My Church Visit

Last Sunday I finally got out of town just to go to Beaverton foursquare church. I got two birds with one stone, ooh yea! My nephew was being dedicated, so it was an honor to worship God with my wife’s side of the family. It worked very well for me because, while I was supporting my brother in law and his wife, I was doing my homework.

     The truth is that besides Salem Alliance church, I can’t remember my visitations to other churches in the past. It seemed like a new adventure to me, so I looked like a tourist, or like someone who’s never been inside a church before. I was looking around, observing people, worship, and the preacher. Since I’m a huge coffee drinker something caught my eye. Yes, they had complimentary coffee stations in few places, but I had to say no to my addiction because I came here to worship.

     Worship was quite different then in our church, and I’m not saying that because there were different songs, or people were dancing. When we worship in SAC it really feels like our worship leaders can start preaching if they want to, the scripture just flows out of their mouths. It feels like when Jeff or Laura had a real conversation with the Lord Himself before they take the stage. As we were worshiping in Beaverton, it felt like that was missing, and I don’t know why.

     As we were singing songs of praise about fifty percent of people had their hands up, and that was kind of awesome. It was awesome to see that this church was showing her adoration in such a way. Another thing I’ve noticed was that this church is more multicultural than our church. There were all kinds of people, and there were booths for translators that were translating the church service into about seven languages.

     People are the focus of this church; I say that because this church is missionary oriented just like SAC. They do not go to Middle East, or Africa, their country is India. It was amazing to hear inspirational stories of their pastor; it was more amazing to hear that God is doing His work among Indian people. I want to say that my church experience was great, and if I’m ever in Beaverton during a church service, I wouldn’t hesitate to stop by.

I will not object!!!

     Honestly I had a hard time figuring out the gap in my identity in Christ. First of all I don’t think that much of Christians really think about it. If one is asked, who are you? Then we would find what real awkward silence is, and if someone tries to answer that question, then usually the answer is to general. This explains one thing, and that is that not every Christian is thinking on that subject.

     Through out my Christian life I thought of my identity, but I might’ve been looking the wrong way. As I thought about my identity I thought of my spiritual gifts. While spiritual gifts showed me my part in God’s kingdom they didn’t really tell me whom I am. After reviewing our identity in Christ I found it very helpful to memorize what the scriptures say about our identity.

     Scriptures focus on Christ’s identity instead of ours, and that is absolutely beautiful, because it simply means that Christ’s identity is my identity. It is absolutely remarkable to know that I am an expression of the life of Christ, whether I agree with it or not. I used to not want to agree with such statements, because my life doesn’t always support them. But I’m a human being; it means I still fall short often. As often as I try to be that expression of the life of Christ I fail time to time, and that is frustrating. Good news though, God does not concentrate on my failures, because He looks at me through Jesus, and in Christ I am what I am. If God sees me as an expression of Christ's identity, then who am I to object?