Last Wednesday night our student ministry conducted a worship time for the whole church. We called it "Focus on the Cross" It was so very different than anything we had ever done there. It was contemplative, reflective, experiential, all of the things that our typical Sunday morning services are not - normally. I was very encouraged by the response of our adults, I heard one complaint from the whole thing and it was a complaint over something we have been doing for a year and half, nothing over the fact that we had a prayer station or a cross and people nailing their sins to it. No, the complaint was over clapping and it was one person, who has continued to struggle with this. I have prayed for her often and will continue to pray for her. God has blessed me with her presence in my life and so with that I will also encourage her. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be though? I mean, we had thirty five people come forward and nail things to the cross, it was incredible. And while I was excited that everyone was encouraged by what we did. I was thrilled by this person feeling challenged. I think God wants us to be challenged, I think that if we sit through every worship time and gathering and feel happy and encouraged, then something has gone terribly wrong.
I want to walk out of our gathering times and feel as if I have a long way to go, I want to walk out and say "Man, that was uncomfortable." I haven't felt that way in a long time. But shouldn't I? Each time I gather with other believers and non-believers for that matter, I should feel disappointed in my self and ready to do something about it. That, to me, seems to be one of the many ways that growth occurs in me and all of us really. I know I am doing a lot of "I wanting" right now, but I think this "wanting" is the kind of "wanting" that God is "wanting" me to have.
Yesterday I went to Montgomery, AL with a group of kids from Mobile Christian for a school function, it was a lot of fun - I love all of those kids. They are awesome!
We took a large bus and on the way there and back I re-read Brian McLaren's "More Ready Than You Realize" It is such an encouraging book and he helps me to remember the importance of "spiritual friendships." I love the entire concept of "spiritual friendships" in regard to evangelism, to me it gives God the control over evangelism that he should have in the first place. Giving God control is pretty comforting to me, when I really do it. We ended up having a baptism on Wednesday night as well, from, you guessed it, a spritual friendship. McLaren is a great mind, he is one of those guys who writes the stuff that I think, but I am not sure how to verbalize. In many ways as I grow he makes me uncomfortable, even though I tell myself I am not. He makes me uncomfortable because reading his thoughts make me ask myself hard questions and open up to what I really think, much further than what I have been taught. He makes me open up to what I have read, in it's context and not just the skewing I have grown up with or gotten used to. It all makes me uncomfortable, and I think I like that.
k2 said...
dude, can i borrow that book?
i was not sure how to take the only complaint wednesday night. d1 told me that she was on such a spiritual high that she felt kinda jipped when she dealt with the one that was complaining. d1 was so excited! and so was i. we hadn't felt that way since we came here.
i so enjoyed what the kids did. they did such a great job! they hit the mark. i can't wait until they shoot again.
Scott said...
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord." Ephesians 3:16
We are commanded to sing. This means that we are not to use instrumental music or clap. The purpose of singing is to teach and admonish. This cannot be accomplished by clapping or using instrumental music.
CL said...
Thanks Scott. I am not typically a debater so you won't instigate that with me, but I do typically respond favorably when things are placed here in love. I will say this:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In context, this means everything, not just some or part, but all. Including the Old Testament and the New Testament. Especially knowing this is a letter to group of people who had their own issues and in those days there was not a Bible written as we know it today. Probably most of these people only even had OT writings to read from in the first place. And I think in this case Paul is speaking to a young preacher.
Again, thanks for the note. May you be covered in God's grace and blessed by His presence in your life.
