- Preaching the Word
- Partaking in Pop
- Playing on the Pitch
morning started off at church as most Sundays do. But after last week, I knew
that i had to bring every ounce of attentive energy i had as we were in for
another 4 hour service.
It
shouldn’t be that difficult, especially as it was the second week in a row that
I would be speaking, but there are so many differences between preaching in
Africa and America that it can be quite difficult.
For
starters, we never know what is going on. One minute everyone is sitting and
listening to the pastor, and within seconds they are standing, dancing,
shouting hallelujah. The team just looks at each other and smiles with a “well
we might as well join them look.”
Every
Sunday I always have a sermon prepared and songs ready on my guitar, cause
even when i am not planning on speaking, you never know what will be asked of
you. So today after our two song worship
set and awkward ending ( I am still not great at finishing songs), I got up to
speak. I spoke on the concept of “Trusting
and Obeying God.”
sermon went well, but it was difficult. In Africa a ‘successful’ sermon brings
some good points from the Bible, but also gets about 30 ‘amens’, 45 ‘hallelujahs’
and countless claps. I typically get 2 amens, a half hearted hallelujah and a
polite clap from the audience when I finish saying “thanks for being kind and
speaking to us.” But it’s ok. It comes with the territory of complete cultural
differences and speaking through a translator. But thankfully i am not
looking for a response. I am looking for obedience to God.
If I
have learned anything this year, I am going to bring it from the pulpit.
Matt,
my teammate, told me a few days ago “if you don’t feel convicted about your
lifestyle every few weeks or so from church, then your probably in a church
that doesn’t really fear God.” I know
this sounds harsh, but I whole heartedly agree.
Jesus
said “If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find
it.” Matthew 16:24-25
To
quote Francis Chan in “Crazy Love”
“Jesus’ call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing. The
thought of a person calling himself a ‘Christian’ without being a devoted
follower of Christ is absurd.”
And so
where does that leave me? It leaves me having a new appreciation for the
pastors and teachers i have had who don’t care how i “feel” during church, but
they preach the truth of Christ and spur me onto excellence because they care
about honoring God and glorifying Him with everything they have.
There i
am, speaking to a church, and even if there isn’t anyone shouting, I know that
the Word of God is going forth. The greatest honor of all was when the pastor
pulled me aside after church and said “Caleb, thank you for speaking hard. You
bring words that need to be thought about, and so we don’t have time to react.”
WHAT A GREAT HONOR!
What i thought was people not paying attention was at least
for one person telling me, “I don’t react because i have to think.”
Man it has been such an honor to be here. It has been such
an honor to preach, and hearing that people are actually listening instead of
sleeping (even if it is only one person) is the greatest honor yet.
In a
few blogs you will read about two weeks ago. IN summary it is a time of great
dryness, self pity and doubt in the Lord.
And i understand why Satan would want to discourage me. Because when i
give up, i stop serving, and when i stop serving, i miss out on great
opportunities to glorify God like this.
So readers, stay strong. Persevere. Take risks. Glorify God.
