Don’t just sit there…Celebrate!
I’m sitting in my office (at home). It’s 9:30pm and I can hear through my insulated windows the sounds of my township celebrating “Bristol Days.” Just two days ago I heard sounds of fireworks as people celebrated out nation’s birthday. That same day, I enjoyed an outdoor picnic as a group of friends enjoyed celebrating the Fourth. This same week, my oldest daughter and her family came up to our house to celebrate her birthday with a cookout and cake. Sorry, no ice cream! That trip up was also a time to celebrate the first trip to Grampy and Grammy’s house for little David, our grandson.
Most people love to celebrate, especially when it includes a good party. Even Jesus loved a good party (see His first miracle in John 2:1-11).
But does the church? Where today is celebration in the church?
It is my observation that most churches seem to believe that when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you loose the ability to celebrate.
One church I know held a service where several young people were baptized. The only problem was they had invited their friends, many of whom were not yet followers of Christ, and did they ever celebrate their friends acts of obedience to Christ. They jumped and cheered as each new follower of Christ went under the water. They made so much noise that some “mature” believers were offended that such celebration would go on in the sanctuary. To them, this was irreligious and offensive – unbecoming of a church sanctuary. I wonder what the angels in heaven thought of that? (see Luke 15:8-10) That’s not a church I want to asociate with, much less invite others to.
Fortunately, not all churches are lake that one. But, it has been my experience that there are way too many churches that don’t party enough. Heaven knows the church has plenty to celebrate: when someone gives their life to Christ as a devoted follower of Jesus, when a new believer in Jesus is baptized, when the church observes answers to prayer, when God provides, when a Christian wedding is held and a man and a woman commit their lives together as followers of Christ, when the church observes milestones in its history, when God send people out to serve Him in the community or in the world, when “guests” drop in for a look-see at a worship service or special event, when an offering is held, when a new church is planted,…
I believe the church will become much more attractive on the “inside” to those on the “outside” when we learn to party, to celebrate. What can you celebrate? Order the food and send the invites! Don’t just sit there, celebrate!
What’s your favorite celebration story in the church?
