The Rev. Dr.

John Hatcher

Religion Columnist

It doesn't take too much analysis to identify Fayette's foremost spiritual malady: It's ease. If our citizens don't have it, they are seeking it desperately. To be at ease. "Ease" appears to be the very essence of the good life.

Our deepest ostensible concerns have to do with drive time to and from work, the length of our child's bus route, and making sure a golf cart doesn't mow us down. Our children struggle fervently with crucial issues like the "in" label for the week, who isn't on the Internet, and what "hot" thing can they do this weekend. Comparatively, grades don't even register a needle's width on the rhubarb scale. Because of all that, we ministers are expected to function as purveyors of ease rather than prophets of truth. Most folks want to hear how good they are, how forgiving God is, and how it's all going to work out in the end. They don't want some preaching dude to come in and shout, "Thus saith the Lord God Almighty ..."

The mighty Prophet Amos dealt pointedly about ease among God's people. He said, "Woe to those who are at ease ... to those who feel secure" (Amos 6:1). Amos preached to people whose passion was pleasure and whose spiritual zeal was zilch. I fear that aptly describes thousands who call ourselves Christians living in and around Fayette County. We can turn out the numbers and turn on the zeal for a zoning matter, but not for a spiritual matter. We can crowd the board room when our kids don't have a gym, but it's okay for our kids to go all day long without instruction on morals and values. We'll wait 45 minutes for a table in the newest restaurant, but a seat better be waiting for us at church or we will turn around and go home and turn on TV church. You know what I'd love to see: a wad of folks upset that our county is increasingly pagan. I'd like to see a flock who really and sincerely wants the pastor to turn on the heat so they can get it right. I'd like to see a whole crowd just itching for God to do something big. I'd like to see revival hit Fayette like an earthquake so that what's happening at the church on Friday and Saturday nights would be the hottest ticket in town.

The year 2000 (Y2K) fear has a lot of people preparing. But it's preparation to ensure that they will not have to go without to remain at ease. We don't want our lifestyle threatened. The Y2K fear has done little to motivate us to prepare spiritually. So, with extra cans of beans in the pantry, we yawn on.

Yet, the injunction remains: "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion." Strap on your seat belt, there's more next week.

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