Sunday, August 12, 2007
I attended Sunday School and Services at Oakland Baptist Church of Corinth at the invitation of my friend, Steve Morelock. Steve runs the
lawnmower repair shop at Biggers ACE Hardware in downtown Corinth. I know that Steve meant well by inviting me to attend his Sunday
School class, but even he questioned the apparent lack of organization the teacher exhibited. I observed that one or two of the class
attendees, who appeared to be regulars, made an occasional reference to this or that really great book he had been reading (religious books I
presume) and had with him that day; otherwise, I did not hear much in the way of any reference to the Bible. I don't care what book you talk
about, the Bible trumps them all in my estimation. A more interesting book I haven't found; so why would someone prefer to teach out of
another book if he is a Sunday School teacher? I don't get it. Good or bad, right or wrong, perfect or imperfect, the Bible is more pregnant
with knowledge and information than any Biblical reference I've ever seen. These people need to throw out their Sunday School books and
just teach from the Bible. The lesson would be much more interesting.
Another thing I noticed was that there was no disagreement among anyone. No matter what the comment was from any person there everyone
agreed with it To me you can't have a credible conversation or discussion without some disagreement. The only places where everyone
always agrees is in a totalitarian society or a cult. If everyone is always agreeing with everything everyone says then how can you have any
meaningful progress in learning and understanding?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
I attended Sunday School for the next three Sundays at First Baptist Church of Corinth. My intention had been to visit around after my initial
visit to Oakland. The first place where I attempted to go to Sunday School was Tate Baptist. I entered the Sunday School part of the building
and was greeted by a gentleman who referred to himself as the Sunday School superintendent. I asked if he had a class for non-married
adults. "Sure, do you have a spouse coming?" was his response to my question. My reaction to that was to make an exodus. I drove over to
First Baptist that very morning. Tate needs an intelligent person to run their Sunday School.
I have never attended a church or Sunday School other than a Baptist, so I decided to try something different. I stopped by the big Methodist
church in downtown Corinth. I may as well have been a fox at a hen party. I walked all around the place and not one single person said "Hi,"
"Bye," or "Kiss my foot." There is no one there to greet any visitors who may happen to drop in, and I guess that's because either they never
have any or they don't want any.
Two Sundays ago I did attend Sunday School at First Baptist. The teacher made reference to James Michener's The Source. You want my
opinion on that book? By all means, if you are intelligent, read that book! What a book! I read it 30 years ago and loved every word of it. But
it doesn't belong in a Sunday School class. It is a work of fiction.
I would like to continue to attend Sunday School in the area, but I am not going to say that I am going to learn something about the Bible. I
don't believe there is anyone in this area that can hold a candle to me when it comes to Bible knowledge. Arrogance? Bring it on.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Well, I guess I missed a couple of Sundays. As I've stated elsewhere, I have not attended Sunday School in over 20 years. I would say the
summer of 1986 would be the last time I even attended Sunday School once. I cannot say how the people who are members of the class I
attend view my presence. I surmise that everyone in the class (except for me) is married. They are all nice, however. As it is I cannot tell how
serious these people are about their beliefs. They appear to be sincere and I detect no snobbishness among them. If they only knew about
me...
As I've indicated I have only attended there three times. Everyone is nice, but no one has asked me anything about my spiritual state. I have
fielded a few questions about my personal life (where I work, how many children have), but beyond that: nothing. No big deal. Baptists,
though they are friendly, tend to be rather shy when it comes to spiritual matters.
Sunday School lesson concerned itself with Matthew 8 and 9. The following things, among others, happen in those chapters: leprosy healed;
centurion's servant healed; Peter's mother-in-law made well; the question is: "What is the lesson to be learned from Jesus healing the sick,
raising the dead, etc.?" Why would Jesus heal someone of leprosy if that person is just going to get sick again someday and die anyway?
The answer, in my opinion, should be obvious. He says in 9:5, 6 (KJV) "For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say,
Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power to forgive sins..." The important lesson to learn here that even though
Jesus has the power to heal one's physical infirmities, more importantly he has the power to forgive one's spiritual infirmities. Just as when he
touched the leper, who was instantly healed, Jesus has the power to instantly forgive us of our sins and cleanse us spiritually.