robert

This morning I met a 75-year-old man named Robert. Of course this wasn't the first time our paths have crossed; he volunteers in the parking lot ministry I coordinate every Sunday morning. Other than a "hi" and "bye" and an occasional "how many parking spaces do we have left?" I've never really said much to Robert before. Today he ended up serving next to me in the West end of the parking lot. We began having small talk about the weather the holidays and how we came to be at Northplace church, but that quickly evolved into deep heart-searching conversation.

It was undeniably refreshing. We talked about what the Lord was speaking to each of us. Robert began to speak into my life. He encouraged me through scriptures I've heard all my life. The difference with Robert, though, is that these scriptures meant something to him. He had an authoritative gumption in how he carried himself when he talked about God, referencing Him through scripture. You see, to Robert, scripture was not just cute little saying embroidered on pillows. It was much more intoxicating than that. It was evident that these very scriptures were his life support. That's exactly the way I want to be. I want the Word of God to stay that important to me when I am 75.

There are 50 years separating Robert and I and yet I feel like I connected with a close friend. That really got me thinking. This is the way it is supposed to be. Christians come together every Sunday morning not to fill up chairs, and pay for a building or a program. It's so much more than that. We come to church, because we are the church. We need to slow down on Sundays and encourage each other as I was encouraged this morning. I learned that I spend far too much time on Sunday's bogged down in the details and far too less time dedicated to the body.

I hope this encourages you to do an inventory on your Sunday schedule.

uzzah

Recently I reread through the life of David in search of leadership and spiritual principles. Probably one of the most memorable stories for me is when David decides to bring the arc of the covenant back to the city of God's people, back to the tent of meeting. I'm sure many have read the account of Uzzah and how he was one of the few chosen to transport the ark from Baalah in Judah to the newly established Jerusalem. If you've read 2 Sam 6, you remember that David had his men put the arc onto an ox cart to transport. This was, however, a mistake because the Israelites were commanded by God to move the arc in a very specific way by Levitical priests serving as pole bearers hoisting the arc up in the air. The idea to put it on an ox cart was a method practiced by the Philistines- no doubt a method learned by David living in Gath for almost a third of his life.

This story causes much discomfort for many Christians, because it is a story about God striking Uzzah dead in response to him steadying the arc as the oxen stumbled. If you think about it, bracing the arc was the most natural reaction a person would have. When something is about to fall, especially something as valuable as the arc of the covenant, a person would leap over a wall to try and stop it from crashing down.

But God killed Uzzah.

This is a very involved and poignant story of the Bible. Doesn't really flatter the flannegragh board. Of course the message of this historical account is that David knew the correct way to transport the arc and in disobedience to bring the arc in a more economical and inventive way David pays for his sin. And a lot of the time you are not the only person that goes through pain when you sin.

But perhaps God is telling us more. Throughout Christian history the world has suffered through followers of God trying their best to prop God up when in actuality He doesn't need any propping up. The story of Uzzah's unfortunate death should be a heart-startling reminder that it is not our place to prop up God. It is God's place to prop up us. There have been too many preachers exaggerating miracles. There have been too many creating faith through hype. There have been too many defending the church through means of public broadcast or picketing with signs. There have been too many trying to speak for God when they don't have the answers. There have been too many going to war with the enemies of God when God never asked them to.

You were not created to fight God's battles. God knows what he is doing and isn't depending on you to hold him up and protect His reputation.