This morning I went to Saint James Missionary Baptist Church. It is a true, southern "black" church (that's probably not politically correct, but it is what it is). For a reserved little white girl, it was an experience! But definitely a good one, and one I will repeat before the summer is over. I'm sure that many people in both my church here and my church back home would have critiqued, belittled, or just plain freaked out during the service. People clap, sway, dance, respond during the prayers and sermons, and just generally participate. That, I think, was what struck me most. They weren't there as spectators, but rather as a group of people brought together with the purpose of praising Jesus and encouraging each other.
Corporate prayer there takes on a new meaning. It is actually corporate, not just one person praying while everyone listens. The pastor prays, and you can hear emphatic "popcorn" agreement throughout the prayer. It was not disorganized or chaotic with everyone praying different prayers, but rather an interactive group prayer-- everyone on the same topic, but everyone praying the prayer.
The sermon was actually expository, unlike many churches who say they are but really aren't (including mine...). He preached on Luke 7. First he gave historical, cultural and geographic background, which made the points of the sermon much more meaningful and gave perspective. The sermon was also interactive... not necessarily a conversation, but you could tell everyone was paying attention and involved.
While I'm sure there would be some minor doctrinal differences, I was once again reminded that God shouldn't be put in a box. Just because their worship service doesn't look like ours doesn't mean it's wrong or not worship. At the risk of being ostracized ( :-S ), I would even go so far as to say that they were more genuine and serious about God than many of the rest of us are-- or at the very least, me.
Try taking God out of the box you've made for Him this week. More than anything, I was reminded of the awesome power and majesty of God this morning.
Corporate prayer there takes on a new meaning. It is actually corporate, not just one person praying while everyone listens. The pastor prays, and you can hear emphatic "popcorn" agreement throughout the prayer. It was not disorganized or chaotic with everyone praying different prayers, but rather an interactive group prayer-- everyone on the same topic, but everyone praying the prayer.
The sermon was actually expository, unlike many churches who say they are but really aren't (including mine...). He preached on Luke 7. First he gave historical, cultural and geographic background, which made the points of the sermon much more meaningful and gave perspective. The sermon was also interactive... not necessarily a conversation, but you could tell everyone was paying attention and involved.
While I'm sure there would be some minor doctrinal differences, I was once again reminded that God shouldn't be put in a box. Just because their worship service doesn't look like ours doesn't mean it's wrong or not worship. At the risk of being ostracized ( :-S ), I would even go so far as to say that they were more genuine and serious about God than many of the rest of us are-- or at the very least, me.
Try taking God out of the box you've made for Him this week. More than anything, I was reminded of the awesome power and majesty of God this morning.
Comments
Post a Comment