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One Thing I Wish I Understood About the Bible Years Ago
On any given Sunday in my evangelical church, the preacher is likely to hold up his leather-bound Bible in an act of certainty which is meant to defy anyone who might disagree and shouts, “It’s pretty clear! It says it right here!” He’s met with a smattering of “amens” indicative of those in the congregation who were appreciative of the Christian back-rubbing at the expense of those not like us.
Me? I usually just sit there and wait for the moment to pass. I love those people who said “amen.” They helped raise me. They still are the first to care for me and my family when we’re in need. Some of the people who go to that church are my close friends. But I couldn’t just sit there this time.
This week I shook my head in disagreement. I couldn’t help it.
A head shake might not seem like a big deal. But I sit next to my in-laws in the second row, center section because they love me and it means a lot to them. At almost 6' 3" I’m kind of a big guy, and with the stadium-style seating angled towards the front of the sanctuary, I’m not exactly hidden.
As I shook my head, I felt like there were 150 sets of eyes burning into the back of my scalp.
It’s just as likely nobody noticed. But it didn’t matter. I just couldn’t help it this time.
