Sundays Are Different Now - A Reflection

14 October 2012

I have always loved studying God's Word. Indeed, so much so, that my greatest delight for many years was to study 20-plus hours a week and deliver a coherent message on Sunday morning. I suppose some might debate the "coherent" part.

But can I confess? More often than not, Sunday was not my favorite day of the week. As much as the proclamation of the Word brings me great joy, many aspects of the day were less pleasurable. My ability to worship was limited as details enveloped me.

Sundays are different for me now. I enjoy them so much. I do get the opportunity to speak often and that brings me joy. But I find as much joy going to church to listen to someone else. Today it was my successor at Randall, Pastor Josh LaRavia. It was my first time back at Randall when I had no reason to be there, except to worship.

I am proud of the young man who has taken my place at Randall. He comes with rock solid teaching and a heart to fulfill God's mission. I feel so blessed that he is there. And perhaps best of all, I worshipped and learned much from this younger man. I still have much to learn. It was a great day.


You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. (I Timothy 4.6, The Message)

Going Down!

Baptisms make me speechless (which is why many people wish I would attend them all the time).

Seriously, I struggle to find any words that adequately describe them. But as I observed six people take their stand for Jesus a few days ago, here is what I saw:

GOOD NEWS: The truth about Jesus saving traitors and betrayers continues to be true. We don't deserve His kindness, but it is certain that He loves to extend it.

POWER: Jesus in our lives changes everything. Directions change. Desires change. Purposes change. All because He recreates us back to His original intention.

COMMUNITY: The excitement of being set free brings fellow believers to their feet, clapping their hands, and raising their arms in praise to God. I wonder what it was like in heaven - the angels must have been going crazy (decently, and in order, of course).

WORSHIP: In the end, after the testimonies - after the baptisms - after the celebration - what was left was worship. And that was enough.

They were "going down" but it was a good thing, for the eternal result occurred. There was joy!

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6.4 (ESV)

I tell them...

I tell them...

If they keep singing songs I don't know (I dislike mumbling and stumbling through unfamiliar music)...

And if they keep playing the music too loud (my poor ears - have mercy!)...

And if they keep singing the same thing over and over (feed my mind, please!)...

I'm leaving!

But I stay.

I stay for them.

I find God in their midst.

And I worship.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96.1-4 (ESV)

A New Generation

I am seeing a new generation arise. And they are passionate. They are passionate about God's Word. They are passionate that it ought to be lived out - now.

I feel a bit of irony in all of this. Being a pastor of churches for 30 years, I have lived inside the repeating criticism of young people being shallow theologically and bent on emotional experience. Most commonly, it was the kind of thing said during the "worship wars" at any given church.

This is a generation that knows not hymns. They sing contemporary worship songs. They use guitars and drums, instead of an organ. Their music has a "beat." And they have cast aside many of the traditions that I grew up in.

I can criticize the casting aside of some tradition, for there is much to learn from those who have come before us. But what I cannot criticize is a motivation that comes from knowing the God of the present who says "Go" and "Proclaim good news and freedom to the oppressed."

What can I say? More power to them. Holy Spirit power, that is.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Isaiah 61.1 (ESV)