Ecumenical Week: What's Important...?

Guess we ought to mention that attendance is another point of controversy between the Baptists and the Episcopalians.  Both groups acknowledge that regular church attendance is related to sin, but in different fashions.  

For Episcopalians, if you sin, you need to go to church. But for Baptists it's the other way around, if you don't go to church , it's a sin.

Views on forgiveness are similarly different. For

the Episcopalians, regardless of what you do, God will forgive you and you'll end up in heaven. For Baptists, even if you try to lead a perfect life, God is probably going to find fault and you're always halfway down the road to hell.  Which reminds me of this story about two ministers...

"An out of town Episcopal priest was running late one Sunday morning, to deliver a visiting sermon in a strange town.  Getting desperate to find the Episcopal church, he stopped at the local Baptist church to ask the minister for directions.  The Baptist minister was very helpful and gave quick directions to the Episcopal church.  As the Episcopal priest was jumping back into his car to hurry on, the Baptist minister called out to him: "Son, with those directions, don't worry; you'll be able to make it on time. But, I want you to know that when you get there; as far as I'm concerned you'll still be lost. Now, God bless!"

Folks say, "You should never talk about religion; it's too controversial".  Always found that to be an interestingly disturbing thought.  Why?...

Mainly because I was pretty sure what was really being said was: "You ought not to talk about religion; it's too important."

Well, guess that is one approach; avoid conflict, eschew controversy, ignore what's important in life. In the gearbox of life, "park" and "neutral" are unquestionably your safest speeds.  'Course, unfortunately, "at that speed" the scenery can get pretty dull and your life has this frightful tendency to turn into a spectator sport.



There may be a message in all this.  Have you missed it?.... "Now, God bless!"