Saturday, February 16, 2008

How Will they Know Series

Revelation 21:6  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” 

 

Church – A Place to Meet God

 

The character of God has many aspects.   We know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   It is interesting how in different communities you feel the different natures of God.   In my life I have been a part of three different kinds of churches. In each church I felt the presence of a particular dimension of God inside the brick and mortar of the church.  

 

I grew up in Dauphin Way United Methodist Church and later served First Methodist Montgomery as an Associate.  In these grand churches I always felt the nature of God as Father, Sustainer, and Creator.   These churches were magnificent.  The architecture cavernous and the amenities were imposing.   The ministers always seemed prepared behind the pulpit and the robes.   I remember at both churches that the babies never cried at baptisms.  Confirmations, weddings, and funerals seemed to happen flawlessly.  The sermons were eloquent.   I remember that the services always seemed perfect.  It was as though God the Father was there and His presence filled me as I was involved in both of these flagship churches with a sense of awe over the Father’s power. 

 

In the small churches I felt a real sense of the person of Jesus.   The churches would lean on individuals to do certain tasks.   Communion was prepared by a certain person.   For the covered dish dinners, Aunt Ellen would bring fried chicken, Mrs. Thompson, shrimp, and Miz’ Mary her wonderful Lemon Meringue pie.   At my grandparent’s little church in Cronicville, my grandmother and grandfather did particular things.  In those churches I identified with Jesus and remember the blonde picture of Jesus over the altar.   The small churches always seemed to embody Jesus Christ as Savior.  They were very personable and the giant picture of Jesus above the altar seemed to embody the personal Savior aspect of God.      

 

When I think of this suburban church I always feel the aspect of the Holy Spirit.  The aspect of God is constantly guiding and protecting.  In twenty years it has been very interesting to feel the Holy Spirit’s direct guidance upon our direction.   It is that aspect of God that seems most present in the faith of our suburban community.   The Holy Spirit was and is urging us, on the way, to be present in real life.  

 

Acts 4:3 says of the early church, “Everyone was filled with awe and many miraculous signs and wonders were done by the apostles.”   The truth is in each kind of church God is there and He is working.  We can find Him whether we are looking for him in a small church, a beautiful first church, or a suburban faith community like ours.   In each environment, our understanding of God may be slightly different but God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to seek your presence.  Amen.