Dan's Marinations

Now there's something you would not expect to hear a Christian minister to say.  This very true statement obviously requires explanation.  It began in early October when a hospital I visited had the Christmas portions of Messiah  playing through their piped in background music.  Even if it's really early, at least it's glorious music I thought.  The displays of ornaments, artificial trees, lights, etc. in Lowe's in late October I could almost grasp because folks may want to begin buying that stuff early to avoid too much holiday rush. A couple of things pushed me over the edge, however.  Hearing "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" on the week before Thanksgiving as I scrolled through the radio stations in the car began it.  A beautiful warm November day over a week before the turkeys hide to avoid becoming dinner, and I have to hear snowy Christmas songs?  Churches too often buy into this by cranking up "Joy to the World," and "O Come All Ye Fait

I've heard people from time to time tell others something like this, "you ought to come to our church we really need you."  Many of the people that I've heard say this are faithful Christians and church members.  I also respect that they say this from the best of intentions.  In one instance, I know that it refers to a church that does desperately need new members.  However, "we need you," is one of the worst slogans for evangelism I can imagine. From a practical standpoint, "please join our church, we need you," is more likely to drive someone off than it is to induce them to join.  This sort of phrase invests all sorts of hope that this person or family will somehow fix a church that is broken, will somehow save a church that is dying.  I doubt that anyone that a church would actually want to have will join if he or she is going to be looked at as some sort of savior/hero figure.  The person who would like to join understanding that he or she w