September 21, 2014:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor

September 21, 2014

“What Ever Happened to Christian Cooperation”

      The little town in which I grew up included a Methodist Church (which I attended), the Congregational Church, the Church of God, the Church of the Nazarene, A Roman Catholic Church, and a fundamentalist Baptist Church.  All these churches at different times and in different ways joined together in various religious and community programs.  All, that is, except the fundamentalist Baptists who wanted nothing to do with the rest of the religious community.

      My church and the Congregational Church held an annual joint Vacation Bible School.  All the clergy — except the Baptist pastor — participated in the annual community memorial day program, and took leadership in the annual Senior Class Baccalaureate Service in the high school gym.  The clergy all had a cordial relationship with one another, all except the Baptist pastor.  Today, in most parts of America, that kind of Christian unity and cooperation is a thing of the past.

      I understand that here in Chattanooga there used to be a Council of Churches and an ecumenical clergy fellowship.  Both of those disappeared twenty or more years ago.  I believe there is a fellowship of conservative clergy to which I am neither invited nor would be welcome.

      You and I know that as we grow older we tend to see the past with rose-colored glasses.  You and I often remember things as better than they really were.  But I do believe in the case of Christian cooperation things really were better in the “40s and 50s.”  There was no question that the churches in my community held lesser or greater differences of belief and practice, but there was a sense that the Christian faith was broad enough to include all of us.  Over time, as a young person, I came to know all the pastors and held them in high regard.  All, that is, except the fundamentalist Baptist pastor.

      Whatever happened to that spirit of mutual respect and unity?  Whatever happened it left American communities divided along religious lines.  All that drew us together in mutual respect and affection is largely gone.  I only know a handful of the clergy in Chattanooga.  Whose fault is that?  Partly mine.  Without regular times of meeting, I have not had the time nor (I confess) the desire to connect with those who have no interest in getting to know me.  Should I have tried harder?  I suppose so, but I simply didn’t find time to try and make it happened.

      All of which is to say that this is a time not only of great political divisions but also great religious divisions in our country.  Politicians should know better and Christians should be leading the way to unity “That we all be one!”

Love,

Pastor Dave