One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible.
The church he entered was in a very upscale part of the city.
It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The other people in the congregation were all wearing upscale, expensive clothing.
As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him.
They were appalled at his appearance and didn’t attempt to hide it.
As the old cowboy was leaving the church after the service the preacher went up to him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. “Before you come back in here, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.”
The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. But the next Sunday he was wearing the sameragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat.
Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.
After the service the preacher again went over to the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God about your attire before you came back to our church.”
“I did,” replied the old cowboy. “And what did God tell you the proper attire would be for worshiping here?” asked the preacher.
“Well, sir,` the cowboy replied, `God told me He didn’t have a clue what I should wear because He’d never been in this church.”
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In an Anglican church, each service begins with a greeting. The officiating clergyman says, “The Lord be with you.”
The congregation used to respond by saying, “And with thy spirit.”
But, with the modernizing of the liturgy, the minister now says, “The Lord be with you,” and everyone responds with, “And also with you.”
One Sunday a visiting bishop went to a church where the sound system was known to be old and unreliable.
As he approached the microphone, he tapped it several times and finally said, “There’s something wrong with this!”
Without hesitation, the whole congregation answered faithfully, “And also with you.”
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Down in the south, there are many churches known as “answer back” churches.
When the preacher says something, the congregation naturally replies. One Sunday, a preacher was speaking on what it would take for the church to become better. He said, “If this church is to become better, it must take up it’s bed, and walk.”
The congregation said, “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.”
Encouraged by their response, he went further, “If this church is going to become better, it will have to throw aside it’s hindrances and run!”
The congregation replied, “Let it run, preacher, let it run!”
Now really into his message, he spoke stronger.
“If this church really wants to become great, it will have to take up it’s wings and fly!”
“Let it fly, Preacher, let it fly!” the congregation shouts.
The Preacher gets louder, “If this church is going to fly, it will cost money!”
The congregation replied, “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.”