I write this blog today with the mixture of a heavy heart and great rejoicing. I know, it's a strange mix. Not unlike all of the paradoxes in Scripture...you know, free-will/election, truth/grace, slave/free. Two opposing ideas that are a divine balance.
Two days ago, a tragedy struck at the Indiana State Fair. The sound and lighting rigging which stood at least 3 stories high crashed down on concert goers. A sudden gust of wind, 12 miles ahead of an approaching thunderstorm clocked at 70+ miles an hour, took the structure down. I've heard that it was a mere 3 seconds between the time the structure showed signs of weakness until it hit the ground. As of this writing, 5 are confirmed dead and approximately 40 are hospitalized with various degree of injuries. We were introduced to the 5 who were killed during a memorial ceremony this morning. Their ages range from 21 to 51 years of age. I couldn't help but wonder if they had any inkling that this day would be their last? Did they have a "feeling" that something was different but discounted it?
Just two days prior to this event, Rusty and I were at that very stadium. We were there to worship God with 2 Christian bands. We had been looking forward to that concert for months. We don't go to concerts often and had never been to the Indiana State Fair before. So we thought this would be a special chance to do both. We were a bit disappointed however. I don't know if it was the venue where the concert was and therefore the format of the bands was changed a bit or if we're just getting old, but Rusty and I both got the feeling that the concert was more about worshiping the bands than about worshiping God. I found myself praying at the stadium because of that. I was reminded again just how much the culture has influenced the Church. In any case, Rusty and I talked much about our feelings after the concert and we both felt heavy-hearted. We were disappointed that God wasn't lifted up as much as we had hoped outside the walls of a Church.
But, this morning, because of the recent tragedy, there was a special prayer and memorial service at that very stadium which was televised locally in full and possibly in part nationally. The Lt Governor of IN prayed a wonderful prayer, fully glorifying God and speaking truths that many probably have never heard. Then the Gov spoke and lifted God up as our Comforter. The service ended with an Indiana State Trooper leading the attendees in the song "Amazing Grace". It was beautiful and powerful. Then it struck me. God was glorified magnificently in this event! In an instant, with the power of a storm reminding us of how small we are, our fragile our life is, and a reminder that we never know when our last day will be, God was lifted up and glorified before many more people than the Christian concert venue could've possibly reached!
More come to faith when the Church is scattered than when it's gathered. Christianity grew by leaps and bounds when the Disciples were sent out to spread the good news. I'm so thankful for God's grace and His reminders that He is at work and He will be glorified no matter what. I am very sad for the families who lost loved ones in this event and I pray that this event will be used to bring about the softening of hearts and minds so that when the Church leaves the building and is scattered among the lost to spread the good news, many will be ready to receive the saving faith in Christ.
I am afraid, with the contemporary Christian music scene, it bares fruit after its own kind. It is hard for Christians in this society to accept that God does not honor Christian rock, nor does Christian rock honor God. We have become a people with a skill of taking that which is of the world, Christianize it, and put God's name on it, without His approval. But, we want what we want, and God will just have to approve.So sad!!!
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