9.10.2005 | "Salvation is not free"

Thus opines someone described as "a minister" of a church in suburban Prince Georges County, Maryland, home of the Washington Redskins. The Skins will be playing today, and a story in the Washington Post notes how difficult it's become to get a place to park near the game. At least if you're going to park closer than, say, Philadelphia and take Amtrak in.

Jericho City of Praise is a black megachurch, and is located, according to a December 20, 2004 Washington Post story on a "$36 million campus of buildings." The church is so large that it is able to "lease several thousand parking spaces to the Redskins each fall."

Well, allright. There's nothing sinful about making a few bucks leasing parking spaces. After all, it's not as though those football fans are going to the church to pray. Although there is something really distasteful at the pride of place wealth seems to have at this "successful" church.

Now, getting back to the "minister", who seems to think that there is a price tag on salvation. In context, from today's Post story:

And the Jericho City of Praise church will continue its policy of requiring a Redskins parking permit to use its lots near the stadium, said Bobby Henry, a minister.

"Nothing is free, even in our business -- the church business -- it's not free," he said. "Salvation is not free."

Ahh, "the church business." To be sure, we can't keep a roof over our congregation's heads without money. But here's the thing, my money-grubbing friend: salvation is, precisely, free. It is a gift from God. It can not be bought. Even for a parking space close to where the Redskins play.

| technorati tag | Christianity|