and take an honest look at our faith, we find it is a difficult process to find a place where faith and doctrine collide. The Reverend Doctor Billy Graham once said if you find the perfect church, don't join it because if you do, you'll spoil it. His point is very valid. We all want to find the perfect church, but it doesn't exist. We then turn to "Cafeteria Christianity", picking and choosing our beliefs much like lunch time at Piccadilly. A little Methodist here, a little Presbyterian there, and let's throw a little Catholicism in, too, just for good measure.

It is difficult to find a set of doctrines with which we can completely agree. No church (denomination, that is), however much they might like to claim it, has cornered the market on Theology. We argue whether or not Jesus is truly present in the Body and Blood, whether the Bible should be taken literally, whether we should do things this way or that way, and thus we have a vast variety of offerings in this expansive cafeteria line.

Here's my confession: I am a cafeteria Christian. I've been Southern Baptist, United Methodist and Roman Catholic. I'd be lying if I said I believe everything that any of those three faith traditions teaches. Having been a Southern Baptist gives me a knowledge of scripture that many Catholics just don't have. Having been a United Methodist, I gained a great appreciation for the liturgy. Practicing Catholicism, albeit Cafeteria Catholicism, is the best marriage of my convictions. Certainly I don't agree with the church's views on hot-button topics such as gay marriage or birth control, but I feel more complete spiritually as a Catholic than anything I've ever been. Striking a balance and developing our own convictions is important in having a well-balanced spiritual life. Often, it takes stepping out of the structure of our old faith practices and into the cafeteria to realize our spiritual potential. Your families religious convictions may not be yours. It is not an easy task, but the journey is certainly worth the trip! So, step up to the cafeteria, the menu is ready for the choosing.

YOU GIVE GOD A BAD NAME

There is a middle-aged man who stands on the street corner in the financial district of downtown Birmingham during lunch several days a week holding a sign that reads, simply, "Trust in God". He's done this for years. He's quiet, respectful and gentle. Motorists passing by will honk their horns at him as a symbol of their agreement with his message, smiling and waving at him as they go about their business.

In stark contrast to his methods, there is another group of "evangelists" who have arrived at this same corner over the last week or so to "spread the Word". They have come bearing signs, some indicating that "Jesus Is The Way" and, my personal favorite, a hand-drawn banner on a white bed sheet held up by two sticks, stating that "Marriage is between a man and woman, with a hand-drawn picture of two men holding hands with a circle and a line drawn through them. In addition to their message through their signs, they are also handing out Gospel tracts.

The first day I passed these "new" evangelists, I politely took one of their tracts. When I crossed the street, yet another young man offered me yet another tract, which I politely refused. I couldn't help thinking about the message they are sending and the message they came to promote. Was this what Jesus meant when he issued "The Great Commission", admonishing us to go into all nations, proclaiming and baptizing..." or did he have something more subtle in mind?

Here's my confession: I know I am preaching to the proverbial choir here. The people who need to be reading this probably never will. Were I not already a Christian, I doubt that these "evangelistic methods" would persuade me to become one. I wonder if they realize that while their hearts may be genuine and their motives pure, their tactics are quite possibly turning more people away from Christ than they are actually bringing to Him. They offer a fundamental, literal and sometimes brain-washed interpretation of the Gospel. Is guilting someone into repentance true conversion? We live in a society that has been damaged by this approach. We live in a society that often views organized religion as inherently flawed. Street corner evangelists screaming "REPENT AND BE SAVED!" aren't helping to change this perception. We also are fortunate to live in a country where we are free to express our opinions and religion. So, I ask, What Would Jesus Do?