This year's Eater sermon including Bill O'Reilly and George Costanza
So I went to Easter service at my in-laws church, where my wife and I were married.
Big trying-to-be-mega-church in Roanoke. Baptist. We only go once a year ( we aren't even "holly lilies" we are just "lilies"
basically so the grandparents can show off my daughter.
The Pastor started this year just like last. No rejoicing but rather on the defensive trying to disprove critics of Jesus, specifically the story of the resurrection. His case had logical holes the a camel could pass through.
Then he went off course to mention Bill O'Reilly. The TV movie version of "Killing Jesus" aired nonstop on Fox NEWS all Saturday night. The Pastor actually sort of criticized O'Reilly for only focusing on the historical aspect of Jesus not the spiritual element. But he seemed to feel the need to mention O'Reilly.
He also added that Muslims believe that it was Judas not Jesus on the cross. This was new to me. My brief research shows that this is one small theory of a few in Islam.
Then he went back to on the defensive. He mentioned the heavy price paid by the disciples and early faithful and then he said it. "Who would suffer so, who would watch their families suffer so only based on a lie they believed to be the truth?"
I felt my wife's hand squeeze my arm as my jaw dropped. He just alluded to George Costanza!!!
The last third of the the service was like the first third. Lots of singing. No old hymns these were new hymns, I guess, and they were horrible. The Pastor took himself off stage so to speak by taking a knee, head bowed, and raising one hand up in the air. There was a moment when we were asked to pray - then stand up - and then sing. I looked around and I wasn't the only not sure if he had un-prayed us or not. 1/2 the crowd still had their heads down and 1/2 didn't. I saw several people looking around like I was.
Well another year checked off - just in case they are really taking down names.
My daughter is staying with the grandparents for the week. As a new convert my wife was able to convince me on the way home to watch the first season of "The Walking Dead" the irony of yesterday's events didn't hit me at the time.
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