Judson Baptist

The reason for the visit to Judson Baptist Church started with Ashley's neighbor who was really wanting her and Nathan to visit. It was "Friend Day" so we were excited to have the opportunity to satisfy Ashley's obligation to visit Judson AND be able to catch a glimpse of the Baptist denomination to be able to blog about it :)

Melissa's View:
Ohhhh, the Baptist!! Ok, so I grew up Baptist, and now have been reminded why I chose a new denomination. Man they have not changed one bit, but at least they are consistent! We were invited for “Friend Day” and the church as a whole was so excited to have any new “unclean hearts” they might have the chance to save. We were very welcomed, which was nice. We started with Sunday School that morning and had the chance to mingle with Ashley’s neighbors. The guy that led the lesson was a little cheesy, but I could tell he was nervous. He spoke on friends and how our friendships should reflect the relationship you have with Jesus. The teacher asked a guy to come give his testimony about how some of his friends had invited him to church and now his life is different. I thought the guy did a great job sincerely sharing his life experience about how he had been changed. So, up to this point I was ok with what was said, I wasn’t moved to be involved, but at least agreed with the message. (Again, as a side note, I agree with WHAT the Baptist believe, just not their APPROACH!) And then the strangest thing happened…as the teacher was wrapping up the lesson, it led to the topic of salvation and he invited us that if we were interested in salvation or knowing more about it “Don’t talk to me, go to the pastor.” This was so odd to me…you mean to tell me that a person/the visitor that is already nervous and questioning what is going on in his heart should go to the one person that is head of the church??? How intimidating!! If I had questions, I would want to go to my Sunday School teacher or a friend in the class, not the one guy that preaches to the whole congregation!! Or wait…was this just a set up for the service later on…cue your chance to be saved!

The service was given by a guest speaker and it was a pretty typical fire and brimstone service…”if you don’t believe you WILL go to hell, my son did, so don’t be like him” (maybe Ash or Nate can expand on that a little more). The part that really got to me was the end/alter call…oh my gosh did it bring back emotions that I remember as a child but now as an adult feel that I can put into words. It seemed that the value and the worth of the church was based on how many people they could “guilt” into walking to the front of the church and confess how dirty and sinful they are and accept Christ into their hearts. The alter call was an intense almost 30 min. There was a family of 4 that was sitting in front of us that I had been watching the whole time, the parents with their daughter about 12 and son about 6. The little boy had been coloring the whole time and right at the end when the speaker was laying it on thick the little boy excitedly said “I want to go!!” So without missing a beat, not even eye contact with her husband she grabbed his hand and took him to the front. I think it put a little pressure on the sister to follow suit because about 15 min later daddy was taking her to the front for her turn….oh how the parents must have been so proud…2 saved children in one day! What was said for them to feel “moved” to be saved? Do they even understand? Did they feel guilted or even just a fun activity to do to get out of their seats? Which is exactly why I feel this is the wrong way to go about making a decision like this…it should be a PROCESS of learning more and growing in a relationship with Christ and not a snap decision that you make in 10 minutes because it sounds like a good idea or you feel guilty if you don’t.

While I am on my tirade, I might mention also that what the heck are the rest of us (us amazing Christians that have already been saved) suppose to do with the 30 minutes that we wait for other souls to be saved. They could at least give us some guidance about “be praying for the others in the room” “be praying about what you want God to show you this week” “pray for the people in Haiti”…etc….something so we feel like we are getting something out of the service and a part of the church family rather than just sitting around. I was bored, obviously analyzing the family in front of me, and hungry! Glad they caught my attention…GO GOD!

Ashley's View:
Melissa really hit the nail on the head here.  Although I spent a lot of time at Christ Church that has a Pentecostal background, this fire and brimstone altar call focus was very familiar to me--it's not just the Baptists!  The things that stood out to me here...of course, the best line of the day "If you are here for salvation, don't see me--see the pastor!"  Way to go, buddy--you just proved complete incompetence in your own faith, in my opinion.  I don't believe in just seeing a "higher up" in order to talk about God, as it's not a hierarchy of experts but a beautiful creation of people that can all learn and grow from each other...as we are all little reflections of God within each one of us.  


The family in front of us...yes, it saddened me to see how that worked.  I actually think the kids were younger than what Mel said--most likely 4 and 9...and that little boy could have cared less about what they were talking about.  I definitely think he just wanted a change of scenery and thought it'd be fun to go up to the front.  The girl was definitely pressured.  She didn't want to go, she didn't want to go alone, and I don't think it was jitters for Jesus.  This was a girl who did not need to have her "born again" moment be one of pressure and awkwardness--how much time was she able to really think about what she was doing vs. just thinking about all the people in the room watching her?
The altar call...oh, the altar call.  In comparison to what I've seen in my day at Christ Church, it was fairly tame...no shouting out in tongues and weeping/wailing.  BUT...then it got a little crazy.  At the end, they took around a microphone and asked everyone whether they had been saved or rededicated, and whether they were going to get baptized.  Wow--really?  Not only did it take a very personal experience and broadcast it to everyone (although being an open emotional book seems to fit the evangelical bill), but it was very clear the church is all about results--they want to see the tally marks on how many people were saved vs. rededicated, and how many people they can baptize.  I know this, because the church program had the numbers from the last week--they really do tally it up and track each emotional moment.  Hmm...I get frustrated with churches having no concept of business...here is a church that does...and makes sure to track the quantifiable results to make sure they are doing exactly what they set out to do.  Maybe that isn't bad.  But it sure makes me feel more like a number and not a "sister in Christ."


Finally, I think Mel made an awesome point.  I remember at Christ Church I felt that it was all about saving the poor lost souls...and then what?  It's like the family where all of the focus is on the problem child, and finally the model child acts out...why?  In order to get some freakin' attention!  My thinking is that we are to be the church by going out into the world and showing Christ's love through our own actions.  But the church...the actual building...isn't this the place for Christians to recharge?  Isn't this the place for fellow believers to congregate together in fellowship and worship?  Then why oh why do I see churches who spend all their focus on adding to the flock within the church--to saving you and re-saving you and not on challenging you on living as a Christian day-to-day?  I remember feeling this as a tween at church...since I did the baptizing deal when I was 12, I was checked off the list as saved.  So unless I was a bad girl and then went to the altar in a mess of tears and guilt on my backward ways, I didn't get any attention.  I did what Melissa talked about...twiddled my thumbs for an hour while altar call was under way (oh yes, an hour is SHORT at the church I went to!).

I'm not so sure I see an altar call as a good fit at church.  Shouldn't that be for the revivals and the visitor days?  Okay...it was "Friend Day" at Judson.  They picked the right day.  I love that they have a friend day to encourage new people to visit.  I love that everyone was so warm and welcoming (although I know now that only the pastor can really talk salvation.  I know his son...does that count?)  I love the fact that I got postcards in the mail from the head of the children's department to both my girls thanking them for visiting on friend day--hand written, no less!  These people really reached out to us, and I can see how the Baptists really treat you like family.  Unfortunately, I felt there was a hidden agenda in the service not on finding a new friend, but on being that number to the list of  saved souls for the week.  And again, I want the church to be the "home" for Christians to recharge and regroup and be challenged--not to just convert souls over..

I want to end by talking about the woman that asked me to go to Judson.  She's the wife of one of the church staff, daughter-in-law to the pastor.  She is very involved in the church.  I met her while out walking in the neighborhood one day.  We had kids the same age and got to know each other.  And I have to say she truly exemplifies to me what a Baptist Christian should be.  She is, in my opinion, the greatest WWJD example.  She doesn't talk to me about religion and what my spiritual status is.  She never pressured me about going to church or where I'm at in my walk.  I've talked to her and she truly listens more than she speaks.  She asks questions, but never talks at me about God--like I see so many evangelicals do.  Evangelizing, in a sense, is really all about being a good salesperson.  And the key there is to identify the need...and then to sell to that need in a way they are most receptive to.   This woman has this down-pat...but never shows a hidden agenda.  She just genuinely loves people, enjoys people, and is happy to love them right where they are in life.  I don't question for a minute that she'd sit down with me in prayer or point out Bible references if I asked.  But she doesn't offer it up uninvited, and she invests time in getting to know others. She shows God's love instead of just talking about it.  She, to me, is a great example of why I don't throw out Christianity--because it's not all about hidden agendas and a checklist of who's right and wrong--it's about loving each other and fellowship--and she's got that right!

Nathan's View is way late to even matter.
OK, so I will make this short and sweet.  This church is pastored by the parents of some friends of ours and so I won't go into too much detail... A few simple observations to help the Baptists see the cracks in their organization.

First, to the Sunday School Teachers:  It was troubling to me that the TEACHER of the Sunday school class said "If you want salvation don't ask me...I don't know how to get you that...ask the preacher...ha ha ha."  Now this is admittedly extremely out of context, however, the very fact that if I wanted to know ANYTHING about salvation I would have to be referred to someone who knew what the hell they were talking about was mildly confusing AND a little Scientologyish (aha! another new word!).

Secondly, to all Baptists with kids:  The whole point of your version of Christianity is to be BORN AGAIN which should imply that you have a clear understanding of what you are about to do when you go down in front of the entire congregation and say you want to give your life over to Christ.  I would imagine (and hope) this moment is like that of the Amish, when they have gone through Rumschpringe and have made the choice to join fully or be banished forever from your friends and family.  Well I watched an 11 year old girl and her 7 year old brother colored on the bulletin, got shooshed by their parents a dozen times DURING the sermon, and watched one of them pick their nose and eat it.  THEN when the preacher asked "the good people to come down and give their lives over to Jesus" before they walked outside, got run over by a car, and spent eternity in hell, guess what happened. Those little bastards marched right down to the front...and I listened in amazement as the entire congregation unanimously "Awwed" when they stuck the microphone in their little faces and those kids said, "we came down here because we love Jesus and want to be with Him forever!"  I only wish I could have been in their little heads to hear the internal dialog of how they were moved by the preacher's words to make such an important decision.  I would like to think there is a special place in hell for Baptist parents who let their kids do such a thing...but there's not because they found a loop hole in the dogma which forgives them of such ignorant and ridiculous behavior.  

AHHH!!!!  Okay, I need to calm down...it is time to move on to my final observation.  WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU ARE SAVED IN THE SECRET LITTLE ROOM???!!!   As I saw it, you get saved, tell everybody what you are going to do differently in your life, and then they shuffle all the newly saved souls to a secret room!  What goes on back there?  Is Jesus back their shaking hands and handing out plaques saying "good job, you made the right choice?"  Is there a burning bush back there where only new souls get to make s'mores and have a wiener roast?  Sadly this will more then likely have to remain a mystery...besides, judging by how many times these folks have to be saved I am guessing they are tossed back into the world and quickly go back to their evil little ways, only this time, they have the piece of mind of heaven.  Ahhh the holes in your dogma God...I will admit...I expected more from you...but wait...could these holes be there to give us the room to meet you half way?  Nope...they are there to make ignorant feel in control and to piss people like me off.  Perhaps I will opt for the loop hole of the Meek...I hear they have a pretty good inheritance...I wonder if you have to pay taxes on that? (Sorry, bad banker joke.)