Whole lot of shaking going on

Yesterday was the first time that I had the pleasure of really worshipping in a church in a long, long, long time. Not that I haven’t attended churches mind you, but this tiny church was about WORSHIPPING a risen God. It was a joyful, soulful experience and I’m sure God was smiling as much or more than I was for the entire service.

Not long ago an African American preacher came by my office and introduced himself. Since then he has come by a couple more times to shoot the breeze and the last time he asked me to come offer my testimony at his church. I agreed and yesterday my wife and I went.

I didn’t have a clue as to what to expect and I was surprised when I drove up, because it didn’t really look like a church. It was a small building that looked more like a ranch style house than a church. He told me that he bought the building from the Mormons. It was small but it did have a chapel area where the service was conducted and every square inch of it was utilized.

When I arrived I noticed a guy playing drums and another playing a keyboard. About eight ladies comprised a praise team and perhaps thirty or forty people attended and sat on chairs in the sanctuary after it “filled up”. The service began with a few songs and I was flabbergasted at the beautiful music that those few people made. One man sang a solo version of “You Are So Beautiful” that he had modified to address directly to Jesus. It was simply stunning and tears streamed down both my wife and my faces as we listened to that unbelievable voice praise Jesus Christ with that classic song.

The congregation was comprised of primarily people who in the eyes of society are poor and downtrodden, but I have no doubt that in God are exceedingly rich and will someday inherit the earth. I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit in that tiny church and it was an emotional experience. The invitation lasted almost as long as the service and many people came down and prayed with the preachers and deacons after the service.

Later that evening I was reflecting on this little church. Not long ago I received a letter from a young man who had heard me speak somewhere. He was disillusioned with his church and wanted advice as to whether or not he should leave and try to find another. He could not find peace where he was and wondered if it was God wanting him to make a move or satan causing the unrest.

I answered his letter with a couple of general comments and a series of questions:

“First I would pray about it and try to achieve peace of mind. I would also research the Bible. God speaks to us through the Bible. We have to listen. I research and then read about whatever it is that concerns me and then meditate on it. Don’t be in a hurry. Sometimes God takes His time in giving us an answer. Will such a move bring greater peace? Why can’t you achieve peace in the church you now attend? Why do you attend church? To worship God? To fellowship with fellow Christians? To see others and be seen? Search your motives. The Bible tells us that it is essential to have fellowship with other believers in order for us to fully clothe ourselves in the “Armor of God” and that is one reason we should attend church. Another is to learn more about the Scriptures and God’s desire for us to fulfill His purpose for our lives. Can you achieve that where you are? What exactly is preventing you from enjoying the church that you now attend?”

Later I got the following comments from him:

“Bob, thank you so much for the email. To tell you the truth, I think I let satan whisper in my ear too much lately. Praise God that He snatched me up from the devils grip once again and I can focus on what really matters, focusing on His love for me. God will show me how I should handle these issues’ that are going on, but I have to remember to let Him handle it, not me.”

If you are not attending a church because you cannot find the right one I encourage you to pray about it and get out there and look. God’s people faithfully gather on Sunday to worship all over this country and if you will commit yourself to it you will find the one that is right for you. The Bible states that we should not forsake the gathering together of ourselves.

It may be helpful to understand what church means in the Bible. In the first century “church” pertained to the body of believers, not a building. The followers of Christ had the habit of meeting in each other’s homes, to help each other, worship, pray, etc. The admonition about not forsaking this practice was given in order that we keep it up, and we should realize that such a thing can occur most anywhere two or more people are gathered together in God’s name. Keep in mind that it might even be in a small nondescript place that you least expect to find peace and joy.

I fear too many people attend church to socialize; to see and be seen with other leading figures in the community, instead of worshipping God as the primary objective. The Bible doesn’t say anything about the Governor or the “movers and the shakers” around your community necessarily needing to be in attendance in some ornate temple of the stars that we attend in order to worship and receive our blessings.

In the service I attended yesterday I didn’t see any of society’s elite in attendance and the only “movers and shakers” were on the praise team or those reacting to their glorious voices filling the sanctuary and yet I can assure you that it was a fabulous feeling to be right there in the middle of it clapping my hands right along with them and feeling God’s awesome presence.


Matt. 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.