For the love of old people...

This morning I preached at the CRC church in Sanborn, Iowa - a small farming community in northwest Iowa.  It's a small church trying to recover from a split a few years back.  I would say the pews were about half full.  The church is an older congregation, but there is a growing number of young people and families... this morning the youth led most of the service.  Overall, it went very well.  

I have to admit I love preaching in these types of churches.  Good, honest, hard working people... no frills, no nonsense...  They want to hear the word preached - and then go eat some good food with family and friends.  They support Christian schools, and mission trips to other parts of the world.  They have pictures of missionaries on their walls... and support them with both prayers and offerings.  Many of them show up faithfully every Sunday - twice.  They love God, are generous with others, and try to live faithful lives.

I'm ok with that.  At a time when so many believe that Christian spirituality must be accompanied by radical manifestations of signs and wonders, it's refreshing to run across good old fashioned faithfulness.  In a recent conversation some college students expressed the belief that if you don't feel like going to church, you are just being a hypocrite by going.  Faith needs to be felt... experienced... there needs to be radical signs of transformation, and the power of the Spirit at work in your life if you claim to follow Christ.  I get that too... But the church can learn many things from the veterans, the more experienced Christians, among us... such as duty.  There are many days we don't feel like doing what needs to be done.  There are many Sunday's (more then I would like to admit) when I don't feel like going to church.  I sit in the pew thinking about the confrontation with my 4 year old son regarding his morning attire... or reflect upon the stressful events of the past week.  But does that mean I shouldn't go?  I am being a hypocrite?  Nope... I don't think so.

There are many things in life we do because they need to be done.  Loving someone like your wife or child doesn't mean you always "feel it".  Love in this instance is something you do... you work at...  Is it hypocricy to change a kids diaper when you don't feel like it?  Is it hypocritical to tell your wife you love her even if your irritated as ...never mind.  Of course not!  So why do we assume that our relationship with God will be any different?  There are things we do because we are supposed to... it's what you do when you are in a relationship.

Now, I understand there needs to be times when you do feel it... when you are overwhelmed with love and gratitude.  Often these experiences come upon us in the ordinary moments - they cannot be manipulated or manufactured.  They tend to flow out of duty  - when we are faithfully doing what we are supposed to.

I'm all for different forms of worship... I realize we are all unique, and often these differences manifest themselves in our styles of worship.  Great... it's a part of being human.  Let's just lay off the old people...