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Gary Cox
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
 Hattteberg's People
- Gary Cox |
| February 28, 2006--There is a religious tug-of-war in this country. Tonight a look at the Rev. Dr. Gary Cox. He Pastors at the University Congregational Church in Wichita. He is fighting for his particular Christian beliefs by writing a book. A book that says fundamentalist Christians may not be on the right track. At the same time, Rev. Cox is fighting for his life. |
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“I’ve got the perfect family. I’ve got the perfect job. I’ve got the perfect congregation. I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing with my life.”
The Rev. Dr. Gary Cox found his path to the pulpit the hard way.
“I rejected Christianity when I was a teen. It seemed to me that the two adjectives that described Christians were smug and judgmental.” |
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He played n a ‘rock’ band for a while, then worked for decades in business and industry. He studied philosophy, Buddhism and Hinduism.
“I was really in my 40’s that there was a strand of Christianity that
is so beautiful and so powerful that leads directly into the heart of
God.” |
This ‘Christianity’ was far different that that of
the fundamentalist TV preachers who had left him cold in his youth.
“There was a British theologian who said, ‘Christianity is like a swimming pool. All the noise comes from the shallow end.”
“Eternal God we open up our hearts in this hour to your gracious love.”
Following the call to become a pastor, he now leads the University Congregational church near 29th & Webb Road.
“So Bible criticism is simply an honest scholarly approach to the texts of the Bible.”
Gary had found his calling – but his road to God took a detour.
“I’m going to die, but again, that happens to everybody at some point.”
Last year Doctors told him he had incurable Kidney Cancer and to measure his life in months….not years. |
“I’m at peace with God and I hope I have years left in the is world, but if I only have days --- I’m at peace with that.”
Gary is surrounded by a congregation who support him and a family who loves him. But since his diagnosis, his mission has been this book.
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“Realistically this book will be my legacy.”
A book called “Think Again; A Response to Fundamentalism’s Claim on Christianity”.
“It’s fine to believe the fundamental tenants of Christianity. But it’s not fine to become smug and judgmental toward other people once you accept those fundamentals.” |
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The book is collection of sermons Gary has preached. Troubled by what he sees as a religion that has become too judgmental by fundamentalists he wanted to show the other side of the faith.
“I feel so strongly that Christianity can be boiled down to four words based on the teachings of Jesus. They are: Love everybody and judge nobody.
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Pastor Cox knows he’s a small voice in a sea of fundamental disagreement.
“I don’t understand those who insist on a very narrow fundamental way of thinking about the faith that divides the world into us and them, good and evil, the saved and the unsaved.”
“I’m doing great! Hi Ann, hi Bob how are you doing?” |
Facing death as he faces life, Gary Cox heads down another one of life’s paths. His book is done, but not, he says, is his ministry.
“We don’t know what happens when we die, when we move beyond this world, but we don’t die into nothingness. We die into the arms of God. That should be our greatest comfort.”
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| Larry’s Note: The Reverend Dr. Gary Cox’s book is now available. It is called “Think Again; A Response to Fundamentalism’s Claim on Christianity. It is available at Watermark Book Store in Wichita and at Amazon.com. |
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