Larry Leader’s been a little troubled these recent Sundays. One Sunday morning Larry’s sitting in his pew at the All Alike Baptist Church. He’s been in the same place every Sunday for more than 25 years, the third-pew-from-the-back-on-the-right-hand-side. Larry’s a lifer.
This morning, his pastor is preaching on that “bring all your tithes into the storehouse” verse from Malachi 3. Larry earlier dropped his customary tithe into the offering plate. Today he’s thinking about how tight his own budget is during this recession. Linda, his wife, has had her hours cut back at work. The Leaders are pinching pennies and clipping coupons now. It’s worrisome.
It’s the same with the church’s budget. The budget committee reports that every cent has to be weighed carefully. Larry looks around the sanctuary and identifies three generous families — the Golds, the Stocks and the Bonds. These three families have paid the way for most of All Alike’s ministries for years and years.
But the future of that pattern is less certain. Mrs. Gold died recently, and Mr. Gold is rumored to be moving to another state soon to live near his daughter. Mr. Stocks is in failing health and can’t attend every Sunday any more. The Bonds are getting long in the tooth, too. What will All Alike do when the Golds, Stocks, and Bonds have passed from the scene? Will there be enough tithes in the storehouse then?
Larry Leader is a little troubled about All Alike’s finances. He decides to talk to the budget committee.
Second Sunday
This Sunday the pastor is preaching about Pentecost from Acts 2. Larry’s following the reading of the text in his Bible. Folks had packed into Jerusalem from just about everywhere for Peter’s sermon. Larry can’t pronounce half of the country’s names. He stumbles over strange place names like Parthia and Cappadocia and Pamphylia; he figures it was an odd mix of pilgrims in town that day. Still, the Holy Spirit converted them one and all. Big things happen when the Fire falls. Larry is impressed by how God draws different people together.
Larry glances around at All Alike’s members gathered for worship with him. He sees the White and English families in front of him. We all look alike, he thinks. Not one Cappadocian in the house. Larry knows there have always been Native American and African-Americans in town. He has heard some folks speaking Spanish in stores recently, and he remembers that last year’s high school valedictorian was a Korean girl. He knows the community is more diverse than All Alike. What would it take to have a Parthian join here at All Alike? If those Pamphylians were good enough for Jerusalem, why aren’t they good enough for us? What if All Alike wasn’t all alike?
Larry Leader is a little troubled about All Alike’s membership mix. He decides to talk to the outreach committee.
Third Sunday
Larry Leader’s back in church as usual. He’s back there on the third-pew-from-the-back-on-the-right-side again. And the preacher’s at it again. He’s talking about the kingdom of God. Says it was Jesus’ favorite topic. Says Jesus’ talked about the kingdom of God more than most anything else. Says He lived and died for the kingdom. Says the early Christians were sold out to God’s kingdom.
Larry thinks this over carefully. The pastor claims Jesus expects Larry to “put the kingdom first” (Matthew 6:33). Larry lets this message soak in. He scans the backs of fellow members’ heads across the sanctuary. He sees old Mrs. Blunt — the member who’s so negative it’s tough for her to say good things about God. He wonders if God’s kingdom will help him forgive her for the things she’s said about him and All Alike’s other members. He sees Mrs. Sweet, a member who quietly shows all how you act when the kingdom comes in your life. Larry spots Mr. Cross, the guy who starts fights in the church, and wonders if he has any friends left. Larry looks at Mr. Spain, the mission committee chair, a man who loves the world because of God’s kingdom. He admires Spain’s heart for others. Larry notices Mr. Street, formerly a homeless person who was helped by the church and is now an active member with concerns for other street people. Larry wishes he had more of God’s kingdom in him.
Larry Leader’s a little troubled. He decides to talk with his pastor about God’s kingdom. How can he be light and leaven at All Alike Church? And Larry decides to talk to God about all of those things that are troubling him.
Bob Dale (bobdale402yahoo.com) is a leader coach living in Richmond, Va.