My siblings and I grew up in Christian Trinity Assembly of God, a church which looked as if it had been assembled by Rube Goldberg. (Reuben Goldberg was an American of many talents. He is most frequently remembered for a series of cartoon drawings of complex gadgets that do simple tasks convoluted ways.) To illustrate, Brother Kaiser, an older German immigrant and retired barber, played his clarinet on the front pew. The clarinet whistled, wheezed and squeaked. A high point of church life was the occasional spontaneous tune and cadence that called the congregation to sing one of Brother Kaiser’s favorite Gospel songs. No one knew it was coming! It just happened!
Another brother, a factory worker, sensed a call to preach. He did pursue the calling and later pastored, but he learned to preach at our expense! The grammar was painful! One of the "song leaders," (Doesn’t that sound quaint?) wiggled his fingers when he was blessed. Brother Nierhause, another German immigrant of passionate spiritual intensity would often weep and cry out in prayer, frequently wiping his face with a handkerchief. I’ll never forget bringing my high school friend, Grant, to a Sunday evening service when all of the above occurred! How could one forget an event like that?
But, Christian Trinity Assembly of God, was one of the instruments of grace that formed me, shaped my spirit, taught me how to belong, and propelled me into a world much larger than I had ever dreamed.
God’s family is an ideal, safe PLACE for explaining, for teachable moments. By nature I am a legalist, eager to align everything in proper sequence and can be rabid in validating truth. But, I have learned that God’s family is a powerful educator. The family of God diligently and wisely forms me in the virtue of patience, charity and compassion as Jesus assigns various members to urge me into His likeness! It never comes naturally! The local assembly where we presently worship continues the work. Jesus knows what needs to be done.
As God’s family meets it encourages growth to maximum POTENTIAL of receiving and giving. God used the wilderness to form the children who left Egypt into a mighty people. They became a mighty nation with the distinct assignment to bless all other nations. My older sister was the only "youth pastor" I ever had. She assigned me and others to preach our first sermons in front of our small group which met in the church basement. (Who could ever forget the knotty pine panels and musty odor?) We ministered to nursing home patients monthly. The caring community of Jesus followers had more to do in forming a generation than any degree granting institution.
I remain partial to mid-week church services. Sister Adiska, the wife of the deacon who wiggled his fingers while leading worship, was God’s trigger finger that set off a kind of spiritual experience of volcanic force of God’s grace in me. I was a student in Detroit’s elite high school. A world history teacher challenged the Genesis creation account with an airtight argument for which I had no answer. Sciences were worshiped by academia in the 50's and 60's. My mind swirled in confusion. I wrongly felt that if I confessed my struggles and doubts that I would disappoint those who loved me and that if I were really right with God, I would never have doubts. My prayers were stale. Nights were filled with restless spiritual conflict (No one was a specialist in spiritual warfare back then!) And I needed help!
On a Wednesday night in my most intense doubt the finger of God touched dear Sister Adiska and prompted her to ask the pastor, "May we sing number 282?" The church sang from "Melodies of Praise," as the Spirit of God washed waves of assuring grace over my struggling, fear-ridden, doubt-plagued soul. We sang that night, and I still sing –
Rest such as the purified know;
My soul is athirst to be blest,
To be washed and made whiter than snow.
I believe Jesus saves,
And His blood washes whiter than snow;
I believe Jesus saves,
And His blood washes whiter than snow.
In coming, my sin I deplore,
My weakness and poverty show;
I long to be saved evermore,
To be washed and made whiter than snow.
To Jesus I give up my all,
Every treasure and idol I know;
For His fullness of blessing I call,
Till His blood washes whiter than snow.
I am trusting in Jesus alone,
Trusting now His salvation to know;
And His blood doth so fully atone,
I am washed and made whiter than snow.
The annual budget for the community that shaped us wouldn’t be large enough for a one Sunday stage production in many churches today. The disorientation resulting from an audacious woman interrupting smooth segues and rehearsed key changes in church today is hard to imagine. But, the "Rube Goldberg" church in session on a Wednesday night in the early 1960's was the finger of God at work in a teen’s life.
It has been a long time since I heard a favorite "church song" sung by any congregation. Maybe it’s the lights, cameras, and on-stage action that mutes the simplicity and wonder of what God does in uncomplicated ways, protecting, providing for His people with the church. Have we become too content to observe, paying highly skilled professionals to perform the work of ministry? The church, common, ordinary, faulty people need permission and encouragement to influence uncertain youth with a well-timed song. When it happens, it is glorious! Maybe you will sing with me today?
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood washed, garments pure and white?
Refrain
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Do you hear the stirring anthems,
Filling all the earth and sky,
’Tis a grand, victorious army,
Lift its banner up on high!
Refrain
Never fear the clouds of sorrow,
Never fear the storms of sin.
We shall triumph on the morrow,
Even now our joys begin.
Refrain
Wave the banner, shout His praises,
For our victory is nigh!
We shall join our conqu’ring Savior,
We shall reign with Him on high!
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