08.30.07 Ambush (Pt3)
I ran down an isle scared of hell when I was six. I realized there was more to “salvation” than that when I was twelve. When I was thirteen I got called into the principals office for praying.
I was ticked off that it was against the law to “pray in school.” I was ticked off because my youth minister told us we should be. We had rights, he said, and this is a Christian country, he said.
So I started a bible study on my middle school campus. Not because I needed more time studying the bible. Not because I needed more time with Christian friends talking about Christian stuff. Not because I lacked the time to pray outside of school hours. I did this only because I wanted to A) be more spiritual than everyone else and B) be seen being more spiritual than everyone else.
At first it was me and a friend, in the crowded cafeteria before school, our bibles open reading one chapter together and then bowing our heads, sometimes while wearing a Jesus t-shirt of some kind. Then it grew to ten. And I started “teaching” and not just reading. I taught mostly about how the “world” will hate us if we meet together before school to be uber-spiritual. I taught about how dark and bad the “world” is, how blind the “world” is, how mean the “world” is to uber-spiritual people like us. Pat, pat, pat on the back. Look how good I am and see how bad they are. That sort of thing.
When our group grew too large to be ignored the principal asked me into his office. He explained that he was a Christian too but I was breaking a rule with my meetings and needed to stop. He told me, I’ll never forget, that I didn’t have to be loud and showy to be a good Christian.
Our youth minister found out about all this hassle I got - because we complained to him. The church attorney got involved. The lead pastor got involved. The principal called me into his office again a few days later. Members of his church (not mine) lived across the street from the school and said they’d love to have us meet in their backyard every morning if we wanted to move our meetings off school grounds.
We moved to their front yard instead, refusing to hide our light under a bushel or, apparently, behind a privacy fence. And our church moved ahead with legal action against the school district. And, funny thing, without all the attention in the cafeteria, without everyone seeing how religious we were, with us less noticeable across the street, our group dwindled and, after a few weeks, ceased to exist completely.
Of course the lady with the clipboard didn’t know all this when she started in on rights and faith and public school. I felt a little like Paul that night in Florida. He held the coats of Stephen’s murderers and watched him die of stoning. He hunted Christians, believed they were enemies of God. Then, one blinding light later, he was converted into his former enemy’s image.
I’ve become the principal sitting at his desk saying, “I’m one of you, really I am, but you’re wrong. You don’t have to be loud and showy to be a Christian.”
The story doesn’t end well. Clipboard lady and I talked about prayer a little - how it’s not an evangelistic tool but a conversation between us and God. We talked about how demanding our way and getting it also gets every other religion their way; would she be OK with a Buddhist praying out loud over the school’s public address system? We talked and talked. She didn’t change her mind. I didn’t change mine.
I finally asked her, “If your kids’ schools are damaging your kids spiritually, and that’s not good if they are, then have you considered home schooling? I’m not saying you should, but at home you can teach all the bible you want, allow prayer, be sure they never get taught about homosexuality and anything other than a six day creation. You can have your way at home.” (It’s right across the street, in the backyard, where no one will see you.)
“No, that wouldn’t work.”
I hugged her, said good-bye and turned to walk away.
The “volunteer” shook my hand as I passed him heading out the door and he apologized for coming on too strong at first. And then he said, “Hey, I know where I know you from. You were on the news weren’t you?”
I looked back over my shoulder and kept walking. “That was me,” the clipboard lady beamed. “We was talking about my petition...”
Lights, camera, action. Another loud showy Christian is born.
Kristopher said:
I hope you at least were able to get her to see that her petition is not the only solution. In high school I was one of the kids whom would gather around the flagpole on the first day of school to pray. Each year was going to be different. But, by the time we got our first report card, I was smoking in the parking lot and getting drunk at parties every Friday night. I thought that if I went through the ‘acts’ that I was told a Christian should do, I would have a great relationship with God. Thankfully I have since been able to separate religion from having a relationship with God.
This week, however, I ran into a religion problem again. I have been teaching the high school Sunday school at my in-law’s church. I have been asked to continue teaching the class. Young people are actually getting excited about Sunday school. The problem: I am required to have a ‘church member’ with me in the class unless I “transfer my letter”, for whatever that means. I guess I am not trustworthy if I’m not a member.
I am a member, however, of the family of God. I see no reason to enter into formal membership with people to be able to serve the Lord in that manner. Maybe I just don’t get it. Does anyone else have a differing opinion regarding church membership?
ally said:
well High 5 for sticking to yer guns shaun
Zack said:
Thanks for this site, Shaun.
I really appreciate your perspective, and I really, really appreciate the D.W. interview.
Guys like you give me hope that someday, being a ‘follower of Jesus’ will be a good thing in the eyes of even those who don’t believe.
Shaun Groves said:
D.W.?
Zack said:
Derek Webb, in reference to your recent podcast. I really enjoyed it! ;0)
Todd said:
So are loud and obnoxious Christians born or bred?
DrewbieTech said:
I would say they are bred. My step-dad is a pastor, and growing up it never seemed odd to me that he didn’t go out of his way to be a “loud and obnoxious” Christian, yet God used him all the time to bring people to faith and minister to their needs. I’ve never seen him give away a tract or petition to be allowed to pray in a school. I didn’t come to faith until I was 17, and after I did, I began to attend church with some friends from my job. Their church definitely had more of an emphasis on being that loud Christian, especially in youth group there. So, that’s who I was challenged to be, but it never felt comfortable. Since then, I’ve re-examined the scriptures to see what it looks like to follow Christ. Seems to me that the world can tell we are believers by our love, not how lout our t-shirts or voices are.
Anyway, that’s my two cents; I think they’re bred.
said:
Perhaps the clipboard lady started with good intentions. It sounds like she had a very worldly reaction to a perceived wrong. I praise God that even when I had a “clipboard lady” mentality, He did not leave me there. He didn’t leave you there, either. If she has a true love of God, He can lead her into a deeper Christianity. We shouldn’t be so quick to look down our noses at her and others like her.
Let me go ahead and clarify- I am not saying that you, Shawn, are looking down your nose at her. Many of the comments left on these postings are focused on her shortcomings, and those postings are what I am referring to.
Cali Amy said:
Thanks for your comments Geneva. I was longing for more grace yesterday myself.
And it’s true. Some people my forever be loud and showy, but I think a lot of us go through different phases of growth.
It sounds to me like you handled it really well Shaun. You showed her respect and represented your position well in so doing.
I hope that the society doesn’t get to the point where every Christian feels they have to homeschool to protect their children. It’s not a realistic option for all families, but it is a great option for some. That’s just a side thought.
Shawn Bashor said:
Loud showy christian probably goes to the loud showy church…
no longer nancy said:
thanks for finishing. i can breathe again.
Shaun Groves said:
Finished?
Shawn Bashor said:
Is that a rhetorical question or do you talk to yourself on your own blog Shaun?
shaunfan said:
Way to go Shaun. I applaud your principles and we also homeschool our 3 girls after my wife taught 2nd grade in a public school for 7 years. That was my thought during part 2, but I’m glad I waited for part 3 of your story.
Oh, and yes we’d shorten your name to S.G. but people might think we were talking about Sara. I actually knew who Zack meant with D.W., but my brain (and maybe yours as well) went to the “Arthur” books with his sister D.W. Now that would be a cool Shlogcast if you could interview her!
tony said:
Great stuff, Shaun…