Truth - Or a Reasonable Facsimile Thereof

This Sunday, we are finishing up our current sermon series, "Christianity's Family Tree." This has been a fun series, and an enlightening one. I have learned a lot about other Christian traditions. But, I have also learned about myself.

A few weeks ago, while I was attending conference in Nashville, I had an interesting experience. I was sitting in the hotel lobby, waiting for the shuttle. It was very peaceful and quiet and I was enjoying a great book. All of the sudden, the lobby doors opened and a woman walked through lobby exclaiming at the top of her lungs, “In the name of JESUS, I anoint this place for His purpose. In JESUS name, I cast all want, all worry, all suffering, all pain." She went on and on as she passed through, all the while two companions on either side of her would shout "Amen" every few seconds. The first time she hit the hard “J” in Jesus, I almost jumped out of my chair. No one else seemed fazed one bit. At first, I thought, “welcome to Nashville,” in my kind of haughty and arrogant sort of way(we practice “real” Christianity, “civilized” Christianity in suburban Orange County).

Then I reflected on it for a few moments. And I realized that there was absolutely nothing wrong with what this lady said. In fact, whenever I fly, I hold the chair back in front of me before takeoff and say a prayer for the flight. This woman and I both have the same goals, God’s blessings on the people around us. We just ask God for those blessings differently. And sometimes, those differences make us uncomfortable with one another.

Well, if this sermon series has taught me anything it is that God is bigger than the tiny little box I put Him in, and he is able to be experienced in a variety of ways. In fact, it is the diversity of the church that represents its greatest strength. God has more tools in his box than we can possibly imagine. So, next time someone's prayer (or religious outburst) makes you uncomfortable, right before you climb up on that high horse, just remember, the church is bigger than you, and the church is bigger than me...and God is bigger than us all.