Yesterday was a defining moment in the short history of our church.
Just before my message, a man jumped on stage, stole a microphone, and began hurling obscenities at someone (including the REALLY bad word). His anger was sourced in the belief that the accused was doing something improper with his wife. The accuser was escorted off the stage, kept yelling the really bad word and, for added emphasis, broke a door on his way out. It wasn't the only incident. We also had two fights in the lobby and someone suffered an epileptic seizure during the service.
Ironically, my message surrounded Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isn't that crazy? I would like to say that I was calm and collected all day while I immersed myself in God's promise of protection. Hardly. I was scared about what happened and what could have happened. What if he had a gun? What if we had new people in the crowd who came expecting a "normal" church service? What if the accused decided to violently settle the issue on stage?
Given the nature of our church, I'm surprised more craziness hasn't happened over the last 4 years. We are a hospital for sick people and, fortunately or unfortunately, sick people create an dangerous environment. Hospitals are in the healing business but the healing process is painful. Talk to a burn patient about his skin grafting. Talk to a cancer patient about her chemotherapy treatments. It hurts and it takes time.
Although I'm still riding a roller coaster of emotions, I'm glad (kind of) that the sickness was revealed in church. I'm not sure what God was thinking but I think He's interested to see how we react. Will we dismiss the outburst as an isolated incident and pray that it never happens again? Or, will we rejoice in the knowledge that a sick person landed in the hospital on his own accord, showed everyone just how sick he was, and - just maybe - gave God the opportunity to start the healing process?
God tells us to "fear not" but I'm still pretty scared.
It's interesting to throw people a curve ball every once and a while.
I hope that you have a great Christmas. Rest in the grace of Jesus and jump
boldly ...
3 comments:
Wow... great way to turn around the chaos and look at how God can work through it. I love that you invite the unexpected... too often we pray for "travel mercies" and safe journeys. Do we ever pray... God let us break down on the side of the road so we can witness to the tow truck driver. We gather on Sunday mornings and pray for perfect services... not that God will shake us to our core and pull off the scabs. Glad you shared details.
One word.....Wow....that was a first for me. The good news is the "bad word" went right over the head of Tad, my 3 year old. The bad news is that he has been obessed with lions all week. But not to worry, the lion that is roaming our home is aparently now cornered in the laundry room. Whew! Kudos Darrin for keeping your head on in the E.R.!
Maybe, if the accusation was true, the gentleman speaking the bad word may not be the sick one. Once Paul wrote in one of his letters to turn a known accused over to satan for his salvation. I'll bet someone in that church thought Paul was sick and needed tending to.
Just a thought.....
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