Church Search 3: Lamb of God Bible Church

As I will note in a later posting, we were able to go north to Flagstaff to spend a weekend with Christian's parents and his sister's family. So instead of pursuing our church search in Phoenix, we were invited to go to our in-laws' church. At the outset I decided that no matter what the church was like, it would be helpful in determining exactly what we were looking for. I asked Corinna (my sister in-law) if it would be okay for me to blog about the church, and to my delight she said I should and to be completely honest and truthful.

Sweet.

After we were in the church, I was very thankful I had gotten her permission beforehand.

Lamb of God Bible Church is a charismatic nondenominational "Bible-believing" (whatever that means/implies... - it's posted on their website) church. The church is set in what looks to be a little strip-mall location, with a large banner sign on the front. We parked behind the building and then walked to the side (which I think is the alternative entry-way, though I didn't explore the premises).

When we went into the hallway, our youngest two nephews were siphoned off to Sunday school (or Junior Church - something of this type) while we entered the worship space (where praise songs were already being sung). My sister-in-law got a sticker for some political thing from the greeter (I didn't pay much attention at the time). Christian and I were introduced to the greeter without much fanfare. She didn't try to give me a sticker (good call on her part I think). We walked down one of the two side aisles to the aisle between the stage (where the worship band was) and the seating. There standing in this walkway was a group of teens singing and motioning along with the music rather spiritedly. We were then introduced to the pastor's wife, a petite woman with short very red hair. She was all smiles and obviously couldn't really hear what Corinna was saying, but she was welcoming despite.

We finally located a row which could accommodate us (which happened to be on the far left - irony of ironies - and to the front next to one of the music speakers). We promptly joined in with the singing which was led by a well-practiced band. The songs were simple, both in lyrics and melody, but seemed to cause quite emotional outpourings from the congregation. They were a little low on substance for my taste. Every now and then the pastor or a song leader would either pray or have a little talk about the songs. One of the prayers mentioned Satan and Jesus' blood covering Jesus' people. Needless to say, my eyebrows raised.

In between songs (and during) there were also many verbal outpourings from the congregation ("yes lord" "alleluia" or some personal prayers) which were accompanied by raised arms and palms or sometimes even kneeling (those young in the front). A couple of songs discussed blood, and one seemed more like a song meant for a lover, which I felt odd about.

The senior pastor at one point during this long praise-sing came up to us and Corinna introduced us. He was all smiles and very welcoming. At another mid-point we were instructed to hug 5 people and say hello/bless them. This was interesting, and worked fairly well. I hugged Christian and Elijah (who felt he needed to count his) and then hugged a couple of nearby women and one woman who was to the side with a walker in front of her. Everyone from the congregation were all smiles and again, surprise surprise, very welcoming. I think Christian saved himself some personal discomfort by extending his hand for a shake before some of the congregants could hug him. This was mildly entertaining to watch.

I should say, besides the band on stage, there were two projector screens, one on either side, a plexiglass podium in the middle, as well as 2 huge "Yes on 102" signs (again one on either side).

After the singing was finished, (or some other inbetween time) there was a profession of faith which seemed okay, so I recited it. Then the senior pastor (whose name I cannot remember because I'm not sure it was mentioned) gave a very complimentary introduction to the speaker (the junior pastor?) Daniel. Corinna told me that his father is a Baptist minister, so he could be long-winded. Hmm.

He started talking about all kinds of things. At first, he seemed to be alright. I couldn't argue with anything he was saying, at first. He was talking about how Jesus was the lawyer pleading our case, drawing out testimony from witnesses to set us free (this is a gross simplification, but it was hardly the bulk of his sermon so I won't spend very much time on this). He then transitioned into how he had a very serious topic to discuss and how he would likely step on people's toes.

This topic was Proposition 102. Seeing as we weren't really sure what that was, it was a bit ambiguous to us what he was getting at. It was pretty clear though after about five minutes. He started off saying that he thinks there are allusions to Jesus throughout the Old Testament (and went on to cite a few). He then mentioned how marriage is discussed throughout the Bible (beginning with Genesis, where he believes Jesus is first mentioned). Of course he mentioned "God created them, man and woman...". This led into a discussion of how society has gone astray and gone into clear rebellion which can be discerned by the fact that 85% of people (a number which came from somewhere I cannot begin to guess) find gay marriage to be acceptable (except he didn't use the word "gay" or even "homosexual" he always said "two men" or "two women"). He then went on to say that Massachusetts (thank GOD ONE STATE at LEAST has it right!) requires kindergartners to read a book called "Heather Has Two Mommies" (this was greeted by shocked sounds from the congregation). He also said that some say female and male genetics are very similar and therefore it's easy to see how homosexuality occurs. That of course implies God made people this way, which Daniel argued this is really not the case (the implication being that homosexuality iss some sort of disease or something). He stated that because as God's people we know the truth, we need to stand up and fight and share that truth (the truth being here that marriage should be between a man and a woman).

Daniel (glare) dropped the problem of same-sex marriage and then turned to problematic straight marriages (well at least he was giving equal air time). He said that 55% of marriages performed in churches end in divorce (again I have no idea where this number came from). He said people marry for the wrong reasons and don't enter into it in thoughtful contemplation (or something to that effect) and that he would not marry a couple he did not think ready (nor would the senior pastor).

He then discussed how the Church was likened to a bride and Jesus the groom, and how marriages between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN should be similar. This line of logic somehow got us to our marriages (that is any Christian's) is a reflection of our relationship with Jesus and God. Women are supposed to submit to their husbands, and men are supposed to submit to God. If your marriage is a mess, obviously your relationship with God is a mess.

He also said that because women in many marriages don't submit to their husbands, this was causes a lack of satisfaction in them, and this is the kind of thing that led to the feminist movement. If those women had submitted happily to their husbands, they wouldn't have felt the need... apparently.

He concluded that as people of faith, we needed to translate our beliefs to actions (otherwise they mean nothing, with which I can agree). So as Christians we need to "stand up and stand out". We need to listen to what God says to us, open our hearts, and take action (let me tell you I was feeling that statement right then like you couldn't believe).

At some point (which I can't recall) he talked about how Jesus was all we needed and with belief in him, profound miracles could occur (I think this was going back to a song sung during the praise time). He said he knew a lady who had been filled with cancer, and that she was told by doctors that she would die. He said the next time she went to the doctor, they scanned her and she was healed. This REALLY angered both Christian and I because we know so many wonderful people of faith who have died of all manner of illnesses etc "before their time". Someone like that, were they bad? Were they just not good enough? Ridiculous. We can't presume to know God's plan, or the reasons. We can only do and try our best. God takes the good and the bad and works beauty and majesty into this world ("crisis" can also mean "opportunity").

Well, the service was ended with an altar call, which after all the fanfare made me depressed as opposed to joyful (as everyone else was). In any case, a man came forward and they prayed over him etc.

*Deep Breath*

Okay, so basically this man, this awful misled man named Daniel, made me cry. Why did I cry in the middle of this service? Why did I feel the INCREDIBLE urge to WALK OUT (I didn't because we came with Corinna's family etc)?

He missed the boat. He totally missed the WHOLE POINT TO THE GOSPEL.

He ALSO missed discussing or THINKING about the WHOLE REASON FOR MARRIAGE.

Jesus was not a sacrifice. He was not a cow or an offering at a temple altar. His blood was not spilled over the altar or the devotees in some kind of ecstatic orgy. He died to show us the way. His whole message was one of PEACE and RADICAL LOVE. He hung out with PROSTITUTES, TAX COLLECTORS, LEPERS, and DEMONIACS. WHO DO YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE TODAY???? What do you REALLY think he would do? How do you think he would REALLY act here and now?

Homosexuality is not evil. Sorry, but it's not. It doesn't hurt people. It doesn't divide communities (at least not on it's own, hateful perverse homophobes do).

Each person is just that, a person, with their own personality traits, dreams, motivations, fears, strengths and weaknesses. Just as we can't make huge blanket statements about African Americans, Mexican Americans, disabled persons, and people with blue eyes, we cannot make blanket statements about gay/lesbian/bi/transexual people.

How would you feel if the person you loved was in the hospital and you were prevented from visiting them because only spouses and family were allowed in? How do you think it would feel, if because you had brown hair, and your boyfriend had blonde, you weren't allowed to get married? You could watch your friends of same hair color get married, but you couldn't. Why should we prevent loving, compassionate, productive relationships from becoming permanent? Do you think Jesus would say that we should prevent such beautiful things from being in this world? Because, obviously we don't need any more love in this world. We're doing great!

Our world is over-populated. Marriage in this time and place is not about copulation. Same-sex marriage cannot reproduce (unless through test-tubes, which is not exactly cheap or easy).

The argument that heterosexual marriage is best is just false. People are not committed to making things work the way they used to be. I've seen (sorry to step on anyone's toes) committed long-standing healthy relationships in gay couples while simultaneously seeing destructive, adulterous, short-lived relationships happen with straight couples. Hmm. You know, Jesus came right out and said divorce was a sin. I think that's more destructive to communities, children, and individuals involved than same-sex marriage.

As far as women submitting, let's just say that if anything is going to happen, marriage needs to be a partnership. It is not a singular submission - it is each submitting to the other, submitting to the identity of "couple" rather than "individual". One is not the head of the household. Not in this country and culture.

And if women not submitting is the cause of the women's movement (which one, by the way? because there's been a few waves...) and it really should never have happened, I am very concerned about Daniel's mental health. Has he realized that the 19th century ended a few years ago? Did he realize that the word in the original Jewish passage of Genesis is not "helpmate" (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean!) but translated literally is "savior". Yes, Eve was Adam's SAVIOR (thank you Church fathers writing women out of things! You guys are really freakin awesome!). I don't know about you ladies, but I'm pretty sure my husband would agree that I have saved his butt quite a few times, and damn it, it's my job. He'd be lost without me. I think you've had a similar experience, because frankly, it's true. I could continue this line of logic down through that whole story but I think you can draw the natural conclusion - the Tree of Knowledge and the result from eating the apple was a GOOD thing.

So where does this painful experience lie on our wine-bottle spectrum - Christian suggests "I don't spit, but there are exceptions." I have to agree, this was probably the worst experience I could have possibly had in a church setting, as we were basically told we were going to hell (in not so many words) about 30 different ways (Christian pipes in, "We were told how we're supposed to vote!").

If you're conservative, and you like the charismatic sort of thing... you might want to look into this. However, if you believe people should be loved, that there is one God (and not a lesser evil god outside of God's control by the name of 'Satan') and that the Bible is meant to be interpretted for the times, and Jesus' teachings are the standard by which you should measure things (NOT the O.T. or even Paul's letters for that matter) this is NOT the place for you.

May God use all bad experiences and turn them into positive things. May God take the ugly and turn it into beauty, and saddness into joy.

Amen.