CelloChick Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 My daughter, who is 17, is in a church youth group. Not for the churchy aspects, mind you. Evelyn has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to use it. Evelyn goes to youth group because of the wacky fun things they do together. Covering the youth pastor's car in shaving cream. 80's night. Six Flags. Going to the beach. This is a youth group that is active and fun. Evelyn is a shy, artsy, quiet kid. These kids accept her and she feels welcomed and loved. So, I'm happy for Evelyn that she goes to this church youth group. My husband and I do NOT go to church. We don't want to go to church. I'm an atheist/agnostic depending on the day. My husband calls himself a Christian, but is an agnostic for the most part. Neither of us read the Bible, go to church, or have anything to do with religion. Spirituality, sure. Organized religion? No. So... Evelyn's pastor called and asked, "Hi, I've been calling all the parents and visiting them. I wanted to come over and talk with you and pray with you." GULP!!!!! I got off the phone as fast as possible. I talked it over with my husband and Steve said, "Ummm, Evelyn's pastor can pray for me all he wants. As long as he doesn't do it here!" I remembered a line from Fiddler on the Roof, "Lord bless and keep the Tsar... far away from us!" Exactly! Keep the pastor... far away from us! That had us laughing even harder. Evelyn asked what was going on, and we had a long discussion about atheists/agnostics/Christians/Deists. Turned out, Evelyn is a Deist! And going to a Christian youth group. Which, was truly hilarious! She doesn't want to get kicked out of youth group for not believing, so we agreed to keep it quiet so she can enjoy all the fun things. Like girls night out, pizza parties, and all the social things. She'll be 18 this summer and it's her last year. Well, the pastor called back. This time Evelyn talked to him. And he asked to talk to me. So Evelyn said, "Oh sure." My daughter was holding the phone. Meanwhile, I shook my head so hard my brain rattled around in my skull. Evelyn said, "Oh, wait. My mom's not here." There was a long pause. Then Evelyn said, "I don't think that would EVER BE POSSIBLE!" She hung up a moment later and just howled with laughter over the idea of her youth pastor talking to her parents about Jesus. It was so funny. Sometimes, "NO," is my favorite word. Ah, let's practice saying that together. No. NO. NO! CelloChick
Thurisaz Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 Always cool to hear about young people NOT falling for the bullshit
Robbobrob Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 Great story. Love to see it when families work together. What Steve said is something I could hear myself saying. LOL Poor pastor, he never stood a chance.
Aqua Kitty Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 Your daughter sounds like an outstanding young woman. You are very lucky!!
pitchu Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 Oh, if only Christianity would just stick to pizza parties. "Here's your Jesus Double Cheeses!" "Who wants a slice of Hot Pepper Hell?" All Immaculate Confection Pizzas Delivered Free from Sin. Our Motto: "Crustianity... Eat It!"
R. S. Martin Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 I talked it over with my husband and Steve said, "Ummm, Evelyn's pastor can pray for me all he wants. As long as he doesn't do it here!" He sounds a lot like me. I asked my sister to pray for me. That was my way to get her off my back. I got her to confess that she trusted the Holy Spirit, right? So she could just pray to for the Spirit to convert me rather than do the work herself. In other words, pray all you like but do it in your own closet and keep your proselyzing thoughts far away from me.
pitchu Posted November 17, 2007 Posted November 17, 2007 Pitchu, Hell Pizzas's your best friend. Who woulda thought?!
Amethyst Posted November 17, 2007 Posted November 17, 2007 Oh, if only Christianity would just stick to pizza parties. "Here's your Jesus Double Cheeses!" "Who wants a slice of Hot Pepper Hell?" All Immaculate Confection Pizzas Delivered Free from Sin. Our Motto: "Crustianity... Eat It!" Almond to that! As long as they throw in some chocolate Jesuses.
Tealeaf Posted November 18, 2007 Posted November 18, 2007 Wow, your daughter is a stand up type. I'm invloved with this chick in the same situation and age and stuff....but her parents are the opposite and I think she's fallen for that shit. I just turned 18 a couple months ago.... Is your daughter hot?
pitchu Posted November 18, 2007 Posted November 18, 2007 Almond to that! As long as they throw in some chocolate Jesuses. For this kind of repast, even I would invite the pastor over.
♦ nivek ♦ Posted November 18, 2007 Posted November 18, 2007 "When can I come over and pray in your home?" "Oh, say same day I can come over and piss in your evening bath..." kFL
Thurisaz Posted November 18, 2007 Posted November 18, 2007 "When can I come over and pray in your home?" "Oh, say same day I can come over and piss in your evening bath..."
upstarter Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 I'm curious about something... a week or so ago someone posted about their kid being taken occasionally to the nursery at a church and everyone jumped all over her and said that she should NEVER EVER allow anyone to take her kid to church under any cirumstances because he would become brainwashed, even in the nursery. But no one is having that reaction to a teenaged girl who goes to a church youth group? Personally, I don't care. I think that kids can be taught to think for themselves and if you talk to your kids about what you believe etc. then they will take or leave what they feel is right for them. I think if this girl is having fun and making friends and has her own ideas about her beliefs then great. I'm just really surprised that people's reactions are so different from the other post. I can't believe no one is saying, "Get your kid out of that church group now before she becomes a mindless zombie." Heather
CelloChick Posted November 22, 2007 Author Posted November 22, 2007 I'm curious about something... a week or so ago someone posted about their kid being taken occasionally to the nursery at a church and everyone jumped all over her and said that she should NEVER EVER allow anyone to take her kid to church under any cirumstances because he would become brainwashed, even in the nursery. But no one is having that reaction to a teenaged girl who goes to a church youth group? Personally, I don't care. I think that kids can be taught to think for themselves and if you talk to your kids about what you believe etc. then they will take or leave what they feel is right for them. I think if this girl is having fun and making friends and has her own ideas about her beliefs then great. I'm just really surprised that people's reactions are so different from the other post. I can't believe no one is saying, "Get your kid out of that church group now before she becomes a mindless zombie." Heather I thought that was interesting, too! I hesitated to post this story for that very reason. I guess the difference is in my daughter's age. She’s not a little toddler who is being taken to a church against my will. She’s 17. Now that my daughter is 17, I’m learning to back off and let her learn about who she is and who she is not; what she believes and doesn’t believe. It’s a different phase of parenting. Besides, I can think of a WHOLE lot of things my daughter could be doing instead of having pizza in the basement of a church with her friends! Given the alternatives, I’m grateful. CelloChick
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