Today’s Scripture Reading (November
17, 2013): Isaiah 12
In my youth
I was a pretty obnoxious sports fan (trust me, I have mellowed.) But I
remember, with more than a little embarrassment, the vocal character that I used
to display when I was at the game. I loved to yell at the players, and the refs,
sometimes even the other fans. And even when I was sitting quietly, I loved to listen
to other obnoxious fans carrying on their conversation with those on the
playing field (or on the ice.) But what was maybe a little odd was that other
than at a sporting event, I was actually fairly quiet. It just seemed that part
of the fun – and part of the expectation – at the game was to be loud.
At church,
it was the exact opposite expectation. I grew up in a time when church, and
maybe especially the sanctuary, was characterized by reverence. And reverence
was quiet. Oh, there were times when the quietness was broken by and outburst
of praise on behalf of someone, but for the most part church was the opposite
of a sporting event.
But I wonder
if a church service isn’t designed to be more like a sporting event than we
realize. We cheer at a sporting event because we are passionate about the
players or the team that has taken the field. We cheer for the city in which we
live and for the University that we attended. We cheer for the teams that our
kids - or our friends – play on. We cheer because we care – and the ones that
we care about are in the house.
The same
reason applies as to why the sanctuary should be loud. The one that we are
passionate about is in the house. So make a joyful noise, shout and sing (and
don’t worry about sounding good, just make a sound) because the Holy One is in
our midst – and in the house.
Come, and
make some noise.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah
13
No comments:
Post a Comment