February 18, 2010 - Ezra 3:10,11

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord,the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the Lord with trumpets, and the Levites,the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: 'For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.' And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid."

It seems we are hard-wired for ritual, for structure, for direction. We like to know what's coming and what to do when it comes. In this example, the people have been busy rebuilding the temple,and when the foundation is laid, they work out a church service. Trumpets, here. Cymbals, there. Choir over there. Responsive praying, please.

What is it about us, as a species, that craves stability? Oh, not all of us, I suppose. Some of us thrive on danger and excitement and thrill and surprises. And while I like a good surprise as well as the next gal, I also like to know that I have a job to go to in the morning and that there will be food on the table at night.

One of my beefs with traditional churches is that, as my friend Syd says, "it's boring." How we can take the Word and the joy of knowing God and turn it into an institution that people endure because they're bored silly is beyond me. Most traditional churches I've attended follow the same pattern. Welcome, 3 songs, sermon, collection, closing song, bye-bye. Not always in that order, but pretty much. Even Quaker worship follows a pattern. Come in, sit down, wait for the Lord to speak, shake hands at the end. And yet, this structure is what we crave, even when it stifles our creativity. We expect somebody to tell us what to do. And then we do it.

Once, many years ago, I was attending a charismatic church. During church one day a woman who was mentally challenged began speaking in tongues. She was immediately shushed by an elder. It wasn't part of the program, you see. We were doing something else at the time. Nope, can't have that now! Just one more example of how we try and put God in a box, and are outraged when He tries to break free.

What sort of a box have you put God in? Oh, come on. We all do it. Maybe we let Him out on Sunday, but even then, He pretty stays exactly where we put Him...welcome, 3 songs, etc... What would happen....what would happen if we actually allowed God free rein in our lives?