A college colleague told me about a tense Sunday morning when he was a part-time pastor. The deacon chairman confronted him before worship with a stern request (the Baptist deacon chairman is akin to a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army).
“We’re gonna’ wait until after the service, but we want to meet with you IMMEDIATELY when it’s done,” he scowled.
It’s been some years since he told me this, and laughed about it then, but I forgot the punch line. I don’t know if he was terminated or lived to preach another day.
Whatever the case, this was surely a terrible prelude to a worship service.
I only remember one episode of similar tension before worship. The finance chair wanted his committee to meet before morning Bible study. A contractor was working in the building and asked me the week before if I wanted a small cabinet. I said that would be nice. The chairman said I’d overspent the budget. I reminded him I’d had nothing to do with the budget, nor was I the job foreman, but rather a bystander when asked a simple question. I think we found resolution, but it wasn’t a good prelude to a morning of seeking God.
Others of my pastor brothers have told of being “chewed on” before worship for some offense.
It was only more recently that I heard a conference speaker tell how he managed these kinds of things. He said when a person confronts him on Sunday morning with “a bone to pick,” he always says, “Not now. We’re preparing to worship God. Talk with me when we’re done.” He added that most agitated people get over it and don’t wait around to further the conversation!
John the revelator said he was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). We can borrow his phrase and apply it to Sunday mornings. How can we be “in the Spirit”?
We begin the day with prayer for ourselves and others to hear and obey the word of God. We pray for those who teach and preach and for those who are near life-changing decisions. And there are always hurting people who need the comfort of fellowship with others and truth from God’s word.
A lady told me she always came early on Sundays and entered the sanctuary when empty to pray. She walked around to each section and prayed for those who would be seated there later in the morning. She asked God to speak to them and help her to be an encourager to as many of them as possible.
This lady had a good grasp of what it means to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.
