Faith - Unplugged

I went to a service of worship last night. There were a lot of young people and children. There were a lot of older people. They were all singing and laughing together. There were no big screens. There was no powerpoint. The only reason for electricity at all was the overhead fans, lights and a single microphone.  The pastor was the only one with a jacket on. It was horribly hot. There were bugs everywhere - flies, mosquitoes, gnats. Yet, under the great arbor, there were no bug bites, no swarming flies, not a single mosquito. It's like they know - this is holy ground. A couple of cell phones went off - they seemed alien in these surroundings. 

Let me back track a little. There was a meal prior to the service. There was food - more food than you can imagine. The cholesterol police would have had a conniption fit. There were plates filled with fried chicken, deviled eggs (my personal favorite), mashed potatoes, green beans, peas, fresh tomatoes, and various other "potluck" things. Then there was a WHOLE TABLE full of cakes, pies, cookies and various sundries. And, of course, the wine of the South, sweet tea. Everyone ate their fill. 

Then we went to preaching! The amazing thing was that no one fell asleep. No one nodded off after eating all that rich food. Everyone was quiet, transfixed to the stage area. We sang with full voice. The choir brought us a lively rendition of a familiar tune. The host pastor stood to introduce the guest pastor.

As he began to speak, he was playful - teasing us about being "Southern" and the fact that we were Methodist and he was Baptist. He was a good speaker and had everyone engaged. As he delved into the letter to the Galatians, the preacher worked up to a feverish pitch - then hit us with the simple, straightforward truth - the gospel of Jesus Christ. There rose a chorus of amens across the assembly. Heads nodded in agreement. 

There were no trappings. No brass altar-ware. No paraments. No brass flower vases. No organ music. Just the Word and the people. That is all that we needed. There are those who would object to the informality of it. Those who would pharisee all the glory of God to death. Even here, I'm sure there are distracters.  People casting stones, and worried about specks instead of logs. People who are control freaks. People who drink too much. People whose marriages are in trouble. People who are judgmental, as many people accuse all Christians of being. In other words, there are normal people with normal lives, who all know they need something more. 

For over a hundred years, people have gathered at this place. The ground is holy, blessed by years and years of fervent prayers. The arbor stands as a focal point of the grounds. It is a beacon of testimony to the thousands who have given their lives over to Christ. It is a living anthem of praise to the many voices raised in worship to Christ our King. It is camp meeting, a step back to at least the 1800's if not earlier. A long-standing Methodist tradition, some say dating back to Francis Asbury himself, that still is relevant today. Youth, children, adults, and all ages gather together and welcome Christ into their lives. There are first time commitments and re-commitments, dedications, baptisms, and weddings that have taken place here over the course of the years. The tents have changed. The people have changed. The language has changed. The technology has changed. But, the main thing - the unveiled, life-changing power of Jesus Christ shows up, year after year, and THAT never changes. The gospel is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. And the third week of July, at Pleasant Grove Campground, the gospel is offered to all who are seeking. Jesus touches the hearts of all who come here seeking more, hungry for meaning in their lives. And we all leave changed, to make plans, circle the dates on our calendars and return next year, counting on the Spirit to meet us here.