Dear Betty Lou,

Dear Betty Lou,
A friend invited me to attend a church service with her yesterday. She is of a different faith than myself and I was interested in another perspective on worship. I was shocked to hear the preacher repeatedly use the word "we" in his remarks . Examples: "We don't watch television shows that promote infidelity" or "we support the 2nd ammendment." Betty Lou, when did churches start speaking on behalf of their parishoners instead of speaking to them? I was offended by what appeared to be forced inclusion which seemed to translate into a popular Bushism: "If you're not with us, you're against us." What's your take on this phenomenon?

Betty Lou Responds -
I take it as an affront to individual expression. Too often these days people are going through life with a "Club" mentality. This means that individuals are not trusting their own individuality and find comfort in thoughts and ideas agreed upon by a mob. The impetous for this type of behavior dates back to childhood when every kid felt like an outsider hoping to be accepted by the "cool kids." Rather than risk not being asked to the prom as an adult, people leap into the largest group no matter what ideals are being embraced by said group. The sinister aspect of all this, of course, is that supposed ministers of God are ignoring the most important gift handed down by our Lord in favor of increasing church membership. That gift, of course, is the gift of free will and what comes along with that: the ability to think critically, make individual choices and to know when to stand up and walk out of church while understanding that God isn't the least bit offended.