The Emotional Christian

Last Sunday at church our worship team played a song titled, “The Blarney Pilgrim,” which is a wonderful hymn put to an Irish tune (this hymn is also known as “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”). At the end of the song, the band continued to play for about a minute or two (i.e. no words just jam), and I for one thought it was great. Not only did it sound good, but it also had that festive feel to it that makes you want to dance. As a matter of fact, hand clapping and hip swaying did occur, which is saying a lot for a Presbyterian church. However, as I surveyed the room I quickly noticed that there were a significant number of people who seemed a little uncomfortable. Some people had that nervous smile on, which usually translates to, “I reaaaaally hope we stop this nonsense before Jesus comes back, and strikes us down,” while others simply looked peeved. Though I don’t believe I have the right to say which is right or wrong (i.e. different people deal with their emotions in a variety of ways), it did get me thinking about how the church deals with emotions in its worship, as well as in its teaching.

Though I would consider myself to be a strong opponent of making worship into a dramatic presentation or show, I don’t think it should be void of emotion. I would even go as far to say that, at times, it can be appropriate to include elements in our worship that may provoke emotions. I believe where the problem occurs is when the primary goal of the worship service is to provide an emotional experience, especially when it results in compromising the truth. Unfortunately, what many churches do to avoid this is go to the opposite extreme in order to prevent any creep of emotion into the worship. I find this to be quite sad, as I think something is lost here. I believe that one negative consequence of this is the creation of Christians who are either ignorant of their emotions, or simply don’t know how to deal with their emotions. In turn, this can cause irrational behavior on one side, and indifference on the other. I think that by understanding how and why we experience different emotions, especially in response to the truth, we can learn a lot about the penchants of our heart. I don’t mean to sound all “Orpahy” here, but it’s true. When we become defensive or upset upon hearing the truth, there’s a good chance that something exists in our life or our heart that shouldn’t be there, or at least needs a readjustment. On the flipside, experiencing joy upon hearing the truth can serve as a good indicator that we are in line with it, and can better respond in thanksgiving to God.

I recognize that at times the proper mood of our worship should be somber and calm, but I also believe it can be boisterous and joyful. Finally, though I know that we’re never going to get this 100% right in this life, I look forward to the day when, having been completely stripped of our pride, we are free to dance, sing, and cry out to our King who has set us free, without hesitation, and without regret.

Giving Thanks In Michigan

We just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with family in Michigan. Though we're tired, we had an excellent time. The kids traveled really well, and they had a blast with their cousins. We stayed with my Aunt Gina and Uncle Don, who have to be near the top of the "Sweetest and Most Loving People In the World List." We had our Thanksgiving meal at my cousin Debbie's place, and the combination of delicious fare and wonderful fellowship made the evening unforgettable. It was great seeing my cousins who I hadn't seen in over 7 years, and a couple of them I hadn't even met before then! Lizz and I are so grateful we had the opportunity to give thanks with them this year, and are very excited that they are only a few hours away...let this be a warning to you Michiganders :).

I've uploaded a slew of pictures and videos which can be viewed by clicking on the links to the right.

Back in the Kettle

Well, after about a year of leave from brewing, I’m back at it. As a matter of fact, within a week I’ve joined the AHA (American Homebrewers’s Association) and a local Homebrewer’s club (Bloatarian Brewing League), as well as started my very own batch. As I type, a 5 gallon batch of American Pale Ale is fermenting in my basement, which I’ve affectionately named: Blind Griffin Pale Ale. Hopefully it’ll turn out okay.

Skoal!

Tis The Season To Drink Grappa

For those of you who may be in the market for a good “winter warmer,” I highly recommend grappa, which has become a new favorite of mine. I’ve been hunting for it for quite some time, and I've just recently found it at the best store in greater Cincinnati (Jungle Jim’s).

Grappa (which means “grape stalk” in Italian) is a type of brandy made from pomace, which is basically the “leftovers” found in a wine press (from this I conclude that wine makers are excellent stewards of God’s wonderful gifts). Similar to most liquors, grappa can be served in a variety of fashions including as a nice companion to a good cigar, or simply as an elegant digestif after a hearty meal (hint hint for you Thanksgiving gluttons).

Salut!

Synod Van Dordrecht

On the wall above my home computer is a framed sketch of the Synod of Dort (similar to the one posted here). This particular synod was assembled by the Dutch Reformed Church exactly 389 years from today, with the purpose of addressing the spread of Arminianism (which, by the way, the church concluded was a heretical perversion of the Gospel of Christ). By far, this sketch is the geekiest item I own, although my John Calvin bobblehead does come in a close second. The comments that I receive regarding this sketch range from: “This is interesting….,” to: “What is this about?” However, the question I always dread is: “So why did you buy this?” I’m never quite sure how to respond. Do I go into a long account explaining what the Synod of Dort was and why it’s so important to me, or do I simply say that I was looking for a nice black-and-white for the office, and this one appealed to my tastes? In light of the Synod’s anniversary, I figured I’d take this opportunity to state the main reasons for making this purchase.

First off, I believe this sketch is an excellent representation of one of the many ways God has preserved His Holy Word throughout history. Beginning with the prophets, we have Scriptural records that document how Satan has placed false teachers among God’s people to distract them from the Gospel of Christ. With that said, I find it sad, not to mention dangerous, that we as the Church don’t pay more attention to the issues our ancestors faced. It amazes me how quickly we fall victim to the same heresies again and again. There’s not much that the church has not already dealt with, even though it may be called by a different name.

Second, I find this sketch to be very comforting as it depicts a group of church leaders who do not take false teaching lightly, and are literally engaged with upholding the truth of the Gospel. Although spending months and years discussing whether or not something is Biblically sound may seem frivolous to some, I for one am extremely grateful for church counsels.

Finally, when I look at this sketch I accept it as a charge. I believe that it is our responsibility, today and always, to seek to understand the truth revealed in God’s word, and to uphold this truth at all costs just as our ancestors did for us, by the grace, strength and wisdom of our Lord.

An Illiterate College Grad

Over the past couple of months I've been listening to a lecture series entitled, "God and His Word," by Dr. Micahael Williams of Covenant Theological Seminary (God and His Word). In one of his lectures, Dr. Williams mentions how many young generations today have lost the skill of reading, and how many colleges are graduating illiterate students. Now, being the prideful person I am, I immediately took offense, and categorized Dr. Williams as an old coot who's always complaining about today's "whipper snappers," and how we’ve gone astray. However, as I continued to listen to Dr. Williams, his criticism pierced through my pride and brought me to the realization that the person he was describing was me. Now, I don't want to discount my education nor my ability to read. I believe I’ve been taught and equipped with what I need to be an effective reader. Conversely, there's no doubt I’ve become a lazy reader.

One of Dr. Williams' points was how many people read as if they’re watching TV: as unengaged observers. Snap! Boy, did that hit home. Sure, I can easily put letters together to from words, but I’ve neglected to engage. I don't ask questions. I don't seek to understand the position of the writer or the context of the writing.

Now, this is probably a skill I should have signed up to in elementary school, yet since then I've become irresponsible in my reading. Nevertheless, since receiving Dr. William's chastisement I've made more of a conscious effort to engage in my reading. I can't say it's been easy since it's not yet a habit, but it's definitely rewarding. Not only has my understanding increased, but it has also renewed my joy of reading.