Andy Griffith-style Faith

“I guess it’s a time like this, when you’re asked to believe something that just don’t seem possible, that’s the moment that decides whether you got faith in somebody or not.” -Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show

One of my favorite TV stations has been showing old episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. Number 7 on the viewers’ choice list might just be my top pick. It’s the one where Opie makes friends with a man named Mr. McBeevee. The problem is Andy thinks Opie has made up this character and is using him as an excuse to get out of chores.

When Opie shows up with a quarter in his pocket that he claims was a gift from Mr. McBeevee, Andy decides this game of pretend has gone too far. Opie is sent to his room. Andy tries to get him to recant, but Opie knows what he knows to be true. With a quivering lip, he looks up at his dad and says, “Don’t you believe me, Pa?” I love Andy’s response.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15BYCYsn-OU

We know Jesus’ disciples had a hard time believing all the stuff he was telling them. It just didn’t make sense to them, given what they understood at the time. To us churchy folk, who know how the story comes out, it’s maybe not so difficult. Faith in Christ might be relatively easy when you’re a part of the church. So then, can we still call it faith? If Opie’s story didn’t sound so far-fetched, Andy wouldn’t have had so much trouble with it. The fact that he takes Opie’s word, in spite of his doubt, is what makes it remarkable.

What might be a better parallel in our lives today than the kind of faith we profess in Christ is whether we trust our brothers and sisters whose beliefs do not match up neatly with our own. If you are one of those people, as I am, that has struggled to make themselves understood in the face of a majority opposition, you may feel a lot like Opie did. He does his best to explain to his dad, in terms that make sense to him, but Andy just doesn’t get it. Both of them are hurt.

It is Opie’s faith that seems to in turn inspire his father’s faith. If we, too, can be inspired by one another’s faith, even that which we find different or hard to understand, we might also find reconciliation and healing of our relationships within the church. Standing firm with our arms folded doesn't allow us to reach out. It's pretty hard to do what God has called us to do that way.

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done ~Author unknown

“There’s a Sunday School class with no teacher. Somebody needs to teach it.” I said I would teach.

“We’re too nervous to read lessons in front of the whole church.” I said I would read.

“Mrs. A has been care group leader for a long time. Somebody else needs to take a turn.” I took it.

“Everybody is too busy nowadays to serve funerals.” I washed dishes and made bars.

“The food pantry board needs a representative from our church to serve.” I said I would do it.

“None of us has the time to chair a call committee.” We needed a pastor, so I did.

“Our secretary quit. We need somebody to replace her.” I learned how to make bulletins.

“Who’s going to get the Christmas poinsettias/Easter lilies?” I drove to the store and picked them up.

“Who is supposed to change the worship time on the sign out front?” I changed it.

“We’re running out of communion wafers. Mr. T always got them before he died.” I placed an order.

“We’ll be on vacation the weekend of the synod assembly. We need a delegate.” I went.

“Everybody wants out of the ELCA. Nobody would ever want a gay pastor and nobody will leave this church.” I left. I am Nobody.

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done ~Author unknown

“There’s a Sunday School class with no teacher. Somebody needs to teach it.” I said I would teach.

“We’re too nervous to read lessons in front of the whole church.” I said I would read.

“Mrs. A has been care group leader for a long time. Somebody else needs to take a turn.” I took it.

“Everybody is too busy nowadays to serve funerals.” I washed dishes and made bars.

“The food pantry board needs a representative from our church to serve.” I said I would do it.

“None of us has the time to chair a call committee.” We needed a pastor, so I did.

“Our secretary quit. We need somebody to replace her.” I learned how to make bulletins.

“Who’s going to get the Christmas poinsettias/Easter lilies?” I drove to the store and picked them up.

“Who is supposed to change the worship time on the sign out front?” I changed it.

“We’re running out of communion wafers. Mr. T always got them before he died.” I placed an order.

“We’ll be on vacation the weekend of the synod assembly. We need a delegate.” I went.

“Everybody wants out of the ELCA. Nobody would ever want a gay pastor and nobody will leave this church.” I left. I am Nobody.