"They" - A Rant

"They" are at it again.

I was talking to a friend in North Carolina yesterday, and he told me "they" had come to their church. I was disappointed to hear that news. It has been my experience "they" exclusively go to churches. I was just sorry "they" moved south. I guess "they" are not a northern phenomenon after all.

The context of my friend's story was about music in the church. It is a church that has musical talent, especially among its young people. But, the teenagers are not given much opportunity to participate or lead in worship because of "they."

What would "they" say?

"They" are angry!

"They" are threatening to stop giving.

"They" annoy me. Mostly because their objections are based on their comfort level, not on their mission. Tradition overrules. And instead of hearing the command to go, "they" just sit.

I confess. I wish "they" would get going, or go sit somewhere else.

Is This a Joke?

It looked like the beginning of a joke.

Three pastors sat together in a room. An Anglican. A Pentecostal. And a Baptist.

Except, it was no joke. Three men. Three theological persuasions. Three different pastoral roles. And...one Lord!

I have always found it fascinating when we keep our hearts focused on Jesus, that many of the things that seemed so important before, seem less important.

It's not that I don't believe what I believe is important. I think doctrine is huge! I hold on to many of my doctrinal positions with great fervor. They are so core to who I am.

I rejoiced for the three of us that day. We were planning a worship service that involved all the evangelical ministries on campus. We discovered with ease that we had much more in common than what was different. Our mission was the same: Worship. Unity. A campus that needs Jesus.

Three men in a room. The Holy Spirit in our midst. It was a holy moment.