This week’s submission is from Rev. Houston Burnside Sr. who’s been a Baptist preacher and a college professor. He is also a friend of mine. I hope you enjoy his article. – Pastor Dan.
Jerry was blind – blind from birth. He was about my age. He, along with my new 18-year-old fiancé and I, went to the same church. The dynamic Pentecostal preacher loudly proclaimed that nothing was impossible with God. He really believed this. We believed this. We had heard testimonies of people being healed of serious illnesses as a result of prayer. The only thing that could hold us back from a real live miracle was our lack of faith.
One Sunday it was announced that a famous evangelist was coming to Los Angeles. He was an evangelist who specialized in divine healing. Excitement rose. Jerry was so excited he shook. Could this be the beginning of a new life for him? Trish and I took Jerry to this huge tent meeting in hopes of having Jerry prayed for. Our hopes were high. Jerry’s hopes were high. He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face.
We arrived early and found a parking place not far from the large tent. Once inside we found aisle seats about half way to the front. The music started. The person leading the service spoke in loud, up-beat tones. The evangelist wasn’t there. The music and the advance man whipped the congregation up to a high emotional pitch. He kept saying that the evangelist would be there any moment.
Finally the time came. The advance man said, “Look. Here he comes!” From stage-left, in bounded the evangelist in an expensive all-white suit, with coat tails flying. The audience roared as they rose to their feet. Hands clapped. Arms waived high in the air. Many were in tears.
The evangelist quickly took the microphone in hand and told the audience to be seated. He began his rapid-fire sermon filled with unbelievable promises of miracles of healing. The only thing that could prevent these miracles was our lack of faith – but with God, all things are possible.
Finally, it was time for people in the audience to form a “prayer line.” We, along with Jerry, were filled with emotion. This is Jerry’s chance. The ushers started to direct people into the line. We were ready to go. But we weren’t allowed. It became clear that only those who had attended an earlier orientation meeting would be admitted. Our hearts sank. But, wait – If all things are possible with God, maybe God could reach out into the audience and touch Jerry.
The evangelist laid hands on those who were ushered up onto the stage – one at a time. He would shout out that this person was healed! The audience roared as they lifted their hands in praise. One after another, people were being healed of the loss of taste and smell, difficulty in hearing, a sore back, a hidden tumor (not obvious to the viewer), an addiction of some sort, and many other ailments – none too obvious to the observer. But belief was strong; hope was high.
When the benediction was finally pronounced we made our way through the crowd to our car. Jerry’s head hung low. Disappointment set in, almost to the point of despair. Not much was said on our way home. Maybe it was God’s will that Jerry did not get healed, even though all things are possible to those who believe.
This event was a turning point in my faith journey. I began to question many of the bold theological statements I was hearing at church and at the Bible College I just started to attend. I still wanted to “believe.” But I also felt compelled to raise questions and do some thinking on my own. If God was the creator of all that is, and if God created us humans with brains, I concluded that God expected me to use mine.
In short, my journey took me from being a pew-sitter to becoming a Bible College student, then on to the pastoral ministry in Ohio and Pennsylvania, only to eventually return to the pew. All this included several detours, sharp turns, missteps, heartaches and joys. But the journey continued.
The motto of the church we were attending and the college in which we were enrolled was “Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). We were warned not to change one jot or title from the Bible (the King James version, of course). Their four points of emphasis were: Jesus Christ, Savior, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King. To suggest that the creation story and/or the story of Noah and the ark were myths was blasphemy. Everything had to be taken literally – except, of course, passages which did not fully support their stated doctrines.
I gradually became hungry for more education. I went on to various colleges and universities until I eventually ended up with a Doctor of Philosophy degree. In the midst of all this I moved back into a pastoral ministry in two American Baptist Churches – first in Pomona and later in San Diego. This was a positive move for me – back to my Baptist roots.
Gradually my theological views broadened. I was active in ministerial associations wherever I went, and in local Council of Churches groups. I learned quickly to appreciate the views of other ministers – Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, United Church of Christ clergy, Roman Catholic priests, Assembly of God clergy, to mention just a few. As part of the Faith and Order Committee for the San Diego County Council of Churches I engaged in a group study of the Vatican Two documents.
My church, here in San Diego, was considered liberal by American Baptist standards. Some Baptists and other evangelical church groups are strongly opposed to the local and national Council of Churches. Those churches have a hard time accepting anyone into the fold who does not agree with their unique doctrines.
Pretty soon doctrines and dogma took on less and less meaning for me. I was no longer able to accept literal interpretations of Holy Scriptures. I thought meanings that could be gleaned from the Bible were deeper than literal interpretations would allow. The Bible is more dynamic, more alive than that.
It’s interesting to note that Jesus stood up to those who insisted that doctrine was more important than people. My view came to be that most of the hard, fast rules and doctrines were created by us human beings. Jesus simplified the commandments. Loving God and loving neighbor sums it up. In other words, to be a follower of Christ one does not have to adhere to sets of doctrines, theologies or beliefs. One has to love God and love one’s neighbor. From all else I read of Jesus, I think he meant “neighbor” writ-large. In one place he said his followers should even love their enemies.
When Houston Jr. was in the VA Hospital for nine months trying to adjust to a major life change, it was love and faith that brought him through – not doctrines, dogmas or theology. He almost didn’t make it. Dec. 6, 1977 a local Baptist pastor showed up after hearing about Houston’s operation. Houston was totally paralyzed. His mother and I were emotionally shattered, bewildered and heart-broken. We found it hard to grasp what was happening. The pastor talked to us and paid a short visit to Houston. He offered prayers. I can’t remember just what he said. His theology was much more conservative than mine. But that didn’t matter. He brought more than words. He came with the love of Christ. That’s what we felt. In preacher-talk this is called the “ministry of presence.” Words don’t count. Love and presence are what counts. That’s my kind of progressive theology.
Pastor Dan preached a powerful sermon that had to do with inclusion and a progressive approach to the walk of faith. He didn’t hit us over the head with dogmatic statements. What he said is the kind of thing that comes from the heart of Jesus. It’s not what doctrine you believe. It’s whom you follow that makes the difference.
Doctrine and faith are two separate things. Doctrine and dogma divides. Faith guides us through the dark valleys, and escorts us to the top of the mountains of life.
Progressive Christianity grows out of human needs. It’s related to real life situations. In my kind of progressive Christianity emotion often trumps reason and logic. Recognition of that divine spark deep within has to do with a sense of awe, a warm feeling of being loved and having the ability to express love. It opens one’s heart to all kinds of people. It’s inclusive. It’s forgiving. It’s compassionate. It’s generous. It makes us want to make a positive difference in our world. It carries a message of hope.
In my book, A Pew-Sitter’s Search for God, I sum up my own view of what I consider progressive Christianity by my personal Ten Commandments (writ small):
Love yourself and others
Show human compassion
Try to see and appreciate others in their wholeness for who they are
Recognize that hidden spark of divinity in yourself and in others
Strive to be inclusive
Accept social responsibilities
Work to develop your life’s fullest potential
Make intelligent choices which open up new opportunities for good
Build bridges of understanding – Forget drawing lines in the sand
Develop a sense of awe
Progressive faith recognizes that times change, cultures change, and people change over time. Progressive faith tries to relate to what is going on now and what may happen later. It’s OK to question. It’s OK to have doubts. It’s OK not to be absolutely sure about almost anything – except the power of love as Jesus expressed it. You don’t have to fully understand theology to be a child of God (although I am fascinated with theology and philosophy). You just have to follow, to seek, to love and allow yourself to be loved. You are special as you are. You are one of God’s kids. Other churches and other people may have rejected you because of who or what you are, but you are still one of God’s special kids. Thank God we can worship together here today, not out of fear, but out of love, gratitude and a sense of awe.
