Let Us Worship the Lord

Worship permeates our whole experience, here.  Today was different for most people on the trip.  There were no complaints about the lack of air conditioning, no talk of capital campaigns, no whining about the music, or how long the preacher preached.   Here is what the team said tonight at debrief:

“I wish the folks back home could experience this worship.  The whole church worships here…body and soul.   No one is here to be entertained.  The community prayer (everyone prays out loud at one time) was like a hum…like a musical instrument.  God must be lovin’ this.  Literally music to his ears.”  We must have talked for 40 minutes after dinner about the purity and sincerity of their worship.

The preachers and the teachers did an amazing job today at all eleven churches.  What impressed us most is how well they know the Scriptures and how personal and candid the questions we received.  Below are just some of the questions we received today. 

“Can you explain to me the unforgivable sin:  blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?”

From a young boy: “My father sends me to fetch his mistress when my mother is away.  How can I honor my father when he uses me to commit adultery?”

“Is it still a sin if you were married and committed adultery because your husband is beating you?”

“Can you explain the difference between killing and murder as it relates to the sixth commandment?”

“The witch doctor said if I trusted Jesus Christ and burned my idols, then my children would die by the hands of demons.  Is this true?”

“What is the Presbyterian’s view on baptism? (asked of a Baptist!)

Overall, we experienced great joy in the midst of great pain and suffering.  Typhoid, malaria, persecutions abound, yet the churches are proclaiming the Word and worshiping with all they have.  An example for us all. 

Don’t be shy-drop us a line.  We read all the comments at dinner.  The feeling knowing that we are making an impact at home is priceless.