Come to Think of It

By Alvin Rose, Jr.

[Page 173]

     (In the following story, Alex is a "member of the church;" Billy is a "sectarian.")

     "Well, I sure do appreciate you inviting me to church tonight, Alex. You know, I don't believe I've ever been to one of your churches before."

     "It isn't my church, Billy, it's the Lord's."

     "Oh! Well, I don't believe I've ever been to one of them just the same. Are you having a good revival?"

     "It isn't a revival, Billy, it's a gospel meeting."

     "Oh! Well, here we are. My, y'all have a lovely church."

     "It's a meeting place, Billy, a meeting place."

     "Why, yeah, the sign does say 'Church of Christ Meeting Place,' doesn't it."

     "It certainly does. We don't want people to think that we think a building is a church."

     "Oh! You know, this is a beautiful sanctuary. I wish we had one like it at First Church."

     "Billy, it's an auditorium, not a sanctuary. There's nothing holy about this building."

     "An auditorium? Alex, an auditorium is where they have movies, plays, rock and roll shows, and such stuff."

     "Billy, are you making fun of my church?"

     "No, no! I'm sorry if I offended you."

     That's all right. You just don't understand, that's all."

     "I guess I don't. By the way, isn't Reverend James Alton your new pastor?"

     "He isn't a 'reverend," Billy. I sug-

[Page 174]

gest that you read Psalms 111:9, as it says that only God is reverend. And Brother Alton isn't a pastor either; he is our minister. Our elders are our pastors."

     "Oh!"

     "Billy, where are you going?"

     "I'm leaving."

     "Leaving? Why are you leaving? Aren't you staying for the service?"

     "Mercy, no! Look, Alex! There's nothing personal, but your church is all mixed up. You say it's not your church; it's the Lord's. You don't have revivals; you have gospel meetings. It isn't a church building; it's a meeting place. You even think people are so stupid that you put it on your sign, as if we didn't know the difference in the church, the body of Christ, and the church, the house of worship. You call your sanctuary an auditorium, which is the most non-religious title I've ever heard of. You don't call your pastor, excuse me, minister, reverend, quoting some scripture to me. Let's see the scripture where a preacher is called 'brother.' Incidentally, there's one in Acts 9:17, where Saul of Tarsus is called 'Brother Saul' by Ananias before he baptizes him. But Saul was not a preacher at the time. It seems to me that if you'd be as concerned about preaching the Good News of Christ as you are terminologies, you'd go a lot farther. You know something else, I can't tell any real difference in these terms anyway."

     "Hmmm, (thinking to himself after Billy's departure) come to think of it...."