Our church band played at the local brewery Saturday night. Secular songs.
Why, one might ask, is that okay?
The range of reaction in this small town runs the expected gamut: from wow...to...well, surely God doesn't approve.
There stood several extremely talented musicians, known as The Grove Band (from The Grove Church), relating to the people watching through onlooker music, not church music.
How, one might ask, does that further the mission of God?
We, as staunch church people, never forget that the mission of God is to tell the good news of Jesus. However, we do often forget that God's vehicle for that is loving each other with Christ-like love in our regular lives.
The onlookers experienced a group of musicians that are normal, regular people--just like themselves--who somehow incorporate into real life the believe-in-Jesus thing. Every interaction, every drop of talent, every smile, every evidence of joy and contentment were examples of the living invitation that we are called to display.
Is it possible that this makes the believe-in-Jesus thing just a little more curious? A little more possible? A little more possibly-something-I-could-look-into?
Is it good news that people from that event visited our church yesterday?
That might very well, in God's eyes, be great news.
When I taught children in public school, I couldn't expect them to learn unless I found their language--their point of receptivity--and fit my delivery system of information into that arena. When I interacted with my own kids as teenagers, I couldn't expect to be heard unless I found their language--their moments of receptivity--and fit my timing and words into that arena.
When we are the sellers--of learning, of wisdom, of the truth of Jesus--it is our job, I think, to find the language of the listeners and bridge the gap into their world with our living invitation.
This living invitation is a glimpse of us as Christ-followers with the agility and willingness to enter a world with wonderful people whom God loves every bit as much as he loves us.
Go play with wonderful people in unlikely places. Your church will come to life and Jesus will accompany you there.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
