| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
PLASTIC CHURCH By Max Gordon Phillips Recently I rediscovered a toy, a plastic church Iíd played with when I was a small boy. It had been so long ago that I had completely forgotten about it. And I wondered if everything was the same. So, just as I had done years before, I removed the plastic roof and looked inside. As always, the whole place seemed to come alive with tiny plastic people. They werenít exactly the same, though. Some of the older ones were gone. And there were some new young ones. But they were mostly the same plastic people I had put there. Except, of course, they had kept pace with the times. In the rear of the sanctuary, a group of college-age youth was planning a Sabbath afternoon meeting. The leader, a bright-looking, nervous young fellow, rubbed his plastic hands together and said, ìWell, I guess I have somebody for everything ñ except prayer. Any volunteers?î No volunteers, ìI guess Iíll have to do it myself this time. Again. Now letís all try to be here on time. Remember what happened last time. Now let's all go downstairs and get something to eat.î In the rec room a meal was being served to members of the youth club, ìThe Young and the Restless,î as it was called. They were eating, laughing, and having a good time. They hardly looked up when the club leader and his committee entered. One young fellow, his plastic freckled face contorted into a wide grin, was telling a joke about Martin Luther and the pope. Everyone within hearing range thought he was tremendously funny. As indeed he was. In the choir room a mixed octet was practicing with excellent harmony when one lady, her plastic red hair glowing like fire, suddenly stopped singing. Everyone looked. ìIím sorry!î she burst out, ìbut I just canít singing with Mrs. Brown. Somehow our voices just do not harmonize!î Then she stamped out, followed by her red-faced husband, the first tenor, their plastic shoes making an odd sound on the floor of my plastic church. ìWell!î said Mrs. Brown. ìWell, I never!î But Mr. Brown, cooler, said, ìLetís form a sextet and sing something else.î In the pastorís study the church elders were discussing how to raise funds for the annual offering for the poor. ìPeople just donít seem to want to give any more,î Mr. Gray ñ who had just earned a great deal of money on Internet stocks ñ was saying. ìThey think they can leave the whole program in the laps of the richer members.î He leaned back in his posh black plastic chair and eyed Dr. Black. Dr. Black, who passed for the richest elder, said, ìThatís sooo true, Mr. Gray. Everyone wants to leave the burden on the backs of the richer members. We need something that will appeal to the ordinary member. I mean something that will really appeal.î ìI have an idea!î said Mr. Green, the youngest elder, a man definitely on his way up, his plastic face shining brightly with expectation and enthusiasm. ìWhy donít we sponsor a raffle! Itís surprising how much money a raffle will bring in. The large Catholic church on the corner sponsors a raffle every year. And every year ñ bingo! ñ Just like clockwork. They give away a new Lexus donated by one of the dealers in town. It doesnít cost the church a cent ñ except for advertising and incidental expenses.î ìWe-e-ell,î said Pastor White, a conservative man with a florid face. ìThis is a new idea to me. Weíve never sponsored a raffle before. This is a conservative church, you know. And I doubt that a raffle would be accepted by the denomination.î ìSomeone has to pave the way,î broke in Mr. Green, sitting on the edge of his plastic chair. ìMaybe it will work,î said Dr. Blue, who usually says very little. ìIt does have definite appeal, whereas giving just to help someone in need has gotten rather old hat. The idea of winning a new Lexus appeals to different motives entirely. It should be a lot more successful. After all, the money will be going to a worthy cause -- us. What do you think, Dr. Black?î ìOh, Iím all for it,î responded Dr. Black. ìFact is, Iíve been thinking the same thing for a long time myself. Iím all for striking out in new directions. What this church needs is more spirit. We need to bring the ordinary member back into the picture. Itís too much strain on the richer members to have to raise the money all the time.î I was about to replace the plastic roof and walk away when I noticed a woman standing alone in the narthex. She obviously was not yet a baptized member, wearing, as she was, heavy eye makeup, a necklace, and earrings. My little plastic was a conservative Midwestern church. And the ladies wore only a touch of makeup. Well, maybe some of them wore wedding bands, but never a big gaudy ring like this one, and never ever a necklace or earrings. She looked somewhat out of place standing there beside the great stained-plastic window with its intricately jeweled design, all alone, with the conservative, formal church ladies parading past. A few eyed her ñ as though who ought to be ìspoken with.î Most just ignored her. I was glad. Because ñ turned away from them as she was, facing the stained-plastic window, her hands folded on the ledge and her eyes closed ñ she couldnít see them anyway. I knelt there over my little plastic church for a long time -- watching her -- before I finally replaced the plastic roof and walked away. She was praying. Copyright 2000 by Max Gordon Phillips | ||
| Steve |
Another gem, Max. And it ain't cubic zirconium. It's a real diamond. I had to remove all my jewelry, makeup, and dress more "decently" before I was baptized. (Oh, wait a minute. That wasn't me. After all, I'm a male, and we don't have to worry about those things!) My plastic is melting, Steve | ||
| dwayne |
No! Men are allowed.. make that strongly encouraged, or even required, to wear their cloth necklace! Of all the stupid things! | ||
| Max |
Would you be surprised to see SDA-drawn pictures of Jesus in synagogue on Sabbath wearing a necktie-with-clasp above his white robe? | ||
| Steve |
Ha! I stopped wearing my "cloth necklace" a few years ago, partly in rebellion to our modern "laws" and partly for the comfort. I haven't worn one to church in about two years now. (One thing about those necklaces -- they can hang you from them! Beware!) | ||
| Max |
Well said! | ||
| TYL |
I have a SDA family member (female) that has a love for beautiful hats that match her outfits etc. She wears them almost weekly to church. Now tell me what purpose a hat has? Especially in California where it is not needed for warmth. It is an adornment for the head IMHO. That same person will make judgements on the person wearing jewelry or makeup! It's so peculiar, so many SDA's judge the speck in their fellow christian's eye and don't know they have a log in their own eye! | ||
| Cindy |
TYL, Hi! You are so right! I've seen this same view concerning decorative pins and hair clips and bows. One advantage of the anti-jewelry rule has been that you can readily see if the person is an Adventist or an 'outsider'!! And I've heard it said many times about a woman who happens to not wear much make-up, or who wears very little or no jewelry-- that "she would make a Good Adventist!" I absolutely think we should have the freedom to NOT wear jewelry if we would rather not; we shouldn't think we MUST wear jewelry to look beautiful! That said, I really like rings and bracelets and necklaces! And I'm tired of being told I'm going against God by wearing them! Always in debt to His mercy, Cindy | ||
| Cindy |
Max, I enjoyed your story on the Plastic Church! I thought you might like to hear Amazing Facts' views on Jewelry. This is from their "Inside Report" magazine dated April 1999: They start out by saying that 'Christian Jewelry' is an intriguing oxymoron... "How can jewelry be Christian when the Bible strongly admonishes believers not to wear it? Clearly, 'Christian Jewelry' is a conflict in terms" "Amazing Facts accepts donations of jewelry, watches and coins. Each item we receive is carefully recorded, taken to a specialist for appraisal, and placed in an antique mall for display and sale. All money generated from these gifts of kindness is used to further the work of our Lord here at Amazing Facts." "Perhaps you are holding onto an inherited piece of jewelry that, because of your Christian convictions, you would never wear. If that item were sold, and the money used to win souls, God would be glorified." "If you are impressed to honor the Lord with this sacrificial type of personal gift, we would like to work with you as a partner in His service. Rest assured that we do not melt down gold or silver, but rather display items in a very tasteful way for a much better return." Is there something wrong with this picture!!?? To me, if jewelry is wrong to wear "because of your Christian convictions", is it right to sell it to others? I guess if they are 'heathen' it's okay...then you can convert them and have them donate the jewelry to be sold again to other heathens, etc. etc. This is not just some off-shoot ministry either. Amazing Facts is widely used in Evangelistic Crusades (Net meetings,etc.) I have been 'worked with' (given study literature against it) on the fact that I wear a wedding ring! I was not wearing any other jewelry at the time (2 years ago), but my wedding ring was bad enough. The part that bothers me a lot is that this 'no jewelry' issue has been a requirement for Baptism! 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ' is only the very first step, then on to many other requirements. I know the no jewelry issue is crumbling in many areas and that many women wear it away from church; and yet, there is still a stigma against it in the mainstream church, the feeling being (I know this is true!) that as we become closer to Jesus and grow in our knowledge of Biblical truth--the jewelry will not be an issue, it will come off naturally... It is perplexing to them to see a person who obviously has a close and contagious relationship with Jesus to still be wearing any jewelry... Resting in His Mercy always, Cindy | ||
| Steve |
Excellent insight, Cindy. The jewelry should be melted or destroyed. Any gold and silver should be melted and formed into bars that have the sole purpose of investment. That is IF you believe jewelry is wrong for the Christian. As for me, I used to wear a small gold cross on my shirt or jacket. Many SDAs had problems with that. Even my wife thought it was an awful symbol. But the cross was a symbol of our salvation. We'll be walking on streets of jewels, and walking in through HUGE pearl gates. Why not tell people about those realities now by wearing some of them? All Christians should wear jewelry as a symbol of the City we'll inherit! (Of course, I say that tongue-in-cheek!) What we wear, eat, drink, don't wear, don't eat, don't drink, should have NO bearing whatsoever on our salvation. Some things may not be right for some to partake in, but that doesn't make them wrong in themselves. Jesus is the diamond in my ring! Steve | ||
| Cindy |
Thanks Steve, I found a beautiful little cross necklace in a Christian book store last March. It is gold with a silver drape (grave clothes of Jesus) hung over the cross. It reminds me of the death, and resurrection!! of Jesus--for me! Resting in Him, Cindy | ||
| Wendy Forsyth |
Max, your story broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I am a P.K. who always dressed "right" etc. until I went to WWC in Walla Walla Wa. While working in a caregiver position I was to take/pick up an elderly gentleman from the city church. I had decided to not attend that day so was in raggedy clothes,etc. when I arrived to pick him up. What an impression it made on me to be the one who was being stared at, talked about, ignored, not fellowshipped with. This is one of the biggest problems in the church. Making the ones who we are supposed to be spreading the gospel to, feel unclean. So many Adventist church memberships go to church each week to congratulate themselves on how Adventist they are,( even though they drive big,fancy cars,are overweight from excessive veggie food,etc.) instead of reaching out to others to spread the gospel. We should work to help them(Adventists) see their mistakes, not just abandon them to their smugness. As to the jewelry and Amazing Facts, that is distressing because Doug Batchelor has always seemed well grounded in the gospel to me. It is quite a contradiction to resell the jewelry. Again Max, beautiful writing! Wendy | ||
| Max/Jude |
Hi Wendy, "Plastic Church" was published in the book INSCRIPTIONS by Pacific Press in 1970 and has been available for all Adventists ever since. It was part of the SDA "gospel movement" of the 60s and 70s. Why is it, do you think, that the "gospel movement" never took root in the SDA church? Real grace alone, Max Gordon Phillips = Jude the Obscure | ||
| Wendy Forsyth |
I think that to many early Adventists twisted Mrs.White's writings to fit their own agenda and keep people prisoners in the church instead of keeping them in the church through the love that they had for Jesus. In Walla Walla I would be willing to bet that my husband was one of the only baptisms in recent years, and only because he came from somewhere else. Everyone who knows Adventist in that town,knows them as people who say you can't do this and you can't do that. I think it's a case of way to many bad apples spoiling the bushel. The Adventist church's message has always been lacking in this area. My father's has always been righteousness by faith. But as it is said,"faith without works is nothing".Also when you get around the posts to the one where I make an unfair assumption about you, please forgive me. It is taking me most of this evening to get around the posts and understand all of where you are coming from. Properly chastised by God, Wendy | ||
| Max |
Come on, Wendy, God LOVES you and is directing your way. You are where you are because it is his will. I speak to you as I do because it is his will. Whatever happens is God's will. That's a major breaking point between my beliefs and the beliefs of my Seventh-day Adventist friends. Of course, God loves them! Their eyes will not be opened till he opens them. For some reason God has driven me, very much against my will, to witness to them. I feel like Jonah being told to go to Ninevah. I went in the opposite direction, sailing to Tarsheesh, on the eastern Spanish coast. The rest is history. God's love, Max | ||
| Wendy Forsyth |
okay Max. I'm getting a little groggy here but I'll take that to mean you care. Please tell me your story sometime. Feel free to e-mail me if you like. I am going to try to drag myself off this now 'cause I'm tired and I have three little lambs to care for in the morning. Take care and have a good night. Wendy | ||
| Darrell (Darrell) |
Hi Max, I notice that your plastic church has not changed much in 30 years. Mine hasn't either! I have enjoyed your book for many years. In fact, I was jealous of my brother when he received it as a Christmas gift, and I received something else I have totally forgotten. I got even though: when he moved out to get married he left it behind, so when I moved out I took it with me! I can't remember whether I ever gave it back to him, so I will have to look for it. | ||
| Breezy |
Max, The gospel message never took root because Satan had his own agenda and knew that once the Adventist church started preaching the gospel the right way, it would be unstoppable. So he planted just the right people to fuddy duddy the rest of us into believing we can't stop worrying about how we live and doing the right thing, instead of looking to Christ only. Ellen White did claim to be the lesser light. But I'll bet she didn't mean it the way most interpreted it. We all are to be lights leading others to Christ, she is no different. We are all lesser lights to Christ's great light. Basking in your light, Really enjoying my growing understanding of grace, Wendy | ||
| Kme |
Dear Cindy: Thanks for bringing this thread to my attention the other day. I really had no idea that this was what was being pushed by Amazing Facts. My parents are big supporters of that organization. The sending in of jewelry, for them to cash in on, is unbelievable! Another double standard so characteristic of SDA's. The jewelry issue has never made sense to me personally. I've worn it for many years. At times I thought maybe I shouldn't because it was a hindrance in being able to serve in the church. I would sit in church during these times, and contemplate this question, and wonder if indeed it might be an idol to me. But as I sat there and noticed all the fancy hair barretts, with pearls, jewels etc. on them, and the watches with diamonds, rubys, etc. on them, or a large broach with many colored stones, I had to wonder what could the difference be in a tiny chain, ring, or earrings. There is no difference! I'm of the opinion, that if your going to take the no jewelry stand, then don't wear any of it! Because it is all jewelry. And I don't buy that, "Well broaches, watches and barretts serve a purpose." stuff either. They may serve a purpose, but they don't have to have all that pretty stuff on them to serve the purpose. That is nothing less than a legalistic double standard! As far as the wedding band, I personally think it is a grave mistake not to wear one. When I was in a community college as a single person, I would always check to see if a man was wearing a wedding band. I think decent people do. True, to some people it won't make any difference. But to a Christian it does. Why not save everyone the temptation, and embarrassment of getting interested in someone who's married. 1 Peter 3:3 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful." I ask you this. Does that mean also that we are not to braid our hair and wear fine clothes? If so, what constitutes "fine"? Would that definition not have to be made by man, not God? What if I wear only part of my hair braided. Or how about I wear it braided but put no silver or gold in it, just ribbon. There we are, back to the legalism again. Much the same way the jews were conducting things, that Jesus so taught against. No, those verses are talking about us putting on Christs righteous character. That's to be our outward show. And what a wonderful show that is! When you take all of that scripture in context instead of picking out what supports your churches belief, you can see the whole picture. Further more, if you are a Christian wearing Christ's righteousness, you will see much more in people, than just what their wearing. You certainly won't be trying to decide how righteous they are, by whether or not they are wearing jewelry. Sadly, what a clever snare for Satan to place in a church. I don't see the cross of Jesus anywhere in that! It's just merely a fatal distraction. Love and Grace to all, kme | ||
| Cindy |
kme. Hi again! Good thoughts above! Good point on the wedding ring also... I know some men can't wear one because of job safety, but I think, if possible, it is a good idea for men to wear them also if their wives do; shows their unity and committment to belonging to each other. As you brought out the inconsistency of how 1 Peter 3:3 has been used, I also have listened to evangelists quote Isaiah 3:18-23 to support the 'obvious' fact that we should not wear jewelry! Check it out... (I'm looking at the NIV translation). If this is condemning any jewelry, it is also banning the use of headbands, veils, sashes , perfume bottles, fine robes, capes, cloaks, linen garments, and shawls!! and even purses and mirrors!!! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Christianbiker |
I enjoyed the 'plastic church' story. During the last 8 years I pastored as an SDA pastor I took the position that jewelry was a non-issue in my church. If someone choose to wear it that was between them and God and had nothing to do with what was in their heart. One Saturday after I had resigned as a Pastor, may wife and I were driving home from church and my wife was wearing a beautiful necklace and a special ring I had given her in addition to her wedding ring. She had not worn them before to church when I was the Pastor. I commented to her about it and she said from now on she would wear what she felt with a clear conscience. I thought about that statement and the more I thought about it the more upset I became. I finally said to her that I also would never again let some religious organization dictate how I would live my life. I would live it the way I felt God wanted me to. For 50 years, I had let an organization dictate what I should or shouldn't wear. Unbelievable isn't it? It is our heart that God is concerned about according to Peter, and that is what we should be concerned about as well. Is my heart open to the Holy Spirit's moving in my life? Yes I too have stopped wearing the male necklace to church, in fact I come to church in Levi's often for I want the poorest of poor to feel comfortable in my church no matter how they are dressed. Since my wife and I are avid bikers (motorcyclists) we even come to church sometimes in our biker leathers when we ride our bikes to church. It is so freeing to just come as your are to church and focus on worshiping our wonderful God. | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Biker and Biker-ette, Well, I guess I should have read futher down the threads! You answered my questions:):) before I asked, I guess. Are you Hardley People oppps I mean Harley People? I'm really looking forward to the flavor you will add to the forum! More stories please.........:):)Maryann | ||
| Darrell |
Hi Biker, If you and your wife are who I think you are, your wife spoke at a women's retreat last year in San Antonio. My wife was greatly blessed by your wife's sessions (and loved the silver she was wearing!) Thanks for joining the forum. I second Maryann's request for more stories! |
