Posted January 6, 2024

“Who Among You" 😊 has seen the viral video of an Atlanta church “Swag” New Year’s Eve service? What I saw was a Pastor - not those who showed up – leading people to “walk it out” and “swag surf” to music and lyrics by secular artists. What is not clear in this clip is, what brought this huge crowd out on New Years Eve, to a church? What was the program and service line-up for the evening? What happened before we see what was caught on the video clip? (It’s been reported 150 people gave their life to Christ that evening.) And what was intended by releasing this clip? People's outrage has been trending, with many taking a stand to "throw the first stone" at those responsible for what Must have been a Grave sin in the eyes of God.

Many Believers were, understandably, offended by what appears to be disrespect for decorum and sanctity of a church. Is this the real “rub” here? If you belong to a congregation, church is the building where you “assemble together”. Church is where a body of Believers gather to give thanks to God, to bow in prayer, to stand on their feet, to clap their hands or raise them in silent worship. Church is a place for encouraging fellowship and hearing the Message of Jesus Christ. Church is a point of contact for what we believe and what we hold in high regard about our faith because we grew up with this, it’s how we were raised. But is the church building “divine”, unavailable to the very ones who need to come in (Christianity.stackexchange.com 3/15/2014).

Scripture says, “The true God....does not live in any buildings that people have made for Him.” You can find this in Acts 17:24. Old Testament scholars know that King Solomon himself wrote that even the grand Temple he built for God could not contain Him (1 Kings 8:27).

In “A Perfect Place for Imperfect People” (Theaquilareport.com 3/22/21), Pastor Craig Thompson says many churches have become a place where “self-righteous” people go to meet and visit God (this label implies they have more faith in their standards and behavior than in the finished work of Jesus Christ, which makes everyone who believes in Him acceptable to God.) Thompson says church should be a refuge and shelter for those who are oppressed and outcasts. Is this what we witnessed in the Atlanta church service?

Secondly, was the fallout from this event directed at the men and women, young and old, who showed up and were encouraged by the Pastor’s invitation to “walk” and “swag”? Was it easy to call them "worldly", undesirable sinners? The Gospel of Mark points out a similar time, in Chapter 2, when those who were Anti-Jesus spoke out: “.....He (Jesus) is eating with bad people and men who take taxes. That is not right. Jesus heard what these people were saying. He said to them....Some people think that they always obey God. I did not come to help people like that. Some people know that they have done wrong things. I am asking those people to come to me for help” (v. 16-17, EASY Bible). Jesus sought out those who were hurting and had no hope, and according to 1 John 2:6, “If we say that we are living in God's true way, then we must live in the way that Jesus lived” (EASY Bible).

But, you might say, Surely they “know better”. How can they know better if they have not heard about the Lord, and how can they hear about the Lord if there is no one to tell them?” (Romans 10:14).

Praise and Dance are expressions of worship and honor, celebrations of the goodness of God. Was the Atlanta "Swag" New Years Eve episode an effort by that pastor to “do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19)? I see it as a missed opportunity to use what the Lord already has in place for ministering to the “unchurched”. The pastor may have missed the opportunity to “Present to Some” and “Introduce to Others” gospel artists like J. Moss, Tye Tribbett, Mali Music, Pastor Mike Jr., and so many others who also “walk it out” and “swag surf”, but with a message!!

May you be Secure and “Locked” in your salvation in 2024, ready for whatever is next in Kingdom building. In all our work and all our efforts to make disciples and spread the Good News of Grace, stay mindful of Romans 14:13: “Let’s no longer criticize each other. Instead, make up Your mind not to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

Happy Blessed New Year!