If Only They Lived it

As with my ruminations last night, which spilled out of me this morning, a further chapter in Dick Van Dyke's book/memoir My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business illuminated for me the reasons behind Dick's seeming mention of both a church life and a lack of Christ in his focus.

In his chapter entitled Some Kind of Nut, Dick lays out the tale of a board of elders meeting in which the church was dealing with the hot-bed racial issue. As was with the times of the late 60's, those who truly followed after Christ's heart thought that they should join together with a "black" church. Dick goes on to say that the youth minister there, Charlie Brown, who had recently left for a position in another city, would have been for it, and that he had always lived out the love of Christ (though Dick regrettably shies away from His Name). But, with his inspirational youth minister gone and a board meeting at hand (which can often drive even the best of us to atheism, lol) the worst happened. An old man from the board of elders declared that he would never allow "them" to come together with "us."

Dick recounts that he left church that moment and never stepped back in a church again. He makes the immediate claim that He and God were good, but organized religion and him were through. It makes me think of a quote I once heard attested to Gandhi. Gandhi did in fact say (of Christians), "You Christians sit on a book with enough power in it to blow the whole world up and then put it back together again, and yet you treat it as if it were nothing but a piece of good literature." Gandhi is also said to have made a statement that went something to the point that he would become a Christian instantly if only he saw one living as Christians are supposed to.

This brings me to the thought that Mr. Van Dyke inspired to me on this night: We have to live it. Luckily, this theme has been coursing through the Christian world as almost a buzz-word for the last few years. Unfortunately, that's often all it seems to be. No wonder books like They Love Jesus, but Don't Like the Church exist.

It seems to me for all our big words about being a people who are defined by LOVE, that we lack this vital characteristic when push comes to shove... or when push comes to shove BACK. I am reminded tonight that the only Bible some people will ever read is the life of a "Christian" they see displayed. No wonder people are often confused about what "Christianity" really is.

I lament stories like this tale from Dick Van Dyke's past, and I regret in instance in my own weakness where I have added to someone else's own tale of why they walked away. In the end, however, it will take a community of people who REALLY live out what they're supposed to before the world can really be changed for Christ.

File this under simple ruminations. Nothing expert about it. This is just what's on my mind.