Before we get into the visit. What do Presbyterians believe? Presbyterianism came out of the reformation movement, specifically John
Next was John Knox of Scotland who brought Democracy to how the Church was run, while following Calvinistic principles. The Presbyterian Church later made it's mark early in America's history, split during the Civil War and then reunited during 1983. It became the official Church of Scotland in 1690. Here is more on the history of the church: http://christianity.about.com/od/presbyteriandenomination/a/presbyhistory.htm
As can be expected from a Christian faith, Jesus was the main theme. The service began with a woman playing the xylophone and another woman on the piano. The large building was almost empty due to it being summer, but slowly filled up completely as the song ended. Then two psalms were read, with a song inbetween, that focused on the glory of heaven and it's beauty: psalm 84 (Open now thy gates of beauty) and psalm 118 (I love thy Kingdom, Lord).
I felt a bit off initially. The focus on Jesus felt as if mattered more then being a good person, and that it was the only way to be a good person in the church's eyes. Knowing good atheists and agnostics, and myself being an agnostic theist perpetuated the feeling of separateness and judgment. That changed when the prayer was said, though.
The prayer said by the Reverend was one of the most beautiful prayers I've heard. He didn't call for people to come to God, or even special treatment for his faith community. His prayer was for everyone. For all who were suffering, for all who needed help, for all students, and for God to be there for people in their trails and embrace them in His love. It was a beautiful prayer that I only sensed genuineness from.
Then came the sermon on Luke 5:1-11. The passage is about the miracle of the fishes, in which Jesus is preaching and has Simon Peter cast off of shore so he can preach from the boat. After he finishes preaching he tells Simon Peter to cast in deep water for fish, even though no fish had been caught that day. Simon Peter does catch fish though, because Jesus says so. The boats get filled with fish and he falls on his knees saying, "Lord I am a sinner, leave me." Then Jesus says he will make him a fisher of men, and Peter joins him.
First the reverend gave he historical context of the story, and promoted his "Easy Bible Study" on Wednesdays (both in seriousness and as a joke) before going on about how Simon Peter grew up a fisherman and how that was all he knew, so trusting a man from 'High Rise Galilee' was a big deal.
Then the reverend used the story as an example of how Jesus is always with us, if we just let him on the boat, if we trust like Peter did. He told the story of a poor woman who had gotten an abortion and was feeling guilty. The woman and the reverend improvised a prayer together and both experienced healing and grace. He said that by letting Jesus on the boat, the truth of ourselves is revealed and we are given a chance to be a part of God's plan.
It was a beautiful sermon, and the story was powerful and personal, and I found I could relate to it in the metaphorical sense. I could never be baptized because I don't believe a person can be God, or that salvation can happen through a person or deity. To me the story acts as a metaphor to the light we can hold up within ourselves, to be honest about the good and bad that makes us up, and to forgive ourselves and grow. Basically what being born again is like, minus God. We use the archetype of Jesus in us, I think going off of Jungian philosophy, and we use that part of ourselves to make peace with our mistakes, forgive, love and grow. I've experienced that transformation first hand, both without thinking of a higher power, and with thinking of a higher power. The stories I shall save for another day. The point is that transformation happened though, that light was shown to reveal myself in my entirety, in order for guilt to turn to forgiveness and change and then action; transformation if you will.
After service I talked to the reverend briefly, but he was too busy to interview. So I took up Mr. Lund on his offer. Since he'd been in seminary for a year, while going to college in Chicago, Illinois. The discussion was amazing.
I learned about how his search to make sense of God began in junior high, when he asked himself if he believed or not. He found he did, and from there decided a personal God was the only God that mattered. He also related the core principles of Christianity on why he chose Christianity. The core principles being 1) Love God, 2) love people because God loves people.
We talked about the problem of evil in the world, and Mr. Lund said he couldn't answer why some random evils happen, but discovered within his own life, how trials, pain and suffering became agents growth, new community and change.
We talked mortality, life and death finding that we agreed that there is so much growth that can come out of the pain of losing someone close, and then growing closer to the people you were around, but never knew, and the friendships that come out of that. It was a great way to end the discussion.
What would I say are the pros and cons of Presbyterianism? The pros are you are part of a community that cares about making a difference and is run by a democratic process. Elders are nominated by members of the community and then voted on by the congregation; Deacons are nominated and elected as well. It is then the Elder's role to help the community and church in their specialties (Psychology, finance, etc.) and act as a Board of Trustees. Deacons are there to serve the community in counseling, welcoming and service. They serve three year terms. I wish more churches elected their leaders so that the leaders would be direct accountability to their community. The community members are their for each other in small groups, Elders, Deacons and pastors. The music is also a major pro, there is a modern service with a more rock n' roll feel and a traditional service where the amazing Bel Canto Choir performs. The community is also involved in service worldwide, helping war orphans in Rwanda, and Christians and poor people in Cambodia, as well as the poor at the Jubilee Reach Center in Bellevue.
One of the cons of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue is it's size. There is something for everyone, but it is hard to form any close bonds after service due to the sheer amount of people. There are four services, and thousands of people attend the church.
The cons if you're not a christian: Let's just say, Jesus saves, no one else. You can question your faith and Presbyterianism believe you should, but I don't think anyone who doesn't take the Bible as fact and Jesus as the messiah would do well in this community. This is a universal con across Christiandom for the most part. If you aren't saved, you're sick, because you are refusing to accept the Good News. This is the darker side to the mission work, since since the greatest way to live love for many in the Christian community is to convert people to the Good News (aka the Gospel), when in fact what the Good News means in it's entirity has been debated for centuries. This has never jived with me, and was one of my reasons for leaving the Mormon Church, since it's one interpretation of the Good News being seen as the only true way.
I was so grateful to visit the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue again with one of my adopted families and to have discussed mortality, faith, and God with Mr. Lund and learned about how leadership in the Church works from Mrs. Lund. The Faith like any faith community has it's pros and cons, but I believe the Presbyterian Church is doing a lot of good in their community and the world.
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