A Brand New Week

“What do you mean?”
“Like the ones who came Sunday. How do they react?”
“I don’t follow.”
“The people here at Camp Eden, I think they’re okay. Our. . . hybrid, services we’ll call it, give them enough ritual to bring what they learned as Roman Catholics to the surface. And, like it or not, your fantastic preaching adds a lot to it. But I’m not talking about the people here, I’m talking about the people from town. What does our hybrid service evoke in them?”
“I still think you’re making too much of the visitors from town. They’re just curiosity seekers. They won’t be back.”
“What if they are?”
“Okay, what if they are? Let’s quit thinking Danny and Davy. Let’s look at the big picture. Aren’t we looking at one of the greatest opportunities of our lives?”
“Whoa, is it possible Mrs. Ramerez slipped a little wacky spice into your tacos?”
“No, listen to me. What is our purpose? What is it we do?”
“Hopefully, we bring people closer to God.”
“Right, and aren’t we sitting on an opportunity to do that better than it has ever been done before?”
“I don’t know about better,” said Davy, “but different.”
“Yes, different! For well over a thousand years some priest has said some prayers, sung a few hymns and flipped a communion wafer onto somebody’s tongue. For what, two, three hundred years some Baptist preacher has said some prayers, sung a few hymns and blasted out some sermon designed to make somebody think if they don’t do what he says they’re going to piss off God and end up in Hell.”
Davy smiled. “Love the way you bring it down to the basics.”
“Am I saying anything wrong?”
Davy inhaled, “No.”
“Okay, let’s look at this like God would do.”
Davy smiled, “Alright, go ahead and look at it like God would.”
“Do you think God gives a tinker’s damn if I wave a few pieces of flat bread around on Sunday?”
“Not really.”
“And do you think he gives a damn if you drag some lost soul up front screaming and crying to an altar call when you, the man and God knows that he’ll be back running around on his wife in a week?”
Davy nodded.
“And don’t get me wrong. They say even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. Every now and then, my sermon brings some derelict to the altar rail crying, but I know that when he comes back next week for communion, if he comes back, the whiskey on his breath will out smell the wine in my cup.”
“I agree, but where is all of this leading?”
“If we do our jobs bigger and better than anyone in history has done, we may actually bring people to God, not just put on a weekly show.” Danny pointed to the church on the little hill in the center of the camp. The sun was reflecting off the sign in front. “Look at that. What does it say? Read it however you want to, it comes out ‘Davy’s and Danny’s Baptist Episcopal Church’. It’s ours, why don’t we use it to bring people to God?”
“Why do I feel like you have some sort of majestic plans for us?”
“Because I do, my Baptist Episcopal friend, I do.”
“As you often ask me, are you going to tell me those plans?”
“Oh yes, because the plans are really quite simple. We’re going to take what we’ve been given and move it in the right direction.”
Davy shot his eyes up. “That makes no sense.”
“It will. Go open a couple of Cokes.”
When Davy got back, Danny motioned for him to sit. “Let’s look at what we’ve got. I know you have never been Episcopalian. I have never been Baptist. But, if the truth is known, I believe we have a better working knowledge of the two faiths than the average Episcopalian or Baptist. Do you agree?”
“Oh yes, whole heartedly.”
“Okay. Now, the difference between the Catholic church and the Episcopal church is all hierarchy. That’s it! The modes and forms are more or less the same. The big difference is just some codes that are changed ever few decades to suit the times and a bunch of babbling old men whose mentalities would improve with Alzheimers. That said, what would you say was the best part of the Episcopal church?”
“I would say without a doubt, the history. The connection to Jesus Christ.”
“Okay, what would you say was the worst part, the most ineffective part?”
“I would say, and I’m throwing some Baptist in here, I would say the lack of emphasis on the Bible.”
“Okay, so far so good.”
“You agree with me?” said Davy in surprise.
“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.”
“Hmmm. . . interesting.”
“Now, my good Baptist friend, what would you say was the best part of the Baptist church?”
“Actually, I would have to reverse the things I said about the Roman churches and say the best thing about the Baptist church is an adherence to the Bible and the worst thing is its total lack of history. It’s not connected to anything.”
“Okay, but I can’t really find fault with your members because I don’t know where the Baptist church started either. I’m sure you do. At least I hope you do.”
“Ironic as it may seem, it was started by an Anglican priest.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” smiled Danny.
He questioned infant baptism and said only adults should be baptized–“
”Let me guess, that’s where they got the term Baptists?”
Davy smiled and nodded. “Kind of weak isn’t it?”
“I’ve heard of weaker. But, bottom line is my history is strong but my Bible stuff is pitiful. Your history ain’t gonna’ cut it, but your Bible stuff is first class. That sound about right?”
“By George, I think he’s got it!” said Davy as he lifted his glass toward Danny. Danny brought his glass to Davy’s.