What would an atheist think if they walked into our church? Would they understand the sermon? Would they wonder why only members can tithe? Would they question things like communion? Hemant Mehta gives us good answers to questions like this in his book I Sold My Soul on eBay.
This book, as far as I am concerned, is a must read for anyone in the church wondering how the rest of the world views Christians, churches, and what we do in them. Mehta gives a truly honest, charitable, and first hand take on churches small to mega. Mehta is a graduate of the University of Illinois, former follower of Jainism, and a devout Atheist. A strong one at that. Mehta’s realized that he knew very little about Christianity, never having been brought up in a Christian community (and I am guessing never having been in a church…at least that is how it sounds in the book). So, he decided to “sell his soul” on eBay by allowing someone to bid on him and dictate where he would attend church services for a certain period of time. The winning bidder asked Mehta to go to many different churches rather than just one, and the research project began. His big question as he went was “Does Christian Faith answer the big questions of life in a more satisfactory way than nonsupernatural explanations do?” His several month long journey then began.
Reading Mehta’s comments is truly eye-opening. Realizing that he, and I am sure many others out there, don’t understand much of what happens on a Sunday morning in a church, don’t see the point in much of what happens, and can’t understand many things that we think are so important has been wonderful for me to hear. Hearing it from the “horses mouth” so to speak is important. It is one thing for a cool hip pastor to say that “post-moderns” think this way or that…or that the “unreached” think this way or that, but to hear an educated, “unreached” atheist confirm many of these things was amazing (though of course, discouraging).
There are many many insights in his book, and I would encourage everyone to buy it. Who can’t spare $11.19? I will share a few thoughts though and let you be challenged as I have been:
One of the churches Mehta attended was a small church in downtown Illinois. Mehta says, “As I studied the congregation, I noticed something I hadn’t expected at a church in a smaller community. Most of the families chose to sit by themselves with empty seats surrounding them. The next closest family would be several seats away, or sitting in a different row. Where was the close bond I expected to find in a rural town?”
Mehta comments on the words of a pastor who said condom distribution represented “giving in” to a lower standard. Mehta says “I would have appreciated it if Pastor Al had given specific reasons for his opposition to condom distribution. It seems that pastors in general just assume everyone in the audience already agrees with them. They don’t often provide reasons or explanations to back up what they say. They might use a statistic or an example to make a point, but almost always without citing a source. It’s as if they think we should believe them simply because a pastor is saying it.”
Mehta comments on worship music: “It wasn’t just the length of the songs that bothered me; the lyrics added to my irritation. The lines and the refrains were repeated so many times I lost count. Why do churches do this? What’s the point of so much repetition?”
Comments on African American churches caring more about social issues and communities than typical white churches: “One reason I notice the African-American churches’ commitment to meeting physical and social needs is because it’s much harder for atheists to argue that religion leads to problems when you see faith guiding people to help the world become better for everyone, regardless of religion or race.”
His comments on Joel Osteen and the members of the church: “I would say to his detractors that so many of the people I sat near or passed in the lobby had brought their own Bibles instead of borrowing a church-issued one to use during the service. So much for saying the Bible doesn’t matter here.”
More comments on humanitarian efforts, “When churches launch charitable and humanitarian efforts, I have noticed one problem. Many of the efforts seem to be focused on helping those who are Christians or those who seem likely to convert…Why do churches tend to create something that is separate and specifically “Christian,” rather than pitching in to help improve the work being done at existing schools in the neighborhood?”
On people coming in late: “I have the impression that churches begin their services with music to serve as a sort of buffer so that even if churchgoers arrive late, they won’t miss the “important” part (that is, the sermon)…Speaking of those who walk into church late, I want to know why they do so. Not everyone gets stuck in traffic. If church is so important, there is no reason to walk in late. In fact, if going somewhere to worship God is important, then people should arrive early. It seems completely disrespectful to me (and I would think, to the pastors) when people walk in the auditorium five or ten minutes into the service. And what’s worse is when parents come in with their children, who learn by example that walking in late is not a big deal. It’s just church right? No need to get there on time. Is that what Christians want to teach their children?” —wow.
Boredom in kids and parents in church: “Some churches have separate services (or Sunday School) for the children at the same time as the main worship service. However, at the churches I visited that did not have a separate event for children, the entire family was in the audience. One would think the adults would be role models, listening to the pastor, maybe even taking notes. Instead, what I saw especially in some of the smaller churches were adults who were obviously bored. They were looking through the program, looking around the room, even looking at their watches. Part of the blame rests on the pastors of these churches (they were among the less-interesting speakers), Regardless, I wonder why these adults come to church in the first place. I would think it’s because they believe bringing their children to church is a good thing–or at least something they need to do. But if the parents are bored, you can bet the kids will be bored.”
Mehta on worship “style”: “I understand that different people worship God in different ways, and certainly people should have the freedom to do so. And I realize that at church no one wants to tell somebody else that he or she is worshiping “incorrectly.” Still, there were a number of churches, large and small, where I was distracted by people who were moving or speaking while the pastor spoke or while the choir was performing. These people seemed oblivious to the things happening onstage. They mumbled to themselves, or they raised their hands and blocked my view of the stage. I was doing my best to observe all that was going on and to understand what was being said (or sung). So in the interest of those who visit your church, try to get some control over this. I’m not suggesting the ushers run around asking people to kindly shut their mouths and lower their arms. It’s a matter of personal responsibility. As an individual, think about how your gestures, movement, and speaking affect those around you.”
Mehta on the love of Jesus: “I’ve read parts of the Bible, a book Christians say they consider to be authoritative. I don’t see Jesus insisting that the various “sinners,” who were living in his part of ancient Palestine, shape up before he would go to their house for dinner. In this regard, I would argue that atheists are actually following Jesus’ example more closely than are a lot of Christians. Atheists are more accepting of those who disagree with them, and atheists don’t demand that other people first have to join an atheist club before they will take that person seriously.”
At the end Mehta says this: “Atheists and other religious outsiders are all around you. We work at the same places, live in the same neighborhoods, go to the same movies, and walk our dogs in the same parks. Don’t you think it’s time we got to know one another?”
Rob Bell hits the nail on the head in his forward when he says, “prophets can come from the most unexpected places, can’t they?”
