Saturday, July 26, 1997

Maybe God really does look on our inward being

By MICHAEL O'CONNOR / Abilene Reporter-News

"Preacher, we have a problem with the youth in this church, and I want you to deal with it."

Edna Campbell stood in Isaac Matthew Wright Jr.'s office, the color of her face nearly matching her dyed-red hair. Edna was, thanks to her late husband's frugality, one of the wealthier members of First United Christian Baptist Church and was accustomed to getting her way because of her money.

"Just what problem is that, Edna?" Wright asked, rubbing his temples in anticipation of an unpleasant conflict.

"They are coming to church inappropriately dressed. The girls wear shorts, as do some of the boys. The rest of them wear jeans."

"Well, Edna, I haven't seen any of them wearing anything I'd consider indecent, which is more than I can say for some of the dresses I seen those girls in when I drop the kids off for school. And none of the kids who attend here wear those goofy looking jeans that barely hang on their hips. Besides, what am I supposed to do?"

"Well, Isaac," - no one but Edna called Junior by his first name; it was her way of irritating him - "You should meet with the parents; tell them their children should dress appropriately; and tell them if the children won't dress right they should stay at home."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Edna. On the practical side, our attendance would drop sharply and the elders would be after my hide. But more importantly, I'd rather have the youth in church on Sundays and not out playing around or sitting home watching TV or surfing the 'Net. At least I'd know they were learning something positive about the faith."

Edna started to say something, but Junior hurried on.

"Do you know how my father came to be a preacher? I doubt it, since he hardly ever tells the story to churches. But he used to be a hippie - wore tie-dyed shirts, sandals, jeans with holes in them. Had hair down to his shoulders and big mutton-chop sideburns that met up with his mustache."

Isaac Senior had been pastor of the church before his son and had performed the funeral service for Edna's husband.

"Anyway, he was converted by a bunch of Jesus people that came through his home town. Then he helped get a group of his hippie friends converted. They all decided they needed to go to church. Showed up dressed like they always did.

"Bunch of the older members nearly had a heart attack. They went to the preacher and told him they didn't want those hippies in their church unless they'd learn to dress right and get a haircut. While they were off complaining, another fellow from the church went to go see them. He was a lot like Joshua Caleb; you'd have liked him."

In fact, Edna couldn't stand Joshua Caleb Martin. He was, after all, the one who had invited all those people from the Alcoholics Anonymous group to come to church.

"Long story short - this guy showed that bunch of hippies unconditional love and told them to feel free to come back. Always made a fuss over them when they showed up. Two others besides Dad became preachers and one of them's a missionary."

Edna's face grew redder. "What's your point, Isaac?"

"I guess I'm just wondering. Isn't it possible God cares less about what we wear than what's in our hearts?"

Edna huffed a couple of times and left.

Michael O'Connor is Online Editor for the Abilene Reporter-News and is an ordained United Methodist minister. He can be reached by e-mail at religion@abinews.com.