(This one might get a little controversial...)

Yesterday we were driving home from a co-worker's home where he had some folks over for a "grill-night." (I used to call one of these things a "barbecue" before I lived in North Carolina and found out what "barbecue" really means.) he lives out in Winchester, VA -- about 75 miles away from where we live. But it's breathtakingly beautiful out there...

Anyhow, on the way back while driving on Route 7, I pointed a huge complex to K. On our right side was the campus of McLean Bible Church.  Many people in the DC area know of McLean Bible Church and its head pastor, Lon Solomon, through the many minute-long radio ads he buys. They don't directly advertise the church. Instead, he gives a minute-long "lesson" usually starting with a song lyrics from the likes of Rod Stewart and then bringing it home with the message of eternal salvation if one would accept Jesus into one's life. He ends each of these with the same phrase:  Not a sermon, just a thought.

I had also heard some local radio personalities talking about attending church there. The attendance on a regular Sunday morning can get up to 1500 people. Babysitting alone for the kids of worshipers has gotten to an extent where there is an electronic tote-board flanking the side of the sanctuary, so parents can know if their assistance is required. My overall thoughts about this place were quite positive -- it's bringing spirituality to a large number of people who are looking for it. Good for them.

They also buy airtime on several stations in the area on Sunday morning where Lon Solomon delivers his weekly sermon and broadcasts it. I happened to listen to it last Sunday morning while I was out in the car rather early. He's a dynamic speaker, and very charismatic. I can see why he has so many followers. I didn't agree in the least with his message, which mostly had to do with this country becoming amoral with the mainstream acceptance of homosexuality, but it was his opinion. His message.  His platform.

Anyway, the campus of McLean Bible church appears huge  when you pass by it. It actually used to be the main campus of the National Wildlife Federation before the church bought it out.  Behind a layer of trees you can see several buildings and a large parking structure. Being Jewish, I can't imagine anything of this magnitude. 1500 people on a weekly basis in one place? Most synagogues in the area don't even get that turnout on the two Jewish High Holidays, twice a year! Again, kudos to them.

And then, my wife K showed me the front page article in today's Washington Post, which talked about the opening of this church's new $90 million sanctuary this weekend.  It also talked about the aggressive recruitment efforts the church has made. Here's the beginning of the article:

I read through the rest of the article and found myself bothered by it. True, this church may have done a lot for the greater community. True, people derive spirituality from their affiliation with it. And that's fine.

But the moment you start trying to convert others, that's where I find it to be a menace.

Coincidentally, I answered our door this morning to find two well-dressed men smiling at me, one of whom wanted to enlighten me with some passages from "the Bible." (I notice that it was actually "The Watchtower.") I politely cut in and said that we were perfectly happy with our religion. He said "thanks for your time" and left. Perhaps cold-canvassing door-to-door trying to sell religion is part of their belief, but it sure isn't part of mine. If I were shopping around for worship, I would approach what I'm interested in and make my own choice. I may not be the most observant or spiritual Jew in the world, but I do just fine, thanks.

Lon Solomon and his "glitzy megachurch" (The Post's words, not mine) are out to get the Jews. And convert them. At least they're being more honest about whom they're targeting. But it's still an obnoxious affront to my community. And it certainly doesn't reflect well on them. This isn't supposed to be a campaign on which soft-drink someone's supposed to buy -- it's about heritage, tradition and an individual's choice. To mess with that by targeting Jews to get them to convert? That's certainly kicking in the balls.

I looked around the website for a while. Yes, Lon Solomon was Jewish. He went to UNC-Chapel Hill and found his spirituality through one of the street preachers there. According to the website he even tried to come back to mainstream Judaism -- but he was suicidal and could only be "saved" by this preacher. And, therefore, he deems himself with the right to save everyone else -- after all: if it worked for him, a Jewish kid from Virginia, surely it works for everyone, right?

Maybe this strikes a chord with me because I'm Jewish and from a similar background. And I worked at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill at Hillel -- the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (albeit decades after Solomon attended the University). I helped many students who were also going through crises -- but I wasn't trying to "save" anyone by changing a belief structure. And I certainly didn't try to get anyone to become Jewish. Or even "more Jewish." The students with whom I worked were the ones who approached the community -- not the other way around. And yes -- I've dealt with many students who have been accosted by those who want them to convert. I even was approached several times by people who thought I was doing religion wrong!

And the thing is -- many of these people really meant well. I had formed relationships with them. And eventually, *BOOM!* I'm told something along the lines of "Shiny -- you're really a wonderful person and friend -- and it breaks my heart that you won't be going to Heaven with us." How noble. Look -- I understand you care about my well-being. But that's simply not appropriate to say, whether you believe it or not. What's important is what I believe. And that should only be important to me. Or, if you wish, between myself and God. Not a threesome.

And what took my bother to a volatile boiling point was reading, on the same website, that Lon Solomon has been on the board of "Jews for Jesus" since 1987.

A pre-emptive note here: If you believe in Jesus as your savior, I have no qualms against it. If you find a way of spiritual life which works for you, I think that's wonderful. And I'm not going to try to change it for you. However, if you try to piss all over the beliefs I hold, you're in a lot of trouble. "Jews for Jesus" is a missionary cult formed to deceptively target Jews for conversion to Christianity. It is not as they would tell you, simply another form of Judaism. Otherwise -- why is it led by Christian leaders? Why is it funded mostly by church groups? Why do they have Christian leadership on the board? Why do they go on the prowl at places where people are the most susceptible to look for an ideology change?

Judaism does not proseltyze. End of story. We did about 2,170 years ago, but that's simply not the way we do things. In fact, talk to anyone who has entered the conversion process -- he or she will tell you that before the process begins, there is a period of time where a rabbi specifically discourages the prospective convert to be Jewish! We're not trying to reach a quota. Ours is not a religion of changing people's beliefs. So stop the ruse already.

There are many people on Mindsay -- many of whom I call friends and to whom I look upward with a great deal of respect -- who are very spiritual and religious people, and do wonderful things in their communities of worship. And I feel I can discuss religion openly and honestly with them -- not as a debate, but rather as a diversity that is meant to be shared. And I'm thankful that none of them has approached me requesting that I change my ways. I admire the feeling of mutual respect. It happens here. And it can happen in the outside world as well.

So, Mr. Solomon, congratulations on your new 90 million dollar sanctuary. Use it wisely. Help those who choose to follow a similar path with it. Keep being a motivational guide for your flock. They appreciate you.

But please -- stay the fuck away from converting my community.

Not a threatening display of vulgarity, just a thought...