Have you ever been woken by a rooster?
I've been rousted from sleep by a cock crow many times while traveling through parts of less industrialized countries. Even in the middle of a city, if it's the right city, you can hear a rooster in the morning. They almost always begin their cry before my alarm clock does. In much of the world, the cock crow still serves as the community alarm clock, as much a part of the morning as the sunrise itself.
It was the same in ancient Israel. For the twelve disciples and the other followers of Jesus, the sound of the rooster heralded another day of watching and wondering at the miraculous ministry of Jesus.
On the night of the Passover, Jesus told His disciples of His impending suffering and death. He told them that they would fall away and be scattered. Jesus said to Peter specifically, "Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Peter's response was immediate. "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not. I will lay down my life for You." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times."
Within the next few hours, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and taken into custody by the ruling Jews and Roman authorities. Just as Jesus proclaimed, the disciples scattered - all of them except Peter and one other, who was able to enter the court where Jesus was being question because of his relationship to the high priest. Peter, too, entered the courtyard, warmed himself by the fire and certainly worried about the wisdom of remaining so close to those who were attacking His Lord. Maybe he was plotting a jailbreak for Jesus. He had swung the sword once already that night. But then a slave girl asked a question, and Peter lied.
I do not know Him.
I do not know the man!
He began to curse and swear, I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
And immediately a cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Some days later, Peter decided to return to fishing. Several of the disciples joined him. After their long and fruitless night of fishing, when the day was just breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, unrecognizable in the weak light. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They complied and were immediately rewarded wit a catch almost too big to handle. A disciple said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he dove off the boat and swam ashore.
Jesus had prepared a breakfast. When they were gathered together Jesus and Peter had a conversation. Three times Jesus asked,"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Three times Peter replied, "Yes Lord, You know that I love you." And Jesus commanded Peter, "Tend My lambs, Shepherd My sheep, Tend My sheep." In the earliest hours of the day Peter denied his Lord, and in the earliest hours of the day his Lord gave Peter both restoration and a life-long mission.
In the earliest hours of the day, Jesus spent time with His father. Throughout the ages, great men and women of the faith have always affirmed the morning hours as the unique and indispensable time for effective meditation and prayer. And one of God's great gifts to Peter was that his mornings would forever be marked by powerful memories and the meditations they invoked.
During their last supper, Jesus declared to Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." But Jesus did more than pray. He also orchestrated the circumstances of Peter's betrayal and restoration in such a way that they would play a daily role in strengthening his faith for a lifetime. Jesus knew that the powerful and impetuous Peter needed a consistent reminder of both his ever present weakness and his high and holy calling. Every morning that began with the cock crow was a morning in which Peter was reminded of the choice before him - to affirm, or deny, his relationship to Christ. Every breakfast was a reminder of the breakfast on the beach and his God-given mission for today - Shepherd My Sheep.
I do not share the same morning experiences as Peter, but I do follow the same Lord and the same calling. In the same way that He prayed for Peter, Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding on my behalf - praying that my faith would not fail. Just as Peter was given a task, I have been called to do my part in fulfilling the great commission. And I have the promise that just as He did in the life of Peter, God works all things together for good in my life.
I have found that my walk of faith cannot be sustained by emotional zeal. It demands a continual renewal of commitment to the person and purposes of Christ. Every day ought to begin with these questions: Will I follow in obedience, or will I seek my own way? Will I apply myself to fulfilling the role God has given me, or will I selfishly seek my own security and gain? I must address these questions and answer them in the morning, choosing my course before the events of the day choose it for me.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Architecture and Theology
My brother is an architect. Every detail of a building reveals something to him about the philosophy, purpose and intent of the designing architect. He will read a facade, a room or a hallway in the same way I read a book. Like me you probably don't share the same life long passion and commitment to the details of building design as an architect, but we can still pick up on the messages communicated by the spaces in which we live and work.
If you've ever looked for a house to buy or an apartment to rent you know just what I mean. Every time you went into a door you had an immediate impression. The amount of light, the height of the ceiling, the quality of the cabinets. Each of these details and many more defined a mood, a socio-economic level, a certain style and quality of life. And hopefully you found a space that was a match for you. After moving in you filled the space with your furniture. You put pictures on the wall. The things that are important and meaningful to you become an integral part of the home. When someone comes for a visit they can often learn as much about you from the physical space in which you live as they do from the things you discuss. At the least they are left with an impression of who you are and how you live.
Have you ever considered what your church building communicates about God and the people who worship Him there?
As one of my seminary professors was fond of saying, everything about the location, form and function of your church service communicates a theological message. Or put another way, you can learn what a church believes and values about God and the Christian life by the way it worships.
By looking at church architecture we can learn a great deal about what is considered important in worship. Four chapters of Genesis are devoted to God's instructions to Moses concerning the layout of the tabernacle. There was significant meaning in all the form and functions of the temple. In more recent history, the great cathedrals were all designed to be a place of instant wonder. Massive in size and covered with intricately detailed stonework, they have high towers holding an army of bells. With soaring ceilings and colored light the buildings themselves create an air of grandeur. The building communicates that God is big, beautiful, and worthy of awe and respect.
In churches built before the reformation, the focal point of the church was the altar - the place of communion and baptism. If there was a pulpit, it was located off to one side. The altar formed the center of worship, just as communion was the height of worship. In many Catholic churches the altar holds an image of the Madonna and Child. Sometimes the crucifix will be there as well. Often it will be found to the side, or in the rear of the church. These images and their placement communicate theological belief.
After the reformation, the focal point in Protestant churches became the pulpit. Sola Scriptura meant that the Bible and the sermon became the center of worship. Church architecture reflected this in placing the pulpit in the center. The high point of Sunday worship became the teaching of God's Word. The Catholic images were replaced with a large empty cross located prominently above and behind the pulpit. These arrangements reflect and teach theological beliefs in the Protestant church.
In recent years, the trend in Evangelical church architecture has been to create an open stage on which a wide array of different objects and events can be highlighted. Behind the stage is a large screen for video. Often there is no pulpit. While there are logistical benefits to such an arrangement, what is theologically communicated when the focal point of the room is a stage? What do people learn about God and worship when the building is more like a theater than a traditional church? What do you think?
If you've ever looked for a house to buy or an apartment to rent you know just what I mean. Every time you went into a door you had an immediate impression. The amount of light, the height of the ceiling, the quality of the cabinets. Each of these details and many more defined a mood, a socio-economic level, a certain style and quality of life. And hopefully you found a space that was a match for you. After moving in you filled the space with your furniture. You put pictures on the wall. The things that are important and meaningful to you become an integral part of the home. When someone comes for a visit they can often learn as much about you from the physical space in which you live as they do from the things you discuss. At the least they are left with an impression of who you are and how you live.
Have you ever considered what your church building communicates about God and the people who worship Him there?
As one of my seminary professors was fond of saying, everything about the location, form and function of your church service communicates a theological message. Or put another way, you can learn what a church believes and values about God and the Christian life by the way it worships.
By looking at church architecture we can learn a great deal about what is considered important in worship. Four chapters of Genesis are devoted to God's instructions to Moses concerning the layout of the tabernacle. There was significant meaning in all the form and functions of the temple. In more recent history, the great cathedrals were all designed to be a place of instant wonder. Massive in size and covered with intricately detailed stonework, they have high towers holding an army of bells. With soaring ceilings and colored light the buildings themselves create an air of grandeur. The building communicates that God is big, beautiful, and worthy of awe and respect.
In churches built before the reformation, the focal point of the church was the altar - the place of communion and baptism. If there was a pulpit, it was located off to one side. The altar formed the center of worship, just as communion was the height of worship. In many Catholic churches the altar holds an image of the Madonna and Child. Sometimes the crucifix will be there as well. Often it will be found to the side, or in the rear of the church. These images and their placement communicate theological belief.
After the reformation, the focal point in Protestant churches became the pulpit. Sola Scriptura meant that the Bible and the sermon became the center of worship. Church architecture reflected this in placing the pulpit in the center. The high point of Sunday worship became the teaching of God's Word. The Catholic images were replaced with a large empty cross located prominently above and behind the pulpit. These arrangements reflect and teach theological beliefs in the Protestant church.
In recent years, the trend in Evangelical church architecture has been to create an open stage on which a wide array of different objects and events can be highlighted. Behind the stage is a large screen for video. Often there is no pulpit. While there are logistical benefits to such an arrangement, what is theologically communicated when the focal point of the room is a stage? What do people learn about God and worship when the building is more like a theater than a traditional church? What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
