My new vehicle had a gasket that had to be replaced, but in order to do it, the engine had to be removed (American engineering!). I don't know much about such things, but apparently they also had to disconnect the battery, because when I turned my radio on and started hitting buttons, all my saved stations were gone.
Which explains why I ended up listening to a channel I don't usually listen to. The last time I listened to it, they were having an on-air drinking contest, to see how many beers it took the DJs to hit the legal limit. It was pretty loathsome, even considering what passes for "morning show humor" these days.
So imagine my surprise last Wednesday when I heard this same DJ talking about going to a Men's Fellowship group that morning at one of our local churches. "Surprise" seems woefully inadequate to describe my reaction.
But it's what he said next that I found both instructive and more than a bit heartbreaking. I'm putting it in quotes, but it isn't transcribed–-merely the best that I can remember.
"If you're not a religious type...If you're not into singing hymns, and praying prayers, and holding hands with other guys, that isn't what this is about. I don't think there was a single hymn sung, or a prayer prayed. But we watched clips from Gladiator [and several other movies]...it was very motivating.."
Of course, it is always possible for those who are blind to the truth to miss it even when it's right in front of them, but the sponsoring church's website states that the meeting is presented "as a community service not as a church service," which seems consistent with what was reported.
Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture?
I'm not trying to say that everything that happens at the church has to involve some kind of heavy-duty Bible study. But when someone who's life screams "I need the gospel" is overheard recommending your fellowship meeting because of its complete lack of religious content, perhaps it is time to reconsider your priorities. Motivation is fine, as far as it goes, but to send someone away highly motivated but totally lost with not even a clue of their spiritual condition is a sad situation indeed.
