Opus 2013-59: Monday Pulpit: A Follow-up

I was listening to Alistair Begg again.  It is a habit I can’t break.  The main reason is I am not trying.  As long as the Holy Spirit speaks to me through his preaching I will keep listening.

I don’t remember the context but he was talking about how busy and noisy people are in their daily lives.  He commented that they always seem to need to be with people, having fun, making noise and a host of other activities.  I think you know what I mean.  Begg’s read on this was that most people are afraid of silence.  They are afraid that if they stop they might feel lonely and lacking in purpose.

I found that interesting in light of what I just posted, which I wrote before I listened to this sermon. 

Why are people so loud in the sanctuary?  Why is it so important to greet people that they have not bothered to contact since the last time they walked through these doors?  How can they be so glad to see them when they don’t care enough to call them on a Tuesday?

And the volume.  Why so loud?  I can hear them clear across the sanctuary.  Granted, it is a small building, but if I can hear them with my old ears the person next to them must be blown away.

My thought is that one reason they are so busy and noisy is that they don’t want to take the risk of the Holy Spirit saying something to them they don’t want to hear.  Think about it.  We have all jokingly stuck our fingers in our ears and said, “I can’t hear you.”  When we have gathered for the supposed purpose of worshiping almighty God, it ceases to be a joke.

Why do people feel they worship better in nature?  One reason is there are no other worshipers to drown out the voice of God.  Of course another reason is that the voice they hear is not rooted in the Word so it might not be the voice of God, but that is a matter of discernment.

So give it a try next time you are in church.  Worship don’t whoop it up.  Have a listening heart not a loud “Hello!”  Give the Holy Spirit a chance.  He might surprise you.

homo unius libri