BUCKING THE SYSTEM: LIP-SERVICE IS NO WAY TO HONOR YOUR RELIGION

It doesn't really matter how many times you perform the ceremony or recite the passage if you don't know what it means.

You never really think about faith until yours is questioned.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the doctrine of the African Methodist Episcopal church in which I was raised. My friend wanted to know what made the AME church different from other denominations and why I continued to be a member.

I proudly explained that our denomination was created after our founders were told that they were to sit in the back of the church and pray only after all of the other white members had finished praying. This, of course, sets us apart, I said.

I told him that I've been attending the same AME church regularly since birth and was only 10 years old when I decided to become a member. Then I told him about the classes I attended to learn the doctrine of the church for six weeks before I was baptized and accepted into full membership.

Finally I told him about our order of service and the different rituals we have. We're METHODISTS, I said, as if that explained everything.

I never answered his question.

You see, although I've been a member of the AME church for 16 years; although I have memorized all of the rituals and recitations we perform during services; and although I'm currently bringing my child up in this same denomination, I've forgotten what it all means.

Sometimes the best thing a veteran church-goer can do is go back to the beginning and take a second look at their reasons for believing. It's not enough to say "That's how we do things" or "This has been this way for years." Each of us needs to know why things are the way they are. I guess I'd forgotten that until that idle conversation.

Being the reporter that I am, I decided it might be interesting to find out if other AME members could clue me in. I spoke with several of my fellow members, and do you know what I found? Some of them were as clueless as I was.

I checked with some friends who were of other denominations. Same problem, different affiliation.

How in the world can we be about the business of recruiting people into our faith when we don't understand the church we belong to? The answer is, obviously, that we can't. It doesn't really matter how many times you perform the ceremony or recite the passage if you don't know what it means.

Now I know some Christians are very educated about their churches and will gladly tell you anything you want to know about them. I thought I was one of those people, and I often congratulated myself for not being "pushy" about my religion.

Turns out I just didn't know any better.

So now I guess it's time to educate myself about something I thought I knew so much about. I've started reading my Discipline, the book which outlines the doctrine of our church and even explains the origin of those beliefs.

I'm also paying attention to all of those creeds and benedictions I repeat every week. The words actually have meaning now and aren't just a means of getting to the end of service.

Being religious is more than just a ritual. I'm going to figure out what it all means so I can improve my walk and maybe the walks of a few others.

~Tamara Zellars Buck is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.