Daily lesson for October 2, 2014

Today's daily lesson comes from Luke 6 verses 6 through 9:

6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”

For some folks there is nothing more holy and hallowed than sacred space and time. They will do anything to make sure the Sabbath is set apart and the sanctuary is kept clean and in good order. Most of the time I thank God for their conscientious observance; but, then again, sometimes I wonder.

Some churches back we were having Vacation Bible School in the church starting Monday and the VBS director asked the Youth Education committee if she could go ahead and start decorating the on the Saturday beforehand.  Sure, they said, not knowing she meant it in the sanctuary. The VBS theme that week was going to be "Treasure Island Adventure", and right there at the focal point of the sanctuary on Sunday morning, covering over the baptistery, was a giant and not very well done picture of an island, a toucan, and big open treasure box with lots of bling inside.

Another lady, the head of the worship commission, was incensed. She couldn't believe it. She said that it was absolutely inappropriate, the wrong message for Sunday morning, and absolutely an overstep on the part of the other woman. She was right, except one thing; she seemed just a little too right. Her words were sharp and her tone was belittling, and even though we all offered to take the decoration down she refused. "My Sunday has already been ruined," she said. It was to me as if she sort of enjoyed being indignant.

And you know, looking back, that defiled our sanctuary a heck of a lot more than the toucan.