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| Worshiping with a dead man? |
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This past Easter Sunday my excitement was peaking as I worshiped and adored our Lord Jesus, singing and alternately clapping and raising hands in the air!! Sitting near the front of the auditorium, I just couldn't help the feeling that there was something very special about this particular day of the year!! I recall singing the following words with added verve:
You lived, You died, You said in three days you would rise, You did, You're alive...
You rule, You reign, You said you're coming back again, I know you will,
And all the earth will sing your praises!
How do you not resound with joy and emotion as you sing those words to the Lord, on Easter Sunday of ALL DAYS?? And yet, there was a fella two rows in front of us with his wife and children. This man was just standing there, expressionless, with his hands in his pockets, watching the band, but not singing at all. I'm really not in the habit of watching other people worship (or not), but this time I couldn't help noticing. Yes, looks can be deceiving, but these particular appearances would be like an academy award performance if the fella I saw was really celebrating the Lord's resurrection with us.
I couldn't help thinking, if God made some alive, then others are still NOT alive, i.e. there are dead folks walking around! Maybe even wandering into our churches! And they sure are welcome, I just hope they open themselves up to the beauty and greatness of God while there with us. Sadly, this guy in front of me seemed to be teaching his young children (who were with him) how to resist the tug of the Spirit of God.
So I prayed for the gentleman even as I worshiped! Not only was I celebrating Christ's resurrection that Easter morning, but I was also celebrating my own....and praying for at least one more to occur right then and there!!
6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. |
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| Oh Mike, I will add this man and his family to my prayer list. Sounds like he could use it. |
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| Yes Mike I do agree, If we are alive, we need to show others that we he is alive by doing what he has commanded us to do. Sure, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Amen |
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| I forgot to add, May the dead men be resurrected in Christ! |
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Rosie |
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March 27, 2008 at 12:29am |
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| Mike i stood in church one sunday and worshipped by my one son who was resisting his hands were in his pockets and he was bearing down so hard he left red marks on them...You wonder why they resist so but they just as we have not hit that place where God becomes their only source of hope...We just have to keep praying for them....There are the living dead all around us if we are looking we can see them. |
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| Dead men I reckon are most susceptical to resurection when exposed to the word. |
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Cheryl |
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March 27, 2008 at 4:18am |
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I'm laughing too......at Joey and Rosie!.........maybe I should come back later.....hehehe
Mike,
Their are dead walking among us. I will add this man to my prayers also. Wow, in the 21st Century one would think EVERYONE would have a relationship with our Lord. We must be about our Fathers business.....the fields are ripe unto harvest! I am grateful he was in the service, may the word fall on fertile soil.
Pull the plank out of my eye...may I always reverence my Lord, without Him, how lost I would be!
Blessings brother~
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LOL .............. You guys are too much!!
Cheryl, ".....the fields are ripe unto harvest!" Unbelievably, the fields extend right into our fellowships!! Sadly, this fellow is not an isolated case, not in my congregation and probably not in yours!
Joey....what are you talkin about, kid? lol |
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"I see dead people!"
I have prayed during worship for people like that. |
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| lol...Ruth, this reminded me of 6th Sense too! :-) |
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LOL u gys are too much!! I LOVE IT!!!!!
Mike as my pastor stated to me, just becasue they are there, doesnt mean anything!!! Some of us are there just for the reason you stated and then there are some there hoping they will not go to Hell ( they dont realize they are living in it if not truly given themselves to Christ, and then there are some who are dragged there and then you have the one you mentioned...he brought his kids as maybe he was brough tto church as a kid and thought thats what ur soppose to do......
it is why I brough my kids ot church many years ago, although we didnt stay...
I know I WAS THERE and sang and lifted my hands & Heary up to Jesus!!! ahemmm I dont think the person in front of me enjoyed my singing to much ...I cant hold a tune LOL
Great post!!!! thanks |
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| Amen Mike, I could be missing it here.................But I think the major reason we believers are still here on earth is to reach the lost. Both for them, and for Christ. All the other blessings of this tempory life are the frosting. You got me thinking.........ouch and thanks. I thank God for the ability to touch others in His name. And........for the frosting ! |
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AMEN!!
It's time to start waking them up! |
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KitKat |
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March 27, 2008 at 7:22am |
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looks like this is the place to be...good blog. |
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Temaa |
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March 27, 2008 at 7:50am |
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With all love and respect...Brethren, unless we know what that man's story is, what he has gone through, be careful to judge his spirituality or his expression of it based on our own. He was there. Sometimes I was grateful for the strength simply to do that.
Let's not measure our spiritual maturity or peaks based the appearance or lack of someone elses.
Don't mean to sound all "holier than thou", but I have been that guy, I hope I was not judged too harshly because of it.
Be blessed.
Gil |
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No time to read all your comments Mike so I hope I'm not repeating too much...
I have always loved Easter but this particular Easter the Lord graced me with such joy for this His Resurrection Day! I will also pray for the gentleman. Don't you wish you could just pour the Holy Spirit in him! But, it is an individual choice and each one must make it. But, we can pray, we can witness and we can let Jesus shine through us. Great Post. |
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Cheryl |
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March 27, 2008 at 8:10am |
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| You know Paul has some wisdom there! Yes Mike, it's in my church too.....praying the blood of Jesus over them, may they open up to His grace. |
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temma, I was dead at one point. even after being alive in Christ I was dead to worship.
there is no judgement there. we laugh because we can all relate. we have all been there.
we are saying that we need to build each other up. we all know that when we reach out to others who need to learn a particular thing the Father uses that person to teach us something that we need to learn. |
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Mike -
I usually find some common ground with almost all of your posts, but this one is kinda bothering me.
No one but that man and the Lord know exactly why he wasn't acting in a way that you felt he should on a joyous Easter morning...
Maybe he's not yet a believer - maybe he's very introverted - maybe he doesn't feel singing with arm movements and such is comfortable. Just like there are people that can talk in front of an audience and those that cannot, there are different types of people in a church. I am sure your point here is more to highlight that there are those that ARE in fact DEAD and walking around this life, but assuming that this man is simply because he didn't have the outward appearance of someone saved is a bit judgemental.
We could go back and forth on the 'what if''s' and 'whys' of his behavior, (it could be any number of things, maybe he was deep in prayer while singing was going on or something), but the bottom line is we don't know, and we're not goign to have so much luck winning those that truly are lost for the kingdom if we critique how they worship or participate.
Remember this - THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD I GO...and you too. We were all without the Lord at one time (and while I am not saying or guessing if this man is or isn't), isn't critiquing him kindof like screaming at the blind man that walks in front of your car "Hey, what are ya, blind?"
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Hey GIF, thanks for your deep concern, as evidenced by your admission that this blog "bothered" you, i.e. you engaged in a struggle to understand. God bless you! I actually was careful not to "judge" the man I wrote about. But God gives us all some level of discernment, which is the ability to read signs/clues. Who is normally led to witness to folks who are clapping and praising God already? Nobody, I would venture. So we look at clues. How do we know if someone is hurting? We see it in their face, their body language, the words they use (and don't use). How do we gauge if someone needs God? We usually look at their life, the way they speak or act.
Admittedly I looked at outward signs and made an assessment. I may be wrong, and hope that I am! But nevertheless, the lesson for me remains valid -- there are folks in our churches who have not yet been united with Christ in his resurrection. I don't want to falsely assume everyone in church is saved, and miss opportunities right under my nose to share the gospel! And hopefully such folks will see our outward joy and wonder what they're missing, and perhaps even become envious. ps... Yes, by the grace of God, and only by his grace, am I able to praise him. I'm right there with ya GIF!!
Ruth, so well put. I was there too. For years I went to church, but there was no enjoyment of God. I thought about him, rather than worship him.
Gil, I agree whole-heartedly with your point. Who are we to judge another's spirituality? Yet in my observations, the very least that I saw on Sunday was a person who gave no outward indications whatsoever of any enjoyment in the significance and celebration of Jesus Christ's greatest victory -- all for us!! I was careful not to pronounce the man to be spiritually dead, b/c you're right, how would I know for sure? But as I wrote to GIF, I read the clues and prayed according to what I saw, which is all any of us can ever do.
I would never call you "holier than thou", and I deeply thank you for your input...it's always welcome!!
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Temaa |
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March 27, 2008 at 12:25pm |
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Thanks Mike! My deepest gratitude and respect. I fear we are becoming fast friends! Blessings to you! |
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lol...don't fear it!  |
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Deb |
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March 27, 2008 at 12:38pm |
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| Hey Mike, I see dead people in my church every time I get up to sing on the praise team! It is sad, and they do need our prayers. I can't help but feel ALIVE when I sing to my Lord and Savior, especially on the most important day of the year, Easter Sunday! |
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Mike,
Great Post! I am with you, when you are so very in love with someone, it is impossible to sing about your love for them, and keep you feelings bottled up! The true love that permeates from my heart for Jesus just bubbles, and I dont even try to hold it back. I share your feelings about this "deadman" I will certainly pray for him.
It is very possible that our enthusiastic way of worship was new to him, leaving him sort of baffeled by the affection shown to the Lord in our church. I can sympathize to a point, because I know my husband is the same way when he comes to church, he just observes still. I dont think a person can truly worship with all of their heart, mind, and spirit until that "relationship" is established, and the selfconscience feelings dissappear, leaving only the abundance of the wonder that is found in really "knowing Jesus"
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And that folks is what I love about this place! MyChurch.
We are one in the Spirit first and foremost therefore we can have conversations like this.
We can build each other up. We can encourage each other. We can laugh, praise, correct and heal the body of Christ. Humble ourselves and seek His face.
Our God is an Awesome God!! |
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That would have bothered me too Mike.
I spoke of something very similar to this in a past post entitled "Holy Discontent"
But as I was reading this post tonight I was reminded of some of the first few times I went to church. I could not understand why they were singing all those songs. I could not wait until the songs were over so I could just hear the message and leave. Oh, how much I do love to praise the Lord in song today though.
Then I was reminded of a verse in Proverbs. Of course I do not know the condition of the man's heart that you are speaking of. I do not know whether he is born-again or not. But the possibility does indeed exist that he was heavily burdened on that that day. Perhaps his heart was heavy?
The verse that I am reminded of is Proverbs 25:20
Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound. |
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Eric |
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March 27, 2008 at 7:28pm |
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Mike wrote, "How do you not resound with joy and emotion as you sing those words"
Well, since you asked, I can think of one way: Barabbas -- as portrayed in The Passion -- upon Jesus' resurrection, I can imagine him giving that SAME split-second look he gave Jesus when he realized Jesus was taking his place on the cross: "ulgh, oh, um, yeah..." Except this time he realizes he has to answer to Him!
Mike wrote, "these particular appearances would be like an academy award performance if the fella I saw was really celebrating the Lord's resurrection with us."
There are different ways to celebrate. Christ's death is pretty darn profound. I can see myself get caught up in the inward implications of Christ's work for a moment or three. Or maybe he's in a "down" moment in his walk. But yeah, judging by the fruits, all appearances suggest he's dead. You seem to know everybody in your church; do you know him? If not, find out if Christ knows him. I'm glad you got a watchful eye and a prayerful heart, Mike! |
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Eric |
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March 27, 2008 at 7:34pm |
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| Found a clip of what I was referencing: Barabbas in The Passion. Sobering movie, but that's gotta be the funniest few seconds of the movie. Volumes are spoken in that expression. "Woah, stinks to be you... HEEEY!" |
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Deb, serving as a part-time usher at our church, I've observed the congregation worshiping as one who was necessarily an observer rather than a worshiper, and I've seen quite a few people appearing detached from the worshiping, apparently reluctant to participate! Granted, at least some, and hopefully most, were worshiping in their heart at the time. (Athough again, given outward signs, I have a difficult time with this.) I pray they are alive, perhaps against the odds.
Tammy - amen. If you watched me worship, you might occasionally see a hand in the air, rarely two. If you looked close you would often see a tear, and maybe many, rolling down my face. And of course if you were nearby, you'd hear me sing. I love to sing, and can carry a tune, so I sing loud. I can't hold it in any longer! I was the detached worshiper (if I was really worshiping at all) for too long. I don't believe you have to dance in the aisles to show your love to God, but I struggle to believe the true worshiper shows no outward evidence... |
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Ruth, I share your enthusiasm for this body of believers!!  |
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| We are all dead in our trespasses until God breaths life into us. It is an oximoron isn't it? The church founded on resurrection power is full of dead men's bones. I would keep on encouraging you to worship with all your heart, it is contagious and perhaps the life in you will be caught by someone who is need of a resurrection of the heart! |
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Gene |
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March 27, 2008 at 8:24pm |
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| Mike, I haven't heard you say that you knew who the guy was. I'm guessing that you might have seen him last in December at that time of the year when people go to the "Other" church service they attend each year. |
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Joey, I guess sometimes you're too profound for me! lol
Michael, I remember your "Holy Discontent". I've felt that way too! A memorable post.
Eric, good point about Barabbas. Wow, wouldn't want to be that guy! Also good point about the profundity of what God has done for us through Christ. I too am left to simply scratch my head sometimes! |
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Gene, I didn't know or recognize him. Many people come to church a couple of times a year, Easter and Christmas. So it's possible he was a visitor. Sadly I didn't get an opportunity to tag him after the service.....He's still on my heart though, I will seek him out next time.
Bro Todd, I'm pinning a lot of hopes on my love for Christ being contagious! |
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| It is. Just look at the ministry God has given you here. It is very contagious. |
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| I appreciate you, Bro Todd! |
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Gene |
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March 27, 2008 at 8:51pm |
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Mike, does your church pass around a sign-in sheet or do anything special for visitors? We pass around an attendance book and I always check to see who in front of me might be a visitor. When it's time for the "passing of the peace" I make sure to go and shake his/her hand and then I already have a contact at the end of the service.
Keep praying. God will bring him around. |
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| Ah the visitor sign in! No, our present church doesn't do that. Once we went to a church that passed sign in sheets across the pew and back again, so everyone could see who was sitting in their pew and meet new people. Our current church has "More About You" cards that people can fill out if they choose. That's it. I'm like you though, during the meet n greet time, I get up and seek someone I don't know, write down their name(s) and look for em again the following Sunday so I can greet em again by name! |
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Eric |
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March 27, 2008 at 9:30pm |
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| I like the method my church currently employs: surround the newcomer in love >:-D Your family should visit some time, Mike. We meet in the afternoon. It's good to "double dip" on Sundays :D |
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| Eric...if didn't go to Sunrise every Sunday, I wouldn't hesitate. Maybe we could skip just once... |
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| Hmm, God showed me something along the lines of what you have written here. But I am gonna blog on it later. This is just confirmation. That is sad. I have been like that some days. |
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Gene |
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March 28, 2008 at 7:28pm |
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Eric, I agree wholeheartedly. Surround 'em with love.
Our "problem" is that with an average weekend worship attendance over 500, you just don't know everyone. The sign-in sheet is one way to get to know people - if you choose to use it.
Can't wait for Lara's blog. |
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