This is a response to the column “Return to roots” submitted by Marion Smyrl of Columbia in the June 14 edition.
Like Mrs. Smyrl, I, too, grew up in a church where the preacher wore a coat and tie and shined shoes, and “Sunday best” was the accepted dress code. And I agree that it seems as though flip-flops and golf shirts are now common place in our sanctuaries. And some of our worship services do tend to be more like rock concerts.
My response to that is, “Thank God.” I think it is fantastic that maybe, finally, some of our churches understand that we can’t “do church” like it’s the ’70s and expect to reach our world for Jesus Christ.
My apologies to Mrs. Smyrl, but the world is a different place than it was when she and I grew up. Attitudes and values have undergone a great transformation. And some of our attitudes and values (not beliefs) are going to have to change in order for us to make an impact on our communities for Christ. I agree that we need to return to our roots, the roots established in God’s word. SBC president Frank Page recently said that we need churches that are “warmhearted, Bible-believing, and missions-minded.” I think Jesus would agree with that. By the way, he wore flip-flops to church.
It is high time that we, as Southern Baptists, stop focusing on such trivial matters as what someone is wearing or whether or not people are clapping in church, and start focusing on the fact that many of our friends and family members are lost and are destined for hell. After all, isn’t the root of the gospel God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16) – golf shirts and all?
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