How Easy To Be Critical

We drove through some back roads in the central south of Kentucky. A Baptist church of one flavor or another seemed to appear at every crossroad. We crossed over into Tennessee. Now Churches of Christ of various flavors appeared.

My tradition is Methodist. I am quite Wesleyan in outlook.

I thought about how the Baptists in town were skeptical that Methodists were really Christian. Joe, the pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), used to say he led the only Christian church in town. (It was a joke. I think.) Let us not even mention the Protestants and the Catholics.

But I pondered all those varieties of churches we passed.

What if each brought the peace of God and a community to the people who attend? Do we all need to go to the same place to worship? Are there not varieties of style that speak to the individual souls?

I like the formality and mystery of Catholic Mass, yet a dose of the “rock concert and a TED Talk” style is motivating at times. My wife likes the typical Protestant liturgy with familiar songs.

Why criticize others? We should be all on the same track. Just tasting different varieties of the tea.

Relax. Follow your path faithfully. Why worry about others? Life is too short (he says writing this the day after yet another birthday).

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