I love reflecting on memories of college and how God has
grown and blessed me over the last (almost) four years. One memory in
particular that came to mind recently was from sophomore year (the year that
one of my roommates / best friends and I call our “golden year of college”
lol). Several of the friends that I made freshman year here at Clemson moved
off campus our sophomore year to a nearby apartment complex. We were having a
party one night, but not the typical college party – no drinking or anything,
just pure, good fellowship with one another. The door to the apartment was open
to the parking lot outside. A guy that didn’t know us was walking by, and the
commotion caught his attention. He came over to the apartment, thinking it was
a big college party, and was completely surprised when he walked in and there
was no alcohol or a lot of the other stuff usually associated with college
parties. Come to find out, he had actually gone to high school with a couple of
the guys there. They started talking to him, and it became a ministry
opportunity in them sharing about the better, more fulfilling life found in
Christ as opposed to the “temporary fix” found in partying and a lot of what
the world offers. I felt like God spoke to me later that night and told me that
that was what He wanted of His people – celebrating, living and enjoying life,
in a way that catches the world’s attention and makes them wonder and want what
we have. I think that translates into how we conduct church – it’s not meant to
be a mundane event that we go to just because we’re supposed to, but a
celebration! I mean, if you think about what God has done for us, why wouldn’t it
be?? (And p.s. that’s only a taste of how great heaven will be, and “celebrate” comes up fifty times when I search it in my virtual version of the Bible) Therefore, I
think there is a lot of good in the “entertainment” nature of some churches
today, but we must be careful to make sure that it is an overflow of the joy
and life within, glorifying Christ and not us.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. –
Psalm 145:7
