What really took place?

Monday, January 22nd, 2007 | church, tradition

The other day I witnessed a Church gathering. It was one of those normal, Sunday morning gatherings where believers (and some non-believers) gather together in a common building to hear one guy speak. This is often referred to a “Sunday Morning Worship.” The guy speaking is usually referred to as the “Pastor” or “Preacher.” Before the Pastor speaks (called a “Sermon”) there are a few people that stand behind the Pastor (called the “Choir”) who sing songs (usually called “hymns” or “praise music”). The people (called the “Congregation”) in the normal seats of the building usually sing the same songs with the Choir. A somewhat normal procedure for this gathering would like like this:

  1. Sing some songs
  2. Give some offerings
  3. Shake hands for about a minute
  4. Sing a couple more songs
  5. Choir goes and sits with the rest of the people
  6. Pastor preaches his sermon
  7. Everyone goes to their respective homes

At the end of this particular gathering that I witnessed they prayed to be dismissed. During this prayer the person praying said something that caught my attention. He thanked God for this time when we edified one-another.

Question: Is singing a few songs together, shaking hands, and hearing one man speak edification?

4 Comments to What really took place?

Alan Knox
January 22, 2007

Lew,

In the words of the great baptist theologian Bill Clinton, “I feel your pain.”

I do have one question though: What did you do to edify someone?

-Alan

Lew A
January 22, 2007

Alan,

Excellent question. I am not sure that I did do anything to edify someone during this gathering. But I am not really sure the environment permits edification. Does that make sense?

Lew

Alan Knox
January 22, 2007

Lew,

Yes, it does make sense. But, I’ve been wondering about this in my own life. Does God give us an out? “Whenever you come together, … edify one another”… except in certain situations, environments, contexts…

I dunno… again, this is something that I’m still dealing with.

-Alan

Lew A
January 23, 2007

“When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” - 1 Corinthians 14:26

If that is the call for every Christian who assembles, I think we’re all missing the mark by a long shot. I know I personally do not have a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, or interpretation when I gather with the Church.

I’ll have to think about this some more.

Lew

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