I am reading in Mark 9 14-21 today and I am seeing some relevant points for our current discussions on the time and style of service. This whole discussion for me is so much bigger than what time I am worshipping and weather it is a pipe organ or a bass guitar accompanying me as I praise the amazing God I serve. In this scripture, Jesus warns us that we need to “Be careful.” “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” This comes after a discussion with Pharisees about a need for a sign from heaven. I feel like Jesus was saying “seriously folks, you are going to ask for a sign. I just had two separate occasions where I fed 5000 and 4000 people with a few loaves of bread. I have healed countless people simply because they showed the faith in me to do so. Now you are asking me for a sign. What do you people want from me?”
I feel like Jesus is saying to me this morning, don’t listen to the people who are out there doubting weather a church that has been so steeped in tradition with the beautiful building can ever really break free of the old “church” stereotypes and fall on their faces and worship God with all that we have and serve every single person who walks through our door. Serve them regardless of what they look like, talk like, dress like, smell like or act like. If they have the best suit or the dirtiest coat…Love them. If they have flawless skin and perfectly manicured nails or matted hair and sweat pants…Love them…not just tolerate them…Love them.
Our church family is fractured and this is the time when we need to set our comfort aside, humble ourselves and let God provide. Jesus is saying you can experience me where ever you are. I will feed you…I will provide your daily bread today and every day if you just serve me and don’t let the yeast of the world and your own internal yeast contaminate you. Praise to God is Praise to God it does not matter what it is accompanied by. Worship and reverence are what He wants for us and that looks different to all people. But if we humble ourselves to Him and only Him and realize that we are not going to be comfortable doing it, OH the places we will GO!
Have faith that your God is big enough to meet you where ever you are as long as you are seeking him and not something that you feel comfortable with. Jesus did not come to make you feel comfortable. He came to show you how to make disciples and he told you to do it. (Matthew 28:19-20) Are we really doing that if we are doing the same old thing and seeking OUR comfort? How many people have you invited to church today? How many people have you forgiven just like God forgives you today? How much grace have you heaped upon the people you came in contact with today?
“Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are you hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? …..Do you still not understand?"
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
Betsy Coldiron
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