I went to @scottsauls' church this morning, @christpresnash, and hated it.

Bear with me, this is going to be a thread.

I like Scott's teaching. I do. I am okay with most Presbyterian theology and practice.

As I drove into the parking lot, several things jumped out at me. I live on the opposite side, one of the "poorer" sides of Nashville. This church sits in one of the richest.

So immediately, looking at this multimillion dollar building, my hackles rose. Then, walking in, it got worse. I knew the trim, the construction elements, the varieties of spaces... all of it was so well done that I was checking where the exits were (but not just from signs).

Then, even with it being socially distanced and them providing masks and being adamant about the masks, about half of the congregation figured that was optional. (When your mother is dead from a disease because her church didn't wear masks, you notice these things.)

Also?

SO. WHITE. Given: it was the 8:30AM service in Brentwood, TN. Even so, it made me uncomfortable. I was way underdressed. (Confession: I do not own a fleece vest.)

The worship was... good? I mean, the leader asked people to mask up before singing and some of them did.

The liturgy was Presbyterian, and fine.

And then Scott gets up and starts his sermon and within the first two or three sentences mentions Bonhoeffer's 'wish-dream.'

The Holy Spirit:

I would actually encourage you to watch/listen to the sermon because as I sat there, surrounded by elderly people who likely voted for Trump *twice,* this guy is talking to me about being uncomfortably united with people in the body of Christ.

It hit hard. It hit hard because I realized that in my fear of being judged by them for wearing a hoodie and a Star Wars t-shirt over my BRIGHT ORANGE Chucks, I was judging them just as hard.

I was uncomfortable. And that was ok. God still spoke to me.

Will I be going back? I have no idea. But I will say that it was weird, uncomfortable, and somewhat good to step foot inside of a church building for the first time in over a year.