The Other Cheek...

November 30^th, 2010

John Sowers, Senior Pastor

First Presbyterian Church

318 S. Cedar St.

Spokane, WA 99201

RE: Parking near the STA Jefferson Park & Ride

Dear Pastor Sowers,

Earlier today I drove from my home in North Spokane to the STA Jefferson Park & Ride lot across the street from your church. At the time that I entered the lot, every parking space was full. I was about 10 minutes early for the bus that I take out to Eastern Washington University. Under normal circumstances, a bus from EWU usually arrives within that time to drop students off. These students then get in their cars and free up parking spaces for those of us waiting to catch the bus. Today, however, the bus coming from EWU did not arrive in time and the bus that I needed to catch was about to leave. I had the same problem yesterday, and I ended up using about a quarter of a tank of gas to drive out to Cheney and back. Today, I decided that this would not be prudent as I had received an e-mail the night before warning students of limited street parking near campus due to snow removal. I have seen the signs so politely posted in the parking lot owned by your church asking students not to park there, but the signs were fairly non-threatening, and as it was a Tuesday and I was only going to be gone for a few hours, I decided to park in that lot anyway. I honestly assumed that I would not be causing your organization too much of an inconvenience.

When I arrived back at my vehicle (about four hours later), I saw a note attached to my window. It warned me that my vehicle license plate number had been taken down and that if my vehicle were to be seen again in that parking lot, it would be towed.

I can understand this type of behavior from a business. And I can certainly understand a normal organization’s right to make such threats when their property is being trespassed upon. I cannot, however, understand this type of behavior from a Christian church.

I am a former Christian youth minister and a current agnostic (leaning more toward atheism), and I recall from my ministerial days the book of Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 38 – 42: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (NIV)

Some people say that the biggest causes of atheism in the world are Christians. Your organization’s policy for parking is proving that to be true – at least in my case. I have rejected the faith that I used to hold so dear in large part due to actions just like this, which are so contrary to the spirit of the teachings of Christ, in countless churches encountered during my own ministry. If you people truly believed in the principles you preach, you would not have this policy. Unfortunately, this type of disregard for true biblical principle is not limited to just your church. It is rampant in churches and Christian organizations across the country, and I no longer want ANY association with it. I don’t pray very often any more, but I will certainly pray that your organization re-thinks this policy and any other policies like it. You see, it is one thing for an individual Christian to slip up and stray from God’s word, but it is a far greater evil when a church makes policies that are in blatant disregard for the spirit of Christ’s teaching.

It might seem like a very tiny thing for me to get so upset about, Pastor Sowers, but the simple truth is, your church had an opportunity to minister today, and instead it met a tiny inconvenience with a threat of force. I seriously hope that if God does exist, he finds a way to soften your heart on this issue.

Very Truly Yours,

The Reverend H.

P.S. I have withheld my full name and address purposely. Should you feel the need to respond to me, please do so in prayer, and if your God exists, then he can relay the message to me.