Posted on 10/09/2005 10:39:34 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
First Christian Church of Oak Ridge – commissioned October 9, 1955, decommissioned October 9, 2005. Today, we decommissioned our church – well, to be honest, our church building. The church still lives on in our hearts – and always shall. The building was just cinderblock and concrete, fired bricks and wood. And memories – I’m not writing this for the animal or animals that burned our church down. I don’t believe that you’re intelligent enough to get online – and I don’t believe that you would ever willingly find yourself on a conservative website such as this. I’m writing this more for myself – to get it out of my system, so that I can move on with my life. You set the fire early in the morning of New Years Eve. We know it was arson – the FBI, the ATF, the TBI and the ORFD all determined that there were five separate points of ignition within the building. But before you set the fire, you vandalized the church – destroyed the backpacks that the congregation had put together for school kids in the poorer regions of Tennessee – scattered them all over the church. Then, you set the fires. Why? Were you not hugged enough as a child? Were you striking back at some unknown authority? Were you making a political statement? Did your mom not love you enough? If they ever catch you – and no – there are no suspects in the case right now, I’m sure your defense attorney will throw up every possible reason he can to try to get you off the hook – you were temporarily mentally disabled, you have a fascination with fire, or somehow, someway, you were offended by something someone said. That’s a popular defense. But fortunately, we’re in East Tennessee, and folks around here don't hold with that kind of thing. I think I know why you did it – and your defense attorney will never offer it up in court. The devil was there – maybe not in you – but over your shoulder – whispering to you, telling you that it would be a great thing to do. Some people laugh at that reason – but I don’t. He is roaming the earth always, always looking for the opportunity – and you gave it to him. I hope that you’re happy. I hope that you found real satisfaction in what you did. I wish you could have been there today as we sat in the tent and listened to the people who built the church with their own hands stood and talked about what it was like to do so. I seriously doubt though, that you’ve ever done anything like that – I doubt that you’ve ever built anything – otherwise, you wouldn’t have destroyed the building that they built. The last man to speak was the last one alive from the crew who built the church. The last man standing – all the others, as he said, “…have gone on ahead.” He was laughing as he talked about the experiences they had – the people that were there – the memories were still strong for him. You probably have no idea who all was involved in the building of the church. At night, after the contractors had gone home, the men would come to the site and put in several hours of construction. The craftsmen from the weapons plants would come out and help. They put their blood, sweat and tears into the building – and you – you burned it down. I hope that there is some satisfaction for you in that. When the last man standing talked about getting the phone call that the church was in flames, he choked up – as did we all. You cowardly bastard – I hope you feel pride in your accomplishment. You made an eighty-three year old man cry. You made an entire congregation cry – you made my mother cry. You wounded the hearts of an entire congregation – people you probably don’t even know – and people who would willingly give you the coats off their backs – because that is what Christ directed us to do. That morning in 2004, I stood there in front of the church and watched as the local fire departments dumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of water on the building, and wondered why. And then I began to remember. This is the church where I stepped forward and accepted Christ into my life. This was the church where I was baptized, where my brother was baptized. This was the church where I got to play Santa Claus for the first time. This was the church I took my daughter to for the first time. Where I took her to Sunday school, where I introduced her to friends and family. This was the church where so many good and wonderful memories were made. And then I realized – this was nothing more than a building. The church was inside of us, all of us – the memories were within us – and no arsonist could take that away from us. Initially – I wanted to find you and beat you to a bloody pulp. But I can’t take the law into my own hands, and nothing I would do to you would bring that building back. That would only make me feel better for a little while. I can only hope now that they catch you, and that they bring you to justice here on this earth. I would like for you to stand in front of the congregation and apologize – I would like for you to look into the eyes of every man and every woman in that congregation, and beg for their forgiveness. Because, believe it or not – they would forgive you. But anything we do here on earth compares to what will finally happen in the end. When you stand before the Judge at the end, and have to explain to Him why you did what you did. You have the opportunity, though, to gain His forgiveness before you get there. I can only pray that you take Him up on that offer.
They already have a lot selected, and they're working on the design for the new building. The congregation is strong, and will survive. Hopefully, this will be a turning point, and will bring more young people into the church - we need them!
You're right - the church itself was never in any danger - we carry it in our hearts. And there will always be Givers - and always be takers - but giving is what we've been directed to do.
The outpouring of support for the church has been most amazing. We have a temporary facility in an old office building. The gentleman who owns the building is charging minimal for the rent - he could get two or three times what he is charging. And on top of that, he and his sons and their construction company rebuilt the inside of the building to make it into a church - classrooms, a kitchen, and a sanctuary.
The hospital across the street from the church gave us their chapel to use for several months while we were getting reorganized and relocated - it's just been amazing.
That was lovely, Tennessee_Bob. It brought to mind the pictures of the Indonesian Christians worshipping in the ruins of their church building, or the Sudanese pastor who marked a cross on a tree trunk, held up the Bible, and said, "This is my church!"
A building is a good thing to have, but it isn't the Church.
My heart breaks for you and your fellow church members. You have suffered a wrenching loss and it gives you a mighty task that I hope I never have to face. You now have to find in the expanse of your huge hearts the power to forgive this despicable excuse for a human.
I pray that the toil and the sacrifice and the joy of rebuilding those walls and roof where your church will meet will give you the strength you will need when that time for forgiveness presents itself.
Take heart, the Lord allows everything to happen for a reason. This may be the start of a new and wonderful time for your church. And you needn't worry, the Lord will deal with the arsonist in His own way:
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Romans 12:19-20
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.