The term "Roast Preacher" is something many Southern Baptists from the old south understand. In 1956 I met Ken when he was 4 and I was 5 years old. Both of our families were from the deep southern USA, with his family being Southern Baptists, Conservative Southern Democrats, and my fmaily Roman Catholic, Moderately Conservative Southern Democrats.
While growing up, almost every Sunday morning, when Ken's family returned from Church ... in the car drive home and through lunch time, they often debated the Preacher's sermon, and just as often found fault with the Preacher and what he preached. When at times Ken's dad would be challenged about "Roasting the Preacher" ... he would retort that he contributed to pay the Preacher's salary ... and did the mosty to help build the church ... and he would Roast his ass all he felt like it ... he was ... "not going to pay lip service to any goddamn preacher." End quote. Imagine this freedom! A crusty bunch, but full of life and lots of fun to be with.
Through the years Ken and I were best of friends ... and he was always there, even though our contact was slim while I was a JW for 25 years ... he would still call or pick me up at the airport when I dropped in to visit on a business trip ... and he did not judge my JW beliefs ... at least he did not let it stand in the way. He always invited my to church, and seem to always understand when I declined because of my JW beliefs.
February 1995, I flew to So. California to visit with Ken. By then we had been friends for 39 years ... only this time, I was through with the JWs ... and we were normalizing our freeqquent contact ... the breach of our contact was mostly my fault because he was of the "world" or so I thought ... now, I was a liberated Christian and ready to fully enjoy all aspects of our lifelong friendship ... then ...
We did something for the first time ever in our 39 years as friends ... we went to church together at his church. Prior to this I never went to his church as a kid, except once by accident, because as a Roman Catholic we were not allowed to attend or participate in Protestant Church services ... then as a Jehovah's Witness, I could not attend his church because I was not allowed to participate in Protestant Church services ... but this time was different ... and it was a treat to do this new thing ... then ...
Back at his Mom's home for lunch ... it all began as usual ... we had Roast Preacher!!! Yes, no sooner than prayer for the meal and a few bites of food ... then they started griping and arguing about the Preacher ... and debating his sermon ... Ken turned to me and quietly said, "I am embarassed about this Roasting the Preacher ... and I hope you understand." I told Ken that not only did I understand, but that maybe he needs to think about his spiritual freedom more ... and with that, someone asked my opinion of the Preacher ... so, I stood up ...
I addressed their whole family: All the times from the 1950s onward that I have been with you folks on Sunday morning, you have had Roast Preacher ... and sometimes you have felt bad doing that in front of me ... but for 25 years, I was in spiritual slavery and could not speak out against the sermon or the Preacher ... and today, I can sit here and fully enjoy Roast Preacher with you ... savoring the moment and loving the freedom ... and I honor your long standing tradition ... their jaws dropping as I spoke ... in disbelief of my appreciation of their crude family practice ... and their not fully understanding where I came from ... then in a flash, after some acknowledgement and thanks for my comments ... they were back at it ... Roasting Preacher.
Today, Ken turns 50 years old. It is hard to believe that we have been friends through thick and thin for over 46 years ... Spiritual freedom, somewhat like and yet unlike political freedom, is best understood when you have been denied such freedom ... and to have it after so many years, one begins to take new delight in things that to others is taken for granted. Today, in a few minutes, I will ask Ken, wishing him a Happy Birthday and ask about today's sermon, and see if I can get some Roast Preacher served up.