The Magic Doorway

   In an effort at full disclosure, this post had its genesis in the mind of one of my students. He may not recognize it, as it is his thoughts filtered through my brain. Thank you to Pierce Benefield for his challenge to the high school today in chapel that we live 24/7 for God.

         There exists in our world the most amazing thing. This thing can completely change the behavior and language of most human beings in an instant. It can make even the foulest mouthed person into the most polite person you have ever met. The wildest person is no match for its powers. what is this ingenious device? It is the door of a church.

     Merely passing through the door of a church completely changes a person. Language cleans up and behavior becomes exemplary. Why is this? What magic lies in the threshold of a church? How can 6 inches of door frame hold such power over human beings. More importantly, why do we let it wield such power? 

     We seem to operate under the assumption that the rules are different inside the walls of the church. What is acceptable outside the doors isn't necessarily accepted inside. I think we believe that God only cares about what we do in the church; that once we are out the door we are beyond His sight. This should not be so. If anything, we should be better outside the walls of the church, for it is outside the walls that we encounter the people who need to see God in us the most. 

     If we are to be true Christians, literally 'little Christs', we need to live like it all of the time. We should be as much of a Christian Saturday night out with our friends as we are Sunday morning in church. If we truly claim Jesus as our model, we need to live as He did. Jesus was consistent in His behavior. He was the same in all situations, he didn't live one way outside the temple and another inside.

     There is no magic in the door of the church. God is the same on either side of the door and we should be also. We should live our lives as if every door we pass through is the door to the sanctuary of the living God.

Servant Savior

     The disciple's conversation stopped as they saw Jesus get up from the table and grab a towel and a basin. As  Jesus began washing their feet, their minds raced, "How can this man, the Son of God, be lowering Himself to wash our dirty, stinky feet?" They were all thinking it, but Peter was the only one with enough guts, or lack of self-control, to say it, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus responded, "You do not now realize what I am doing, but later you will understand." (John 13: 1-7)

     I think a lot of us would be right there with Peter. The image of Jesus on His knees washing our feet is not how we usually envision Him. We see Him in sparkling white robes, riding a magnificent stallion, or sitting high upon His throne; not on a dusty floor washing dirty feet.

     Yes, Jesus was there at the creation. Yes, He is the all-powerful Son of God, but I think this is the best picture of Jesus. For He came, not to be the king high up on his throne, but to meet people at the point of their need. If Jesus came to serve His people, how much more should we be serving His people? We should be ready with our towel and basin to wash our brother's feet when they come in from a long journey. service should be something we do as a daily thing, not as a special event.


This was partly inspired by a song by Michael Card. It may not be your kind of music, but listen to the lyrics.

Abundance or Lack?

     An old song was running through my head the other day and something in it started me thinking. It was a really familiar song, but I realized I had never really thought about what it was truly saying. Here is the line that started me on this journey, "We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord..."

     Nothing out of the ordinary there. Look a little closer. "The sacrifice of praise..." To be a sacrifice it most cost you something to lose it. Are we really bringing a sacrifice of praise? Is it costing us something to praise Him? I think we are really bringing our gifts of praise. We praise god when things are good and praise flows easily and freely. Now God honors all praise, but He desires our sacrifice of praise. When praise costs us something. When we praise God even when we don't feel like it or when everything is going wrong, that is when we are truly bringing a sacrifice of praise and it is a delight to the Lord. Paul said it this way, "Rejoice in all things..." A gift is given from our abundance, a sacrifice is given at our loss. Are our praises simply gifts or are they truly sacrifices?