Being Presbyterian

SUN., MAY 28, 1995, 6:22 AM
FARM, STUDY

Now that We’ve decided that this Spring number of Ruminations will have this title… and you’ll photocopy the Teachings that seem relevant today… I just have to offer one more. You’ll hear some repetition, some new thoughts and a few that I’ve been putting in your mind and spirit as you have focused on this theme. You really don’t need more, but I’m often overgenerous.

(Before We get into this Teaching… take notes on this morning’s sermon… you may even get the tape… for I’ll have some “things” to say about it, possibly tomorrow.)

You are a Presbyterian both by choice and by calling. In your culture it is more appropriate to say that you chose to be a member of this denomination, rather than Methodist, Congregational, or, even, Baptist. But you know now that I was leading you way before you became aware of My personal interest in you. In My spirit of fun I thought it would be jolly to lead you into a denomination that once had a strong belief in election. Anyway, it has worked out well. You are where you should be.

In worship you Presbys don’t have a hidebound liturgical compulsion. There is decency and order in your services… even a theological “scheme” for that order… but the words can vary considerably. In fact it is not expected that the same words will be spoken and repeated in each service. Your youth “put on” a recent service that varied considerably from the norm, and it was well-received. Yet if every service had this much innovation many of you would start grousing.

Social action is part of your denomination’s… and your Church’s… way of living out the Gospel. You have extra offerings for important causes, and members participate in community efforts to help others. This is a stronger tradition than personal evangelism… bringing the unchurched to Christ through personal relating and testimony. Your church welcomes “newcomers” to Christ, but, as evidenced in those Session meetings when new members are brought in, the personal testimonies by your Elders relate much more to the church and the community than to Me, and those coming in speak in the same vein. It’s a good thing that I do like diversity!

Your Presbyterians are generally well-educated and you are supposed to value continued learning. Yet you are unimpressed by the acting out of this supposed value. Those who participate, truly participate, in adult study are rather few. Scripture is supposed to be important to your Presbyterians, but you see few reading the morning selections, even with pew Bibles and the pages noted in the morning bulletin. The passages chosen and read tend to be short, and the context is only occasionally given. It doesn’t appear to Me that Scripture is as important as your tradition claims.

Yours is a friendly congregation, but friendliness is easiest when the newcomers or visitors are identified as Presbyterians or they are obviously like most of you… middle class, successfully employed, appropriately dressed, and friendly in return.