The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Assistant Pastor
Let’s face it. In an age of blockbusters and action
movies and captivating podcasts and even “miracles”
and “visions” in various branches of the church, we
all, on the inside, crave the exciting and
sensationalistic versions of stuff. But then we come to
worship and hear the bible being read and the singing
of hymns and even the chanting of psalms, and think
to ourselves, “This is not very exciting. Wish it were
more juiced up!” We crave the outlandish. But what
saith the scriptures? Well, the scriptures say we all
sound like the rich man who was clothed in purple
and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day
before he ended up in Hades (Luke 16.19ff). He
wanted Father Abraham to send poor Lazarus to
warn his five brothers. When Abraham replied “They
have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them,”
he complained and said not good enough. He wanted
the sensationalistic presentation: someone from the
dead! Then they would repent. But Abraham wasn’t
having any of it: “If they do not hear Moses and the
Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone
should rise from the dead.”
Think about that: the Word heard is more convincing than a raised dead person saying the same thing! This means you have the best representation of the truths of God in the reading and hearing of God’s word in the worship service! Better and more convincing than a dead guy trying to convince you to believe or repent or worship! And when you are witnessing to unbelievers, Father Abraham says don’t crave the sensationalistic tricks and lures; more convincing is the bible in your hands, the recitation of God’s word from your memory.