A TIME OF GROWTH

I want to share with y'all the amazing things that happened as a result of our church's massive Celebration service to conclude the 40 Days of Purpose. But first let me explain something. For the past two or so years I've been reading and listening to reformed folks like RCjr and Doug Wilson as well as reading all y'all's blogs out there (how's that for Southern grammar :0). As a result, I've been struggling (by the way, two Jehovah's witnesses just came to my door; I told them after explaining that I don't believe the way they do, that they could come back at a better time so we could discuss our differences) with some of the practices of the modern church such as - style of music in worship, frequency of communion, etc. Most notably, the style of music at our church had begun to bother me. We have both contemporary and blended/traditional servies at our church. I like the traditional service. I like the hymns. Many of the new praise choruses seem to be exalting self rather than God. For the past two years I've been struggling with my observations about the way our church "does church." In the midst of my struggle, my flesh along with the help of the enemy, has been taking advantage and cultivating a critical spirit and arrogance within me. I would enter worship with the wrong attitude. I would attend orchestra rehearsals and quietly sneer in my spirit at some of the new music we would play. All the while, my struggle would be compounded by the fact that those in leadership at my church are godly Christians who truly seek to please the Lord. I've been fighting all the while during this time to come to a place where I'm content with the way we worship and am not assailed by critical thoughts all the time. I also struggled with questions like this, "Is God more pleased with one style of worship than another or does He look at the heart or both?"

So last Sunday and the following Wednesday really helped me grow in this area. We had almost 5,000 people turn out for this one service outside on the fields. There was a huge "rock concert"-like stage set up to hold our choir, orchestra and praise band. The weather was perfect. We worshipped using old and new songs, contemporary and traditional styles. The sermon was powerful and biblical. One major thing that had been emphasized leading up to this service was a special offering that was to be taken. Our goal would be $1,440,000! That is 10% of our ministries budget for next year. No one was sure how much would be given and if we would surpass this goal. On Wednesday night a special worship service was announced in order to announce the results of last Sunday. (Drum roll please :0) The church gave over 1.7 million dollars!!??!! And more importantly, there were 56 people who accepted Christ. There was no altar call, it wasn't a particularly evangelistic sermon. I was blown away and teared up as we sang praises to God last Wednesday. Most importantly, part of my cynicism was broken. I realized that God was glorified in what we did last Sunday, not because of the style of music that was played or anything else. He was glorified last Sunday because we offered all of ourselves to Him, we were obedient. And the fact that 56 people came to Christ confirms that God can decide on any given day to reach down and pour out His blessing on His people in His gracious sovereignty. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating anything goes in worship. I've just realized an important thing about myself and God that I'm still working out in fear and trembling. That is, I don't have to have all my orthodoxy and orthopraxy worked out to the letter before God can be glorified. And I am humbled.

Blessings