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'Christmas and Easter' Christians
By James L. Heft
professor, USC
Nearly every minister of the Gospel has noticed the surge in attendance -- sometimes huge -- at Christmas and Easter services. Over the years, I heard some horror stories about how ministers and priests respond to the strangers in their pews.
One priest sternly told his visitors that if they only show up on Christmas and Easter, they should not take communion and were in danger of going to hell. Another minister told those gathered for his Christmas service that the smelly shepherds understood what was going on in the stable more than the strangers before him.
It is not pastorally wise to criticize -- or lay down the law to -- these Christmas and Easter Christians and other visitors who join the regular community of believers for Christianity's great feasts, for at least two reasons.
First, while everyone ultimately benefits from hearing the truth about themselves, they often are able to hear it only from people they know -- people who love them. Starting a conversation with strangers by criticizing them is not only tactless, it won't work. On the great feasts of Christmas and Easter, the word that should be spoken from the pulpit is the truth of God's love for everyone, especially sinners. As Paul explains, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
Second, pastors, especially, need to ask themselves why so many people don't attend church regularly. Could it be that services are lifeless, the preaching uninspiring, the music dreadful and reverent silence absent? Might it also be that a number of believers have been scandalized by the behavior of certain pastors and church leaders, the very people who are expected -- yes, sometimes unrealistically -- to represent the Gospel? Pope Paul VI once remarked that one of the reasons there are so many atheists is because of the kinds of Christians they see.
The state of the belief of regular congregants needs more pastoral attention as well. People today frequently have doubts about their faith and about church teachings. These are not the people who sociologists write about -- those who believe but do not belong. I'm talking about those who are doubters and still belong. They need reassurance. Even more, they need thoughtful explanations -- even explorations -- of the grounds for their faith. If pastors recognize and address the difficulties that many people have today with believing, they will likely deepen the faith of their congregants, paradoxical as that may seem.
Easter offers a great opportunity for pastors. Rather than scold the newcomers before them, they should reach out to them with compassion, and their joy in the Risen Lord will be what invites them back.
James L. Heft is professor of religion in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California.
By James L. Heft |
March 29, 2010; 10:43 AM ET
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Posted by: ThomasBaum | March 31, 2010 11:35 AM
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What the pastors/priests/evangelicals should tell their flocks and what Professor Heft should tell his students.
Posted by: YEAL9 | March 31, 2010 7:40 AM
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What the pastors/priests/evangelicals should tell their flocks and what Professor Heft
Attestation/stratum analyses used by the Jesus Seminarians, e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen (On Faith panelists), agree with what is currently being taught in graduate theology classes at many large Catholic universities (e.g. Catholic U, Notre Dame).
i.e.
Major agreements achieved but by different methods:
1. There was no physical resurrection (i.e. Heaven-if it exists, is a Spirit State i.e. there was and never will be an Easter)
2. And it therefore follows there was no ascension and no assumption.
3. There is/was no original sin. A&E were fictional characters living in a mythical land.
4. And it therefore follows, baptism does not erase original sin since there is no sin to erase. Limbo therefore is a non-issue.
5. Jesus was crucified but details of the deed have no historic verification.
Posted by: YEAL9 | March 30, 2010 11:54 PM
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I assure you that we try to be full of life, inspiring, with vibrant music, comforting doubters, although reverent silence is a challenge.
Posted by: t_seitz_brown | March 30, 2010 8:22 PM
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James L. Heft
As I have said many times: God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof.
You wrote, "Pope Paul VI once remarked that one of the reasons there are so many atheists is because of the kinds of Christians they see."
One could add that the "conception" of God spoken about by many "Christians" and others, including atheists, could lead some to reject that "God" without actually rejecting God but someone's "conception" of God.
If one knows nothing about God except for God's Name than that someone should be honest enough to be upfront about this and at least attempt to differentiate between "knowledge" and "belief".
Going to a "divinity school" or a "seminary" does not mean someone will actually "learn" anything about God, they may learn what others "believe/know" but that does not necessarily mean they, personally, will "learn" about God.
I cannot tell anyone how God may make Himself known to anyone else but sometimes it could be for some to stop "bragging" about how "open-minded" they are and be "open-minded".
By the way, even tho I use the male pronoun, God is neither a Male, a Female, nor an It, even tho God-Incarnate Was a Male but is a Being of Pure Love.
God became One of us to speak to us and with us and yet some seem to get the "idea" that they should speak down to others because of their "knowledge/belief" about God.
The GOOD NEWS is GOOD NEWS because it is for ALL, if it were not, it would be horrific news.
See you and the rest of humanity in the Kingdom.
Take care, be ready.
Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.