Slice of Laodicea

Elmbrook Church in Waukesha, Wisconsin (suburb of Milwaukee) is on the horns of a dilemma. As one of Wisconsin’s original megachurches, their huge auditorium has long served as a community center as the church has rented out for things like the Lawrence Welk Reunion Show, Veggie Tales shows, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and so forth. For nine years, they have also allowed a public school graduation for their district to be held in their sanctuary without a hitch. Until now. Our local NBC affiliate reports.

The real issue here is not that of the school district’s choice to hold a public school graduation in a Christian church. The real issue is whether the separation-of-church-and-state group now suing the district will be able to accomplish what they really want—the veiling of the giant cross in the sancutary and the removal of Bibles and other Christian materials from the back of church seats. What a coup that would be.

The news story is interesting in that the church actually admits to already covering up the cross in the sanctuary in the past. That a Christian church would so value the income and use of their property as a public auditorium that it would agree to cover up the chief symbol of our faith, the cross of Christ, is amazing. It is hopeful that their elders also saw the outrageous nature of this. But this paragraph in the news story is troubling:

Gibson also admitted there were complaints in some years about the site, saying people were asking the district to veil the cross inside the church.

“The first year, the church responded and did veil the cross. Then they had a meeting of their elders and decided they would remove anything that was not permanent, but they wouldn’t remove or veil anything that was permanent if they rented the facility out.” (emphasis added)

So the church would still remove, say, the Bibles in the backs of the seats to please non-Christian and unregenerate parents. Imagine removing the Bibles from your church so you could collect the rent money from a government school district. These aren’t really Christian “sanctuaries” at all then, are they–if assorted atheists, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims and other religionists can strut in and demand you remove God’s Word, and you’re willing to comply because they’re paying you rent?

Elmbrook Church should turn down the rent money and send the government school district elsewhere so they can rent a different venue. This isn’t about evangelism as the article clearly states. They like the building because of, and I quote, 

“The reason they like Elmbrook Church? Space, amenities, and the bottom line.”

In other words, they get good parking and a good financial deal. That’s about all the church seems to be able to offer the world these days—great rentals.

“Haul out the Bibles, veil the crosses, we have somebody who wants to rent!” How sad.