One of the things that I really loved about the Urbana conference was the ethnic and racial diversity of the participants. Whenever I walked through the convention center, or rode the elevator in the hotel, or ate lunch in a local restaurant I was exhilarated by the beautiful, multi-hued bride of Christ, his Church. Coming from the homogeneity and whiteness of Vermont, Bethany and I couldn’t help but notice, and take delight in, the reality that we were surrounded by a variety of people from Asian, African, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and European ancestry. While I don’t know the actual demographics of the conference, it appeared as though we pale-skinned North Americans were in the minority. Which only reflected the global reality. As we worshiped musically in the large gatherings we sang praise to our Creator and Savior in at least five different languages. It was exciting to hear 17,000 voices singing to Jesus in Spanish, Kiswahili, Arabic, French and English! Others praised Christ in Japanese, Chinese and Farsi. Apparently God is delighted to receive a variety of expressions of praise! I’m pondering how this truth should influence our worship in a small, rural Vermont church.
Tag Archive: Urbana
That was the theme of the Urbana conference last week. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (NIV) Or, as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” God came here to live, but not only to live, but also to dwell. He made his home here, moved in, and became connected and invested. The implications are fairly obvious. I am the body of Christ, the incarnation of Jesus to the world. So what does it mean for me to dwell here? Bridport, Vermont, is more than just the place where I live. For me to dwell here means that I truly move in and make myself at home. While my primary citizenship is in the Kingdom of God, it’s not my only citizenship. So I’m thinking about what it would mean to truly invest in this place, to commit myself to this place and these people. I’ve been a bit detached lately. I’m thinking that maybe that’s not okay. So today, and for awhile, I’m thinking about dwelling.