I was preaching at one of the megachurches in the DFW area the other day, and I got there a bit early. The pastor and I were catching up over caffeine and preparing to pray when I noticed three stalwart, stout, sturdy, stern men position themselves behind the two of us. All three had those odd black microphone deals clipped to their ties, with wires leading to parts unknown.
Noticing my apprehensive glance (had the TV police from the UK gotten on my trail again [an old story]?), the pastor quickly attempted to put me at ease. “Oh, here’s Dick, Dan, and Dave,” he introduced. “They are … your … detail.”
“My what?” I exclaimed.
“Well, you know, the church is close to a major freeway, and who knows who might walk in here. So we do have a bit of security for those up on the stage.”
My detail. In other words, bodyguards.
Spying the bewildered look on my face, Dick—the head honcho of the pack—came over. In a conspiratorial whisper he said, “Son, we’re for real.” And leaning towards me, after a furtive glance around, he undid his jacket button and pointed to his ample waistline.
There it was. Firepower. Iron. He (and I assume the rest of the burly entourage also) was packing some serious heat on their persons.
That’s when I realized that preaching had now become dangerous business! You thought preaching was all about Greek and Hebrew exegesis, intricate manipulations of hermeneutics and deft contortions of rhetoric, eye contact and fancy gestures, and all that kind of stuff, didn’t you? Pshaw! That was in the good old days. Now, ladies and gentlemen, preaching has become dangerous business, not to be undertaken by the faint of heart. I’m shopping online for Kevlar right now.
(Of course, when I told my Dad about this, he guffawed skeptically. “Protect you? They were protecting the church from you.” I must note here that Jesus was right about that family stuff: You ain’t got no honor in your hometown … or even in your own home, for cryin’ out loud!!)
Anyhow …
What with the lethal attacks in a Colorado Springs megachurch late last year and all that, I suppose churches do have a responsibility to keep matters secure, and to be proactive in terms of safety issues.
Nonetheless, it was a good reminder about the dangers of ministry. At Dallas Seminary’s first chapel this semester, our Chancellor, Dr. Swindoll, warned the students and the rest of the Seminary community that we had huge targets drawn on our backs—targets for the evil one.
Indeed! Probably true for every believer seeking to live a life pleasing to his/her Lord.
Dick was on my tail all morning that day, discreetly watching my every move and sitting right behind me in the front of the church. But you know whom we have on our side … all the time? The Almighty God who is able to keep us from every vile and virulent attack.
On our side, by our side—our safety, our succor, our sustenance. And we wear His armor. Some serious firepower that.
Thanks be to God!
Noticing my apprehensive glance (had the TV police from the UK gotten on my trail again [an old story]?), the pastor quickly attempted to put me at ease. “Oh, here’s Dick, Dan, and Dave,” he introduced. “They are … your … detail.”
“My what?” I exclaimed.
“Well, you know, the church is close to a major freeway, and who knows who might walk in here. So we do have a bit of security for those up on the stage.”
My detail. In other words, bodyguards.
Spying the bewildered look on my face, Dick—the head honcho of the pack—came over. In a conspiratorial whisper he said, “Son, we’re for real.” And leaning towards me, after a furtive glance around, he undid his jacket button and pointed to his ample waistline.
There it was. Firepower. Iron. He (and I assume the rest of the burly entourage also) was packing some serious heat on their persons.
That’s when I realized that preaching had now become dangerous business! You thought preaching was all about Greek and Hebrew exegesis, intricate manipulations of hermeneutics and deft contortions of rhetoric, eye contact and fancy gestures, and all that kind of stuff, didn’t you? Pshaw! That was in the good old days. Now, ladies and gentlemen, preaching has become dangerous business, not to be undertaken by the faint of heart. I’m shopping online for Kevlar right now.
(Of course, when I told my Dad about this, he guffawed skeptically. “Protect you? They were protecting the church from you.” I must note here that Jesus was right about that family stuff: You ain’t got no honor in your hometown … or even in your own home, for cryin’ out loud!!)
Anyhow …
What with the lethal attacks in a Colorado Springs megachurch late last year and all that, I suppose churches do have a responsibility to keep matters secure, and to be proactive in terms of safety issues.
Nonetheless, it was a good reminder about the dangers of ministry. At Dallas Seminary’s first chapel this semester, our Chancellor, Dr. Swindoll, warned the students and the rest of the Seminary community that we had huge targets drawn on our backs—targets for the evil one.
Indeed! Probably true for every believer seeking to live a life pleasing to his/her Lord.
… our struggle is not
against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the powers,
against the world forces
of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11–12
against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the powers,
against the world forces
of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11–12
Dick was on my tail all morning that day, discreetly watching my every move and sitting right behind me in the front of the church. But you know whom we have on our side … all the time? The Almighty God who is able to keep us from every vile and virulent attack.
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31
If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31
On our side, by our side—our safety, our succor, our sustenance. And we wear His armor. Some serious firepower that.
Put on the full armor of God
that you may be able to stand ….
Ephesians 6:10
that you may be able to stand ….
Ephesians 6:10
Thanks be to God!
Posts
1 comment:
That's awesome, I never would have 'thunk' it!
Post a Comment