Thursday, March 25, 2010
All In
(Image borrowed from sarabarton.wordpress.com)
I'm busy.Really busy.
So busy that it's not uncommon for my roommates to greet me with clichés like "Hey, Stranger!" and "Hey! We have a roommate!"
I don't mind it. Other than the severe sleep deprivation, I like being out and about, doing things, being among people. I've never been much of a homebody.
When I leave my day job and the committees I joined to
Job's Daughters meetings, church duties, movie screenings, D&D games, book club...My social calendar is pretty full, just the way I like it. Sometimes I even wish there were more hours in the day so that I could REALLY do some good.
A few weeks ago, my attention was directed to a blog written by a young woman that calls herself a "Fake Mormon." The first post I read was from the day or so after she had been "outed" by PostSecret and she explained that she goes to church regularly and all, but she's not really into it.
While that's unfortunate, it wasn't her blog or a particular post that prompted me to write this. Instead, it was a few of the affirmative comments she received.
Because I read them. Or, at least, most of them.
Many encouraged the writer, or expressed solidarity with her. Some took occasion to bash the church.
But one recurring theme was that the LDS church is a "full-time" church that required too much of its members. Between THREE WHOLE HOURS of Sunday services--
(which includes Sunday School, which most other churches have too, but whatever)
--mid-week activities for the teenagers, Ward activities, socials, Boy Scouts, Relief Society activities, committee meetings, visiting each other, taking dinners to families that need help, organizing donation drives, family history research, going to the Temple, Family Home Evening...and the list goes on...it CAN be overwhelming sometimes.
But as I read comment after comment about the "demands" of the church, two things kept running through my mind. One was that I know PLENTY of churches that keep their congregation similarly occupied. Okay, so maybe they don't encourage their membership to can their own fruits and veggies, but they do a lot of the other stuff on the list.
There is a bigger issue here, though. The real common thread I saw among many of those commenters was a general lack of interest in serving others. Most of the complaints focused on Home and Visiting Teaching, and on callings, which we do without temporal compensation.
It got me to thinking.
Yeah. The LDS church is a full-time church.
But why isn't EVERY church a full-time church?
Why isn't every CITIZEN a full-time CITIZEN?
It's important to have interests and hobbies and time to pursue our passions and interests.
But if we took some of that time to help each other more, I can only imagine how much better a place the world would be.
I'm all in. And if there were more hours in a day, I'd find ways to fill those with something good.
Or I'd finally catch up on V and FlashForward. Whatever.
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Yeah... like you said... whatever :)
ReplyDeleteGetting herself on PostSecret probably got her more blog traffic than she ever expected. Actually, maybe that's exactly what she expected.
ReplyDeleteDo you really play D&D? I bet you have a million hit points and maximum charisma.
I thought all church's were full-time. Interesting comments she got.
ReplyDeleteOoohh I have been there! The fake one, but not because I felt it was too time consuming but because my heart wasn't in it and I couldn't give 100 percent, had I loved the main reason anyone goes to church I would have been find. So it has to be something deeper than they ask too much of her. Btw it was a nondenominational christian church so you're right all churches keep us busy for god :)
ReplyDeleteI've visited that blog as well- I found it through Post Secret and then Google, I admit. Personally, I think there are few things sadder in life than not living authentically- however you choose to define your authenticity.
ReplyDeleteI'm not Mormon and, while I am pretty familiar with the faith, I am not an expert or well versed. I won't claim to know the demands.
But here is what I do know. I'm a proud member of my United Methodist Church. I am also very involved and there are countless opportunities for ANY one to be very involved. IN fact, our church really requires a good amount of volunteerism from the congregation- we are a new church and we are struggling financially. A lot. For our congregation of about... 300 people, we have 2 full time pastors and 1 part time children's ministry coordinator. That is our entire staff. So volunteers are essential.
I spend... 3+ hours at church every Sunday. We have 2 services and I sing in both of them with the Praise Team. And now, between services, I'm leading a children's choir! In order to be part of the Praise Team, I attend rehearsal on Thurs eve for 1.5 hours.
I hope to eventually get back to what we call "Weds Night Connection." It's dinner, year round VBS for kids, and Bible study groups for adults. It doesn't work with my small kids right now. But maybe soon.
I serve on our Pastoral and Staff Support Team. I've been asked to take on a very special task in May (not talking about it yet- still wrapping my brain around it).
We have oodles of mission and ministry opportunities.
So LDS is not alone in the idea of the community of the church holding up the church. In mind, it's what we are called to do by God. To serve Him and His people through service and time and talents.
You still live here? I as packing to move in my craft stuff too... drat.
ReplyDeleteand NIKOL her Charisma is the highest in the group.
It's always interesting to me when people become very outspoken against the LDS church (or any church for that matter). If you don't believe it, fine, but why have the hate? Obviously some people find God and peace through that religion, so let them be.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand the hate. Period. If you don't agree with something, fine. But why do you even take the time to care about something in which someone else believes so strongly and doesn't affect you at all?
ReplyDeleteI hope you realize that comment wasn't directed towards YOU but to the LDS haters. You are obviously not hateful...you follow crazy liberals like me! :)
ReplyDeleteWell I can't help but wonder why if she's so disenchanted she doesn't just move on to a place where she doesn't feel that way?!!
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly not a church goer, but I used to be a devoted Nazarene in high school, and we spent every bit as much time as you describe on church activities. At the time, I loved it. Those were my friends. That's who I wanted to be with!
ReplyDeleteAnd I know many people of various religions who spend that much time at church. I don't think it's about the denomination. And besides, it doesn't sound like you are REQUIRED to do all these things. It's up to the individual to do as much or as little as they choose.
I am a busy person, and some times (like the past few weeks) are busier than others. So, if anyone had an excuse to be a lazy, selfish person who couldn't be bothered to help others, it would be me. I may not be a religious person, but volunteering my time and doing things to help both folks I know and folks I don't is something I actually enjoy doing. So, I do what I can. Do what you love and love what you do, is a pretty good recipe for happiness.
ReplyDeleteYou do Jobs Daughters?!?!?!? isnt that a CHRISTIAN group?!
ReplyDeleteI was a jobie!! Awww....I didn't even know they still existed! crazy.