Why Are We Here?

Editor’s Note: Laurel and I have worshipped a great portion of our adult lives at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio.  We carry a great deal of bias toward Westminster, since we spent most of our time there, and we also raised our children there.  Since we have moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia, we worshipped for several years at First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville, and most recently, we have joined Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.  For simplicity, most examples below will not reference any church in particular, but all three churches have provided a wonderful experience for us.

Recently in a Sunday School class, as we were winding down on the topic after a few weeks, the leader of the class made a very innocuous comment, “Why are we here?”  He was really referring to the class itself, but I thought about it for a moment, and expanded it in my own mind to the greater questions, “Why are we here as in why are we at church at all?”  I think it’s a valid question to ask ourselves from time to time, to challenge ourselves as to our purpose for attending church or Sunday School, and so I’ve been running this through my mind for a few weeks since I heard that question. 

In no particular order:

I’m here for ….

Great Sermons – I’ve been blessed to hear some great ministers over my life.  I will never forget hearing Dr. Tom Long once as a guest minister, as he delivered the sermon that has been etched in my brain forever, “Be Kind, Be Kind, Be Kind”.  Since it was many years ago, I actually got a cassette tape of the sermon, and would periodically listen to it afterward, it was that good.  Sadly, either the cassette died or cassette players died, but I still remember so much from that sermon.  For a great deal of my adult life, I’ve heard two of the best, Sandy McConnel and Davis Chappell.  Recently we are getting the opportunity to hear some outstanding sermons from Chris Henry.  While Pastor Henry’s sermons carry a great message, what I really love is the delivery and the emotion he brings to his sermons.  He personalizes so much of what he delivers, you can’t help but feel the emotion from him, and consequently, it brings the emotion out of you.   

To be honest, I have no idea what makes a great sermon or a great minister, but I do know it’s a key to me for my church experience.  I want to hear the word of God, I want to learn, I want to be challenged, I want to grow in my faith.  When I find a minister that can deliver a compelling sermon, I really look forward to church each week and feeling the Holy Spirit through those words.  I find myself now looking forward to each Sunday and being inspired by the word of God.

Beautiful Music – First, I have to confess, I have zero musical ability (I also can’t dance).  I think that might be why I love music so much.  I love hearing a great choir sing, I love those “special music” times, Christmas or Easter, when you have the brass, the strings, the percussion.  We used to have a Heritage Sunday each year, and we would have bagpipers, who would process down the center aisle.  It was incredible hearing “Amazing Grace” as the bagpipers marched down the aisle.  I remember each Easter, the opening hymn, “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” with the choir processing, the full brass, Brent Manley banging the cymbals.  It was amazing.  Most of all I remember probably 30 years ago, the Central State Chorus coming to our church and singing with our choir.  I remember one young lady singing “I Want To Die Easy”, and feeling her voice go right up my spine, it was so beautiful.

Second confession, I’ve dreamed of being a music conductor for many years, which of course I know is a useless dream, since I have absolutely no musical ability.  For so many years, I was blessed to watch John Neely lead our choir, and lead the youth choirs.  He had so much passion, so much dedication to bringing us beautiful music to the glory of God.  He also had so much passion and dedication to raise our children and youth in a music tradition.  He believed it was vital to our children to have this as a critical part of their development.  Over the years, I’ve seen some amazing choir directors, and I’m consistently impressed with their passion for great music, and their dedication to raising our youth in a music environment, centered on the worship of God.  Maybe it’s the fact that I’d love to be able to do this, or maybe it’s the fact I have no musical talent whatsoever, but for me, there is something about a Christian music director that is just incredible.  I have so much respect for what they do and what they bring to a service.

Christian Fellowship – To me, this is one of the greatest arguments against just being able to worship at home.  Worship is a group activity.  While a great deal of it resides within us, we need each other and need to support each other to make it meaningful.  As my dear friend Dave Carr says, it's all about commUNITY.  One of the most poignant moments I’ve experienced is the Altar Call we used to have at one of my former churches.  During the service, people would go to the altar to pray for whatever issue faced them, and various people would go up and lay hands on them and pray with them.  In some cases, I didn’t know what the issue was, in some cases, I did.  It didn’t matter, you prayed for whatever healing that person needed. 

I remember experiencing it once from the other side.  Laurel and I went to the altar to pray, and all of a sudden, there was hand upon hand on us, praying for us.  It was such a powerful moment, it felt as if the hands of God were comforting us.  I remember once someone saying, “sometimes you need to let people wash your feet”.  It’s often easy to support others in need, but it’s not so easy to return the favor and let other people support you when you need that support.  That’s why we’re here, we have to be there for each other, and it goes both ways.

What I can’t help but be amazed by each week since we started going to Shallowford is an older gentleman (or I could say, a young guy like me) named John Britt.  We’ve been there almost a year, and he has continually and consistently treated us like the best friends he has.  I’m not quite sure I’ve ever felt this welcome at any church.  It’s not just him, there are others who exhibit the same characteristics, but I’ve never seen anyone quite like John Britt.  He embodies what Christian fellowship is all about.

Continuing Education – I always believe that I’m a work in progress, and I will always be a work in progress until “Graduation Day” when it’s time to go to Heaven.  I’m far from an expert on theology, and I’m far from an expert at many aspects of Christianity, but I’m always willing to learn.  I love to be challenged, I love to get my faith tested, I believe that is how we grow in our faith.  I also love to have the opportunity to hear and learn from others, there are so many of us on the same path, we may be on different parts of the journey, but we are all on the same journey.  I love to hear what other people are thinking, how they view a particular topic, and to grow in my faith and understanding from hearing a different viewpoint.  To me that is the only way to grow.

Over the years, I’ve used study guides, fiction books, the Bible, all different types of tools to help in the Continuing Education process.  At the end of the day, I still believe these are just spring boards to what the real learning comes from.  Being able to share stories, and to relate our personal experiences to each other, so that we can grow together is the way to really learn. 

Let the Children Come to Me … - One of our previous churches took the approach that many churches are taking and set up separate services for the youth and children.  Our service became for the most part, adult only, and we even separated for the most part into age groups.  While I realize this is the trend in many churches, it’s just not what I want for my church experience.

Many years ago, when we were at Westminster, we went through a great deal of discussion and debate over a topic, Whole Community Worship, while I was on Session.  Ultimately we decided to adopt Whole Community Worship.  The basis was that nothing should conflict with the hour of worship, everyone, from, if I remember right, 3-4 years old, to the eldest population should worship together.  We grew up with this model, and many people and families have essentially helped raise my children over the years from a church experience.  I want to pay that forward.  When babies are baptized in church, when we agree to help raise that child, I don’t just say it, I mean it.  I believe that is part of my responsibility, duty and honor, to help raise our children in a Christian environment. 

I didn’t realize how big of an impact that this has had on me.  We started attending Shallowford last February, and we were there for the Easter services.  On Palm Sunday, all of the youth choirs sang, and as they processed down the aisle, waving those palm branches, I started crying.  I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing children and youth in a worship service.  I love seeing the little children, I love seeing them sing in the choir, seeing them listening to the Children’s Message, hearing them in church, watching them with their families.  I love seeing the youth as they grow into young adults.  I remember so many of the youth from when my children were growing up, Alan and Matt Dyer, Caroline and Katherine Ey, Breanna Shell, watching them grow from those little children squirming in the pews to incredible young adults.  That’s what I want to see and hear, and I will do whatever small part I can to help them grow in their faith. 

Missions – I’ve always had a special place in my heart for missions, but the last few years have changed me immensely.  I’m not sure if it’s through travel or what has caused it, but the plight of those who are homeless or terminally poor has had a huge impact on me.  When I travel to South America, it’s amazing to see miles upon miles of partially built or torn down buildings, depending on your perspective, with lights and clothes lines, which means people are living in these buildings.  When I go to Houston, there are several underpasses near the airport that have countless homeless people begging for money. 

I don’t have an answer to this, and I’m not sure if there is one, but we have to do something.  I’ve read various books, “Under the Overpass” is a good one as is “Toxic Charity”, but still, I always feel like I’m stuck in the mud, I can’t figure out what to do, so I do nothing.  One of the greatest inspirations I’ve had has been Allen Hoskyn.  He is actually doing something about some of the issues we face in our communities, and he is making a difference in Lawrenceville.  Allen Hoskyn is the embodiment of the hands and feet of Jesus in our world.

I believe that a church, any church, should focus a great deal outside of its doors.  The church and its members should be spreading the word of God in the community, locally and outside of the local area.  Sometimes it’s a stretch for some of us, I know it’s not always an easy endeavor to step outside of our comfort zones, but I believe it’s a vital part of our work as a church.

Before I finish, I have a question.  Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit in Church?  Have you ever felt that warm chill come over your body?  Have you ever heard words so incredible in a sermon that your whole body feels it, and you start to cry?  Have you ever heard an anthem or solo so beautifully done that you can feel the Holy Spirit inside of you?  It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, you know, and you know it’s special. 

So that’s why I’m here, but really it’s much simpler than all of this.  I’m here to worship God.  I’m here to thank God for all He’s given me.  I’m here to ask God to help me be a better person, and to forgive me for the thousands of times I sin every day.  I’m here because this is all based on faith, and while I know I’m never going to get all of the answers, I’m always going to have lots of questions.  I’m here because I want to help you, and although I’m not good about asking it, I really need your help too.  I’m here, and I’m so glad I’m here.  And I’m glad you’re here too.