It, too, is under my porch

On his album “Illinois”, Christian musician Sufjan Stevens sings a song about the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. You may not be as familiar with his name as you are with his actions. Gacy confessed to the murders of 33 young men and boys. When the police went and searched his property, they found a number of these victims buried underneath the porch of Gacy’s house. What makes Gacy’s story even more chilling is that he would hold block parties for his neighbors, and he would dress up as a clown to entertain the children at these parties.
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James

Worship

I think that Pastor Tom and I have the best seats in the house week after week. We get to be right in front of the choir and enjoy their singing … we are sandwiched in between the organ and piano so we are able to fully hear and enjoy Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Janice’s (and sometimes Ms. Mary June’s) playing … we are in the direction in which most of the congregation is singing … and, we get to sit next to each other when we preach!
I also say we have the best seats in the house because, week after week, we each can look out and see which of the congregants are engaged in worship. And, rest assured, we do scan the sanctuary during the worship service. To be honest, what I often see are some people who are disengaged from worship. Either it be the singing, the reading of scripture, the prayers, or the exhorting of God’s word to His people, there are many Sunday mornings where I see some people who are not fully participating in worship. It is quite a sad sight to behold.
Go to Athens, Georgia … or Columbia, South Carolina … or Atlanta, Georgia on any given fall Saturday afternoon, and what do you find? Thousands of people who have directed their full attention to a group of young men who are using their God-given talents in the game of football. These groups of fans hang onto every play, every call, every timeout, every score as if it is the most important thing happening at that moment. In all the college football games that I have witnessed, I can’t ever remember seeing some people sleeping during a goal-line stand. I can’t remember seeing some people reading the program while the home team is marching down the field with less than a minute left in the game, and they are down by 6 points. I also can’t remember seeing some people looking at their watch while they wait for a kick-off to be returned for a touchdown. However, I can remember people sleeping during a sermon … or looking at their watch during the service … or flipping through the hymnbook while the covenant community around them sings praises to their merciful and faithful God.
Why is this? I know there are many reasons to this, but I think it truly boils down to one fundamental fact- the worship of God isn’t as exciting, and therefore isn’t as meaningful, as a college football game (or any other sport or hobby). Frankly, some people find the worship of God to pale in comparison to other activities. We can find more meaning in other things, such as a college football game, than in the worship of God. Sunday has just become a part of the routine of life. It is something else for us to endure in between the more ‘meaningful’ parts of life. Well, if this is true, then would these bored parties find satisfaction in heaven?
It is interesting to note how Scripture describes heaven. The book we often turn to for details of heaven is the book of Revelation. The first detail we get of heaven from the apostle John is his seemingly involuntary reaction to fall down and worship. He didn’t run around and high five the angels … he didn’t hug Jesus … he didn’t turn a full 360 degrees to take in the sight of heaven. No, his first reaction was to worship.
John then goes on to talk about heaven – and the common thread is worship. What are the angels doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the elders doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the martyred saints doing in heaven? They are worshipping! What are the saints in heaven doing? Worshipping? Why is this? Because “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – meaning, worship. We have been created to worship God in all spheres of life – but especially when we gather together as the bride to come before our bridegroom. Our spiritual DNA screams out for us to worship. As Christians, we should know no other way to live.
Do you find worship boring? Is it not as ‘meaningful’ as other things in life? Maybe you need to reintroduce yourself to the living God. There is nothing boring or meaningless about this God. He is the one whose very presence calls for all of heaven to bow down and worship. He is the God whose very grace and mercy calls for us to offer Him our worship. He is the living God who gives His people life – and they naturally respond in worship. He is God, and, as Christians, we are His chosen people. Can this really be boring? Can this truth really call us away from worship? No, it isn’t and it can’t. This truth should resound in our heart and motivate us to worship this Triune God – in His word, in the prayers and in the hymns. May we be reminded of this often, and remember the words of the apostle Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.