The Day The Church Got Quiet ( Esther 4:13-14)
It got very quiet in the church the other day,
Halfway through because of words the preacher chose to say;
Mentioned we have problems with our classes now then –
“We have ‘in’ and ‘out’ and boundaries we find it hard to bend”.That was first time I had ever seen his bat connect;
Took a base or two – in saying that he did select
Vector of his ministry with people in the pews;
There’s a depth of comprehension to the road he’ll use.“How long ’till we see results from this new ministry?”
Was a question asked when they considered if he’d be
Right for us as minister – “What range can we expect?”
There’s no answer in the notes – but here’s a clear effect –Christmas is innocuous in the society;
Jesus is irrelevant to guys on shooting sprees;
What’s the net effect of missions on the ones who go?
Watch and listen closely – like in church – and you’ll soon know.“Mission” is a word for helping those outside the pale:
“Down and outers”; “Seniors”; “Handicapped”; and “Those in jail”;
“Those in far-off countries with strange ways and foreign tongue”;
They’re the “them” and we’re the “us” – we’re where the mission’s from.Least that’s how it’s viewed today in church society;
Turn it ’round and there’s offense – “Don’t missionary me” –
There’s the key – folks take offense as objects of such care;
So let’s frame it differently – address what’s locused there.Kids were “missionaries” in the old sense of the word;
But they weren’t – just kindly – bringing joy where songs were heard;
Culture is the key to breaking open impasse here –
As a Cree within your midst that’s absolutely clear.Esther thought she fly beneath the radar in her time;
Mordecai said, “No way – your life is on the line”
Then he said, “Perhaps you’re called at such time as this,
To this baseball game, now batter up – and pray, don’t miss.”navigation