Church? Really!

I know I have this. . .sometimes strange, at least in the view of some, idea about what “Church” is really all about. I suppose for those who are “sometimes” attenders like the First Family, there might be a totally different conception regarding “Church.”

Yesterday (as I write this on Monday) the First Family attended St. John’s Church near the White House. They would have the opportunity to hear Andy Stanley (son of Charles Stanley) share the deep and abiding light of Truth, proclaimed with the power and authority of God’s Spirit. . .or not.

While “Church” music is to be about the joy of singing the praises of God, lifting up the Savior, and confirming Truth, the First Family heard “special music” which (at least in the rendition I heard) focuses primarily on the word “I” and speaks about “my desire, in spite of trials, to go on.” Not once is there mention of God, Truth, Holiness, or the Power of His presence. Really?

While I would have thought Andy Stanley would have taken the opportunity to speak about the moral abyss in which or Nation finds itself, and remind the President of his leadership in that decline by embracing abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, the destruction of home and family, and the failure of his administration to be wise stewards of the Nation’s finances, his quoted words were somewhat different (and I confess I did not hear the sermon – and if he said those things I suggested I will be the first to apologize):

The sermon was delivered by Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., who asked what one does when they realize they’re the most powerful person in that room. “You leverage that power for the benefit of other people in the room,” Stanley said. To the president, he said: “Mr. President, you have an awfully big room. It’s as big as our nation.” (Yahoo News)

Perhaps Pastor Stanley was told what he could say, under the circumstances, and my thoughts about what he might have said were censured. Such, if it were, being the case, he should have, in my opinion, chosen not to speak.

Even now, my hands tremble as I write these words. I don’t want to be thought of as “political,” or “irrational,” or “overbearing.” I don’t want to “offend.” As a spokesperson for the Truth, there is no option.