WRAP IT UP – PUT A BOW ON IT – AND GIVE THANKS FOR OUR GIFTS and BLESSINGS  (By Patrick Burk)

Dear Readers and Friends,

I am rarely speechless and often I am told I talk too much.  Many times I am labeled opinionated and I can be accused of upsetting the status quo.  All of these things are true.  Today, however,  I am humbled.  The feedback and offerings of discussion concerning this “Another Point of View” series have been wonderful.  I truly count your comments and interest as a blessing.  It would not be possible without the insight from my good friend Paul.

Since my former inserts in the blog were a little lengthy, I have chosen to close with just five points that I hope we all can take with us.  My point in doing this series is the result of lunches and cups of coffee that Paul and I shared together where we talked about the simple things in life and also the definite problems.  One such problem Paul would like to fix as he and his family go on their journey of starting a new church, is to find the answer to the question, “Why some people just won’t go to church?”  I think we touched on a few of my ideas.  Here are those promised points.

• The church is more than just one doctrine and it is more than the building that houses it.  It is the people and the sharing.  A church can be anywhere people share ideas and thoughts about God, kindness and humanity

• As someone stated in the response to my Blog #2 about inclusion, Be careful about suggesting that outward behavior is sinful in others when in fact many that may appear to be without sin, do sin in private.  We are all sinners and exclusion based on outward lifetstyle is not the answer.  Christ would include, not exclude.

• Behold the many ways that God can be worshiped and do not discount ideas that are new or innovative.  Remember that as new things do come forward (such as blogs and music), they are too the creations of God.  Use them.  If rock music turns many on to the path of kindness and caring….let the amplifiers be heard.  If computer and blogging is your thing…well type away.  Would Christ be a rock star?  Maybe or maybe not. but I would like to think he would stop and listen to the music.

• Finally, be careful of those that request money from you to include you in prayers.  If the money request is going to feed the hungry or take care of children or bring peace to someone’s heart or home, that is one thing but, it should never be considered a condition for receiving prayer from any person that is truly close to God.  The “big-buck pastors” of television are not the answer.   The true answer is the pastors and people who “preach in the streets.”

I thank you all for your kindness and consideration of reading this series.  I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.  My biggest admiration and thanks go to my friend Paul.  I wish him and his lovely family all the best.  He is a true gift.  During this Christmas Season I pray for peace and wonder to uplift all your hearts.  I pray that all will include and enjoin others to experience the peace and kindness and I wish you all love.

God Bless

Patrick Burk

Hey guys!

Tomorrow Pat is going to wrap up his series “A Different Perspective on Church.”

If you haven’t read these posts… please do so! They are a bit lengthy but certainly worth the time it will take to read them.

• Part 1 – Going to church – my early years
• Part 2 – Why some people are not included
• Part 3 – Why some people feel that they don’t belong
• Part 4 – Money makes the world go round?

Pat gives us an honest look at the church through the eyes of a man who does not go to church and is admittedly skeptical of the church.

I want to publicly thank Pat and tell him and you that I appreciate his willingness to go on the record… particularly on the blog of a man who has committed his life to serving God through the church.

This series of posts has been helpful to me and I hope to you too!

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND? (By Patrick Burk )
I am so encouraged about sharing ideas and creating dialogue about topics that have always been of issue to me.  In fact, I think that discussion and discovery of ideas leads us all on a more enlightened journey.  I find that by sharing, I too receive and that has been true with these blog entries as well.  With all that being said, I think this may be a tough one.

Does anyone else out there feel uncomfortable with the large amounts of money that many of today’s ministries and churches are amassing?  A friend of mine went to a service in a church near Buffalo, New York and was amazed that the dollar amount that was raised to “Lift up the word of the  Lord” was announced at the end of the service.  It started him thinking about the whole dollars and cents of religion.

Together we looked into the church in question and found out some very strange things.  Many members of the church were not aware that the church covered significant expenses for those that “worked ” for the congregation.  In fact, the minister’s wife was allowed a monthly clothing allowance although no one ever saw her do anything but sit in the front of the church for each service.

Knowing some of the individuals that attend this church on a regular basis, I asked if they knew just how much money went to the minister and his family and did they ever see or receive a financial report?  They did remember seeing financial statements for the church but did not recall many specifics.  They also didn’t remember how much went for personnel of expenses of church officers.  Now all of this may be normal.  We did find out that significant amounts went for personal expenses such as trips, clothing, cars, gasoline and resident’s utilities.  I am sorry if this offends, but I did not see the connection to serving the Lord and the need for a cashmere scarf.

What all of this points out is another answer of why some people do not attend church.  There is simply a lack of trust in organizations that profess the need to include money or tithing as a main component of worship.  Now my familiarity with many churches and our local organizations does point to the fact that most of the church’s finances are scrutinized and do indeed go where the money is stated it goes.  I see no one getting wealthy off of a congregation here.  How do we explain however, the vast number of “televangelists” and “star powered pastors” that live in million dollar homes, have wonderful cars, wear expensive clothing and still have long running telethon type prayers shows begging for money to have your prayers heard?  It is a shame that this still happens.  People sending thousands to ministries to have prayers heard or to get on certain lists or to obtain a relic or blessed vile of water, this is to many the reality of today’s religion.  And who could blame them for thinking it?

Now, I am not talking about the local pastors that work for small amounts of money and have all the same expenses that a normal family has.  They are due their fair, negotiated wage.  What does upset many is the “NEED” for a Brand New Hummer or a $4500 Coat or a Million-Dollar Home, the fruits of asking for their members to give until it hurts to “lift up the word of the Lord.” There is one current televangelist that believes that they are entitled to these things so that his followers will see that the Lord provides for those that are righteous and doing the Lord’s work.  Doling out millions to make a pastor look good does nothing to ‘Lift up the Word of the Lord”.  God does not care if you praise him in Gucci Loafers or your bedroom slippers.  Does that mean that the struggling family, with small children, who are gracious and giving and kind, but who also have to scrimp and go without are not righteous enough?  The answer to all who want wealth is to continue to pray for wealth and God will provide?  And yet there are millions who pay to pray each day.

It is this mentality that has turned so many people off and yet the television has for years exploited good people into tithing for prayer.  The Catholic Church used to have tithing for atonement and forgiveness in the dark ages.  No wonder so many get discouraged to belong.  They feel it is just better to stay on the fringe rather than get taken.  I think there is a lot of merit in the quote that “Religious Service is a devotion, not a profession.”   Being a Christian or participating in church should not be money driven.

I hope I offend no one by saying that I will keep my prayer time to praying for peace in the world and those in need.  I’ll still look at the big buck television crowd of  “pastors” with tons of suspicion and I’ll GO TO WORK to find my cash!

WHY DO SOME FEEL THAT THEY DON’T BELONG? (By Patrick Burk)

Today is a fine day.  In the Western New York area we are getting the break we need between our first major snowfall of the year and our first Nor-Eastern Storm.  I enjoy the snow, although it is hard to make your way through it sometimes.  I admit I do not shovel it.  As it covers and blankets the ground I think there is nothing more beautiful than a White Christmas.  I also think that the winter and snow symbolizes renewal and anticipation.

That is what this time of year is for many, a time of renewal. In participating in this format, I too am looking at a time of renewal and hopefully starting a dialogue that will assist all of us to a better understanding of each other.  Many people feel like they are floating or just out there with no path and no direction, little faith and not much to look forward to.  If you ask them about church or faith, they will tell you “They just don’t feel like they belong.”

We all learn in different ways and we all have our own styles of learning and obtaining the ideas that we want to know.  I tend to be the impatient type that goes to the source or I seek out an expert, but as many can tell you, I really have to take the direct route.  My plate is often overflowing.  With that in mind, a few non-church friends, a few regular church attendees and myself were exactly looking at this issue.  Many people feel that they do not belong.  An interesting discussion soon evolved.

Let’s look at this question and concern by examining it from an organizational perspective. First there are the people that do belong.  They are the joiners and are willing to find comfort in style, message, content and availability of the organization that they are joining.  Second are the followers.  This group is similar to the first with the exception that they may have some compromises in the areas of style, content and message.  They basically believe, but maybe do not hold true to all.  Thirdly there are those that find it difficult to belong.  This group feels they are not listened to, they feel ignored or in some cases (as stated in previous blog entries) insulted or left behind.  Often this is because of a core belief that they just can’t change or compromise.  Finally, there are those that feel they will never belong.  They are the searchers of truths and ideas that mold only to their liking.  They will never compromise on an issue and actually feel better about being left out.

Now remember, these types come from an organization perspective but they can be included in discussing belonging to a specific church or religion.  It is the third group that bothers me the most.  Why is it difficult?  Why do they feel ignored, insulted or left behind.   In our group discussion, we found it interesting where we all felt we sat in this scenario.  Believe it or not, I feel somewhere between the second and third.  I often bristle at rules but I often compromise on issues as well.  I am all about compromise, especially if it promotes inclusion and acceptance.  Now with faith many will say there is no compromise.  Some will even attest to the fact that there is only one way to participate.  Do we really believe that?  When do we separate the importance of the message of Christ from the delivery of said message.

Look at this example. A friend plays in a rock band and wanted to have a service that was centered around rock music.  It was not going to take away from the regular service, it was going to be promoted as exactly what it sounded like.  A rock band bringing their special music and type of worship to any that wanted to listen or come.  It was bringing worship into another area.  Many in the church felt that this was quite an undertaking, but thought that it really was a good idea.  In many areas, churches are not overflowing with teens and young people.  It was thought that this would be a way to connect or perhaps more importantly invite.  Unfortunately, the service never happened.  It was decided that rock music was indeed too secular, too motivated to sell and not conducive to the message of that church.  The group took their band to a local venue, played their inspiring music and packed the house with young and old.  Where I find that this is “raising worship to a new level”, there are those that feel that since it is “new” or “untried” it can’t prove of value to God.  I hope I do not offend by saying that I feel that they were wrong.

I realize that this is only one example, but it is perhaps my most profound because I witnessed it…remember I am impatient about learning.  I wanted to know everything so I asked the band members what their original intention was.  They hoped that twice a month they would be able to perform at this church and have social events after which would allow for discussions about faith and the church.  No cost to attend, a special collection taken up for those that could afford and given to a local charity and a place for young people or indeed anyone to discuss faith.  It seem liked a win/win situation to me….instead it became a way to be exclusive and a way to reduce interest in that church and faith.  Sure they played at a local establishment, but little discussion ensued and the band and its followers left that church and in some cases never joined if they were interested.  They felt like they did not belong.

There is a lot to be said about mixing up the messenger while staying on track with the message.  Would Christ be a Rock Star?  Maybe or maybe not….but I think he at least would have listened to the music.  He would have at least looked to see its value in spreading the Word.

NEXT UP…… Money Makes the World Go Round?????

So what do you guys think about what Pat is saying?

Let’s talk.

Just click on the blue letters that say “Comment” beneath the blog post and share your thoughts!