Minimum Requirements for Righteousness--The 6-Point Record System

"New realities in the world, in my family, in  my employment, in my age and health should mean that I am constantly updating my faith."  from Stuck in the 6-Point Record System by Marion Aldridge in Christian Ethics Today, 11-1-2012

I was raised in a Christian home in Enterprise,  Alabama, I had one mother and one father, one brother and one sister, one dog and one cat.  All was right with the world and I thought the whole world was just like that. But in so many ways I grew up at the Hillcrest Baptist Church.  I spent nearly as much time there as I did in my own home. Not really, but it seemed like it. From a few weeks after my birth, every Sunday morning we were at Sunday School and church.  Every Sunday night we were at Training Union and church  Every Wednesday we were there for Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. We were there twice a year for the two-week revivals (every single night including Friday and Saturday night in between).  We were there for the fellowships and socials. We were there for the business meetings. We were there for the annual "watch-night service." If the doors of the church were open, and they were open quite often, we were there. The Hillcrest Baptist Church was literally my second home. And since my parents grew up at the First Baptist Church, we spent a lot of time there as well.

One of my friends who  shared Hillcrest with me thinks I'm too  hard on Southern Baptists in general and the Hillcrest Baptist Church in particular. Whereas I agree that I could be a bit kinder and gentler on the faith of my fathers,  the good, the bad and the ugly certainly apply to my experience there.

My friend makes a good point. There were many people in that church who cared for me.  I had Sunday School teachers and Training Union teachers who took interest in me and encouraged me. Every summer we had Vacation Bible School.  I not only remember some of the lessons on those flannel boards, but for years I even kept some of the arts and crafts that I made.  I still like drinking red Kool-Aid from time to time. I had a lot of friends in church and there were some really cute girls. It certainly had its moments.

Along with learning valuable lessons from Bible stories and significant adults, the church also taught me some things that just aren't true. My church, like most Baptist churches, subscribed to the "6- Point Record System." Printed on the offering envelopes were six points to check off each week:1. Present 2. Bible brought 3. Bible read daily 4. Lesson studied 5. Offering brought 6. Staying for preaching.  The assumption was that if you were 100% on the system, then you were in good standing with the church and with God.  Although I was usually 100%,  there was an implied sliding scale of righteousness with non-compliance. An irony pointed out by the author I quoted is that none of these six points is in the Bible or mentioned by Jesus. No not one. Nonetheless, the assumption was if you continue to measure up to the six points, you'll do just fine.  My church was wrong about that.

My church taught me that Southern Baptists are spiritually superior to all other Christian faiths. No one ever said that Southern Baptists were the only people going to heaven, but it was more than subtle that Baptists, more than most,  are in favor with the Almighty.  When it comes to Christianity, Southern Baptists just do things right. If God wanted to do something in the world, then He would ask a Southern Baptist first.  If none was available, he might ask a United Methodist(the biggest thing they do wrong is the way they baptize).  In a pinch he would ask a Presbyterian or a Lutheran. He would seldom ask a Pentecostal (they speak in unknown tongues)  or an Episcopalian (they drink).  He would never ask a Mormon (they're a cult) or  Church of Christ (they believe baptism is essential for salvation and not like Baptists where baptism is only essential for membership) .  God uses no Catholics (they have statues of Mary and worship a Pope. And their headquarters are in Rome instead of Nashville).    My church was wrong about all that.

My church taught me that white people are superior to black people.  No one was overtly racist, well not until I brought a black friend with me to church, but no one went out of his way to be inclusive either. My church was wrong about that.

My church didn't teach me anything about human sexuality.  And God forbid they mention homosexuality.  There was no need to. There were no gays in the church or even in the town.  It was just not anything anyone was concerned about. My church was wrong about that.

My church taught me that it was a sin to drink alcohol, but it was ok to smoke cigarettes. My church was wrong about that.

My church taught me that it was possible for me to have a real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  The Hillcrest Baptist Church was very right about that. I am forever grateful that my family and my church introduced me to Jesus. Without Jesus my whole life, WWDD? ( What would David do?).  But they also taught me that that was all there was to it.  'You are now a Christian so go and win other people to Christ. Don't sin and just be a good Christian".   My church was wrong about that.

As the author said, because of "new realities" that occur every day, we need to "update our faith" every day. If you want to be in good standing with God,  I suggest you ignore the 6-point system of my church and adopt the 2-point system of Jesus:  1. Love God 2. Love one another. When it comes to minimum requirements for righteousness, the words of Jesus are a always a good place to start.