I was at an Estate sale recently. (We bought Joanna a bed, and I thought it was a deal. But then after making the purchase, I checked the price at Target. It was the same price…and it was new! Bummer.) Anyways, learning every day.
At the sale, Joanna turns to the owner and says, “My brother’s name is Judah.” The owner responds, “Oh, wow, that’s a very Old Testament name.”
So, of course, I had to ask her, “how did you know that? It’s not casual information the average person just whips out.” Even the “spiritual, not religious” types of our day know God abstractly, but reading the Bible, let alone the Old Testament!
It turns out that she had a religious background. She casually just said, “Have you heard of the 19 Kids and Counting? It’s a cult. I was deeply into that.” Further on in our chat, she basically said that she now believes in God and thinks Christianity is about loving the poor.
Then another lady speaks up from behind the antique glass table, and says, “Sorry for eavesdropping, but I am a Christian, but I don’t go to church. Church is just a business. I just have a personal relationship with God.”
As I was walking out with Joanna’s overpaid-for bed (ha!), I was reminded of the prevalent and growing group of people in our day that claim to be “spiritual, but not religious.” My question has always been “what do you mean by spiritual? Where do you get your understanding of what is truly spiritual or not?”
This Sunday we begin our Summer in the Psalms. I have the privilege of bringing the message. It will be an overview sermon on the Psalms. What a majestic book! It has been called “The Bible in miniature,” “The Anatomy of the Soul,” “The garden of the Scriptures.”
Come and gather as we hear and learn more about spirituality—true spirituality, Christian spirituality—from the marvelous book of the Psalms.
Please read Psalms 1-2 and 146-150 to prepare your hearts for this Sunday. Here are some songs you can sing individually as we prepare to sing to the Lord together as one church family.
Love you, LifeWay family.