OK....it's approaching dinner time on the Lord's Day. Do you remember what your pastor's sermon was on? Thinking back on the service....was this not the case.....the church was buzzing with noise before the service....and you had four or five conversations with whatever friends you ran into while entering the church or those in your pew or the pew behind you? Your pastor entered the pulpit....or stood behind the lecturn.....with a broad smile on his face? That was the case right? The world is spinning out of control....and America is reeling.....while violence seems to be everywhere...and the pastor is all smiles.....encouragement to us....or so he would say if asked.
Let me segue here for a moment. I once had a pastor....this was a Presbyterian church.....and this about twenty-five years ago....who wore a robe in the pulpit. He spoke with a very slight stutter....but he was a man born out of his time.....a Puritan in his preaching. There were two of us in the church....maybe more that I did not know of.....who were speechless at the end of many of the sermons. At times I would move down to be next to this other man....and look at him....and we would just sit in silence a few minutes as the sermon full of the glories of Christ settled in. The session probably thought that his preaching was....OK.....maybe. There was one Lord's Day....with just such a sermon.....and as my friend and I sat there we could hear banter from just outside the sanctuary where a group of men were talking about the big college football game coming up. I walked back and closed the large doors....saying something.....I can't remember exactly what....one of them said something.....I also can't remember exactly....but something like.....then why don't I just leave? The pastor eventually left.
Segue now over....your service ended and immediately the sanctuary was noisy again....with laughter....and everyone said their goodbyes.....heading home to.....probably what's on your television right now....a football game. Well you're probably not too thrilled with my thoughts and comments.....but at least you are still here. I would ask you this....logically speaking.....is there not something terribly wrong here. All theology aside....is this not somewhat absurd?
I related this anecdote before....as I heard it related by John Piper....it was said that Einstein was not a fan of organized religion because.....in his prodigious mind he knew that if there is a God then the majesty of that God would be unspeakably glorious.....but the people in these churches....who proclaim everywhere that they believe in God.....don't even seem to be in awe of His glory!
My hope in these posts.....some very controversial posts such as this one....was that if it would be God's will....pillars would shake.....not to bring the roof down....but that everyone within would see that there is a problem in the church....and would examine the foundation....seek God's mercy for our lack of maintenance....and set out to restore that foundation....trusting in Christ alone....and becoming a peculiar people once again...."in awe of His glory" ....which truly is...."unspeakably glorious!"
