Buying Silence

The following article appeared in the Lexington Herald Leader on Saturday, May 3, 2008. The reporter is Jim Niemi. The article is certainly revealing of the schemes religious folks will invent.

Church Urging Members to Buy Pastor's Silence

How much would you pay to shorten your minister's Sunday sermon?

On June 29, members of the First Presbyterian Church in Georgetown can buy one minute of the Pastor's silence by contributing $100 to the church's organ fund. Pastor Gaither Bailey said, "If 20 people step up and buy a minute each, there'll be no sermon that Sunday and everybody will go home 20 minutes early."

The church is hoping to raise $120,000 to pay for the refurbishing of a Votey pipe organ installed there in 1895.

"It's one of three like it in the entire state of Kentucky," Bailey said. "We want to preserve it like it is."

Construction on First Presbyterian was begun in 1865 and copleted in 1867. The church is trying to change its name to Historic First Presbyterian Church, Bailey said.

Miller Pipe Organ Co. in Louisville has been hired to restore the organ. The company will replace the ivory keys on the instrument, returning the original keys to the church. The church will mount each key in its own shadow box, and offer them to the congregation who agree to donate to the fund.

"These are our key players," Bailey said. Other fund raising events include symphonic, gospel, and jazz performances. "We're using this project to unite our congregation because we're going to kick off a building fund in five years," Bailey said.

Sigh!!!! Is there no end to the schemes of men? Is there any shame?

The First Presbyterian church in Georgetown is doing so many things wrong according to the newspaper article. So they want to buy a minute of silence from the preacher. In fact, they can do away with the entire sermon that day if the price is right.

One of the main items of worship is the preaching of God's word. "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, completely furnished to every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17.) The Jerusalem church "continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayer" (Acts 2:42.) The Presbyterian church apparently needs no instruction in righteousness and continuing in the Apostle's doctrine is a thing to be sacrificed. Fixing their organ is more important than preaching God's word.

Of course, if they followed New Testament teaching, there would be no organ to fix. "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19.) The fact is the New Testament only speaks of Christians singing songs. You can argue all day long about is as long as you follow it at the end of the day. It is what GOD said. Period. Maybe they could take the organ and donate it to a museum and follow New Testament teaching. Then there would be no reason to sacrifice the teaching of God's word.

The religious world is involved in scheme after scheme to raise money. Has it come down to that - money? Is that all the religions are focused on? Everything is done with a price tag. I grow weary of reading of these schemes. If this church raises $120,000 is it worth it to lose their soul (Matthew 16:24?) These schemes have to stop and folks need to take the Bible seriously.