Morning Moments

Extremes are usually very dangerous. Today I wish to look at a few of them in Christianity.
1) TRUTH is always the balance but TRADITION and TREND can be extremes. I find myself often "stuck in the middle". I remember years ago a couple had a problem with their child and wanted me to take the child to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home. The child was a young girl who in my opinion just needed a better home enviornment. I had known the mother since childhood and she had major problems of her own, so as a young pastor, I felt the child would be better off to be away from the home for awhile. My judgment proved right.

On the way I had chosen a radio station with some easy listening music that I thought might ease the tension. Then the mother suddenly says, "Pull the car over that music has made me sick. I only like country music. NOW folks, I want you to know that this is the truth, as strange as it may sound:) So I pulled the car to the side of the road as the mother emptied her heels (that's southern for vomitting). I switched the radio off.

I hear people say, "I just can't stand those 7/11 praise choruses where they sing seven verses eleven times through, I love the old hymns". Then I hear others say, "The old hymns are boring and I just don't get into worship singing them." As a result, we have created another division in the body of Christ. We have been dividing the body for a long time in America. Now I will probably get "stoned" for what I am about to say but remember these are MY moments:) so indulge me.

Instead of parents taking children to church with them, they often dump them off in the play room, so that they don't interupt the preacher. Any preacher who thinks his preaching is too important for those babies is like the disciples who tried to keep the children from Jesus. The motives are pure and the intention is right but WE CANNOT SEE THAT WE HAVE BEGUN EARLY CREATING DIVISION IN THE BODY.

Allow me to continue. We then separate the youth and they have their own little church within the church. Then it's the Senior Adults we separate, so they can be with people their own age, and on and on we go. There is less respect for the elderly in this country that anywhere in the world I have ever been. What was the problem with all of us worshipping together?

Let me close today by simply saying we have conformed to the world without even realizaing it. Please understand I do not mean to be critical, but it just bothers me that we go to such extremes to make everybody comfortable and maybe we are creating division without knowing it by following trend OR tradition instead of balancing with TRUTH. Please forgive me if this offends you:) Just love me and be patient with me and maybe one day I will grow to accept anything and everything too.

PRAYER: O Gracious God, what on earth are we doing? With all our good intentions we sometimes divide rather than unite. We sometimes "sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate." I know this is a judgment call, Father. And PLEASE help my brothers and sisters to understand that I am simply warning of danger. I love you, Lord and I love the body of Christ, and my hearts desire is not to hurt but help. Thank YOU.