The appraiser was at the house Monday–nice fellow, talkative. Interested in my ministry–when he found out I was moving to McAlester, he encouraged me to do lots of “field work” on the lakes and in the deer stands. He genuinely appreciated my desire to work in the trenches (his terminology), even though he clearly understood the need for training ministers and working in the academic arena.
I liked this guy–he talked about Christianity as though it were a part of his life. His insights were refreshing. He wanted to know about “my church.” I explained a little, but I think he only wanted to open the door for what he wanted to say. He’s concerned about the church. He’s afraid we’re selling out to the society and culture. He’s afraid too many churches are into the “anything goes” mode. We talked and laughed. He had to hurry on. His concluding statement in the conversation was interesting: Too many churches have turned the gospel battleship into the Love Boat. I thought of the old Negro spiritual, “The Old Ship of Zion.” Indeed! Battleship, or Love Boat? Not a bad description of the dilemma we face.