The New Church Era

author: Harry Gill, Director of Church Relations

Today I worshipped in a church that had no stained glass, organ music or a formal benediction.  There were policemen in the hall, but not to restore order, just to help with the traffic.  There was a lot of traffic.  The guys in the parking lot waved at me and guided me to a parking spot.  Two ladies shivering in the cold, held the door for me with a smile.  A guy inside, wearing a red polo shirt shook my hand and welcomed me.

From the hallway I could hear the music start.  Probably could have heard it out in the road; it was 93 decibels by actual measure.  In the hallway it was like mass confusion but everyone seemed to know just what to do and the signs around the place gave me as a visitor a certain comfort level.

Inside the high school auditorium, several folks asked if I needed them to find a seat for me as the place was nearly filled. Then it started!  Three songs I didn’t know; that is they weren’t “The Old Rugged Cross”  or “Rock of Ages.”  But then the pastor, as he was called, gave a great explanation of what the Lord’s Supper was all about, and then it was passed through the congregation.

The sermon had a neat way of presenting the profound Gospel truths in a manner that was challenging but not offensive, (except for the brownie story.)  The six hundred of us were impressed by the logic of the message that explained that we know much more of the Word of God than we practice.  The plea was to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”

When it was all over, I stayed for the second service to see if they could give me that great experience again, and they did.  WOW! Practical! Biblical! Sensible! Casual! but Tasteful!  Thank you,  Journey of Midlothian.

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