THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502030102
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
I NEVER GUESSED the topic of how to find a house of faith would be controversial. I wasn't even sure last week's column would get response.
You fooled me. Then again, you also brought up some good points. Here's a small sampling of the reader response received.
From the Rev. Kevin L. Wilson of Highland Baptist Church in Portsmouth: ``If you are looking for a church, find the smallest, most visually obscure, needy, non-stimulating-to-the-flesh-but-Biblical house of God you can. Serve that church with every fibre of your spiritual being and you will be right in the center of God's will. The only luxury you are even permitted to `get out of it' will be the knowledge that you have served the Lord in sincerity and truth.''
From Diana Kuhlman of Virginia Beach: ``The one thing I look for in a church is sincerity. Friendliness helps, too, but mostly (I seek) the fact that the people in the church really know the Lord and try to live their lives like Jesus Christ. This is what I would like to see more of in church.''
From Helen Sanders of Chesapeake: ``This was an outstanding article. . . . The suggestions you made were really appropriate. I used some of the same techniques you suggested to find my own church. . . . I'm so glad you pointed out the need to take your time to find a (new church).''
From Dr. John P. Mason of Trinity Baptist Church in Norfolk: ``I heartily endorse your first and most important step in selecting a place of worship: that a search begin with prayer. I wonder, however, if for much of the rest of the column, you are suggesting something like an all-you-can-eat food bar approach to church selection.
``I pastor an inner city congregation. The truth of the matter is, we cannot compete with the suburban churches by the food bar approach. We simply do not have the resources. . . . For (inner city churches) to succeed, it will require a generation of Christians who are more concerned to offer their lives following Christ than to receive food for their own personal spiritual needs from a church.''
From Betty Embrey of Chesapeake: ``For 45 years I didn't have to choose the right church. I joined Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Chesapeake at the age of 11. My ancestors on both sides were Methodist, so that's what I was, and a good active one too. I studied some other Christian denominations from time to time, then gradually I began to ask questions and my search began for real. I started to ask `why,' and at first I felt very guilty. I was supposed to have faith and accept certain things and reject others.
``My search led me to the Unitarian Church, where I have found people accepting all people, working together and separately for all of us. These people don't judge; they're too busy trying to be helpful. I still haven't worked it out with my family . . . and I haven't signed on with the (Unitarians) yet, but I surely do understand the complexities of choosing the right place to worship.
``I might add that I have given myself several years, identified my spiritual needs and accepted that I do not need a deeply conservative form of worship, but a church ready to pitch in, change and work to help meet the needs of all people, barring none. It looks like the change is inevitable.''
From Al Payette of Chesapeake: ``Just one item you didn't mention. So many people are looking for the perfect church, and I doubt they're going to find the perfect church and congregation. . . .''
Mary Stubblefield called because she couldn't find ``Religions of America'' by Leo Rosten in her library. I use the Chesapeake Central Library in Great Bridge, which has a copy. Their Indian River branch also has a copy. I called the Virginia Beach Central Library and was surprised to find it does not carry the book. Kirn Memorial Library in Norfolk carries it as a reference book, but it is kept in storage and must be requested at the desk.
I purchased my own copy at Waldenbooks two years ago, so I checked with them this week. It's not currently in stock there, but it can be ordered. MEMO: Every other week, Betsy Mathews Wright publishes responses to her
opinion column. Send responses to Issues of Faith, The Virginian-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510; call (804) 446-2273; FAX
(804) 436-2798; or send computer message via bmw(AT)infi.net. Deadline
is Tuesday. Include your name, city and phone number.
by CNB