corny christianity

I subscribe to a message board for ministers. The following story/illustration was posted today:

One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, ' I always park there! You took my place!'

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, 'That's my seat! You took my place!' The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, ' That's where I always sit! You took my place!' The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for the Lord to reveal his presence among them that day in worship, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Scars became visible on his hands and his sandaled feet, and a crown of thorns appeared on his head. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?' A tear fell from the visitor's eye as he replied, 'I took your place.'

There was a time in my life when I would have scarfed this up as a tool for a message, one that would elicit an emotional response from the hearer, enabling me to make further emotional appeals to an audience now ready for the "kill." Following would be more emotional appeals that would be intended to guilt my audience into the response for which I was looking.

I would never use this today. I have seen too much guilt heaped onto others by well-meaning but misguided speakers and ministers. I'm no longer a guilt guy. Emotional games rarely cement values and beliefs over the long-haul. I've heard enough of these kind of stories in church and at camp to make me very wary of them.

Also, to tell this story one must assume that the audience understands why there are scars and thorns and tears from a transfigured visitor in the first place. I wonder if we don't make the assumption that all who enter a church are already "bubbled" into our Christian cocoon. Outsiders would probably not be well-versed in our beliefs on propitiation and substitution and the resulting confusion may make them feel even less a part of the club.

Is this the way we want to roll?