"Untrammeled"

I inherited the "Liturgical" service when I arrived at my deployment location in Afghanistan. For those familiar with Military worship, the Liturgical service would be worship that is marked by formality, Scripture readings, repentance with the main focus on "coming to the Table" to meet Christ for Holy Communion.

One of the things that has stumped me comes from my denomination the Free Methodist Church. In our "Distinctive Principles," in regards to worship, is an interesting statement that says that our form of worship is "characterized by simplicity and freedom of the Spirit, untrammeled by elaborate ritual."

Just what does that mean? I can't "do" formal, liturgical services? No! The word "liturgy" simply means "worship." So, to ask "can I lead a liturgical service" is about as silly as asking "can I lead a worship service?"  Yes, I can do that in simplicity and in formality.

I like what my Superintendent, Dr. Mark Adams, of the North Central Conference told me. He said, "B.T. Roberts (founder of the FM Church) feared a formalism that would sap the enthusiastic energy of a heart on fire, but insisted that at MINIMUM, Free Methodists practice a form of Eucharist that would respect the historic ties to Methodists-Anglicanism-Catholic- 4th Century practices of worship."

There was a time where I feared that I had to "give up" all formality, all rituals, or any sense of "holiness" in worship to be a Free Methodist. I was bothered that I may have to succumb to "basic worship" patterns that did not include following the Church calendar, Lectionary, having Holy Communion every Sunday or being able to use stoles or vestments with the colors of purple, green, white or red.

But, in the end, all I ended up doing was the very thing I was trying to avoid which was restricting and hampering the very form of worship I was seeking. I can be a "formal Free Methodist" and still follow the Church calendar and colors, read the various Lectionary readings, and have Communion every Sunday with simplicity that follows a format that gives each worshipper a meaningful experience of meeting Christ the Lord each Sunday in worship.

I don't have to follow a "set in stone" long, drawn-out "ritual" that suffocates and frustrates church members. I don't have to go through a lot of exhausting phrases and statements that I don't fully understand just because "that's what's written" for "Holy Communion" in the Common Book of Prayer. If I "modify" or "simplify" the ritual for worship or for Holy Communion doesn't mean I didn't "do it right" or that it won't be "pleasing to God" or qualify as a "real worship" or "real Communion" service.

It's not "all the words" that make the service "the service." It is sinners, such as I, accepting the invitation of Jesus Christ to come and worship...to seek forgiveness for my sins....to come to His table that made my forgiveness and salvation possible. I come as I am...and worship as I am capable. I am glad that God desires for me to do that "untrammeled by elaborate ritual."

God is WHAT?

One of the joys of reading the Scriptures multiple times is "finding" something different each experience. It is most noted when, despite numerous readings, something "jumps out" that I never "caught" before. Almost like an epiphany, I think to myself "why haven't I seen this before?"

Well, another one of those moments occurred as I was reading Luke 6:27-36. It is the discourse on "how" to treat our enemies. Yes, we know that if someone is an enemy, we love them. If they happen to curse us, we bless them instead. Even if they out-right hate us, we do good to them in return. The hard part (for me at least) is that when they obviously go "out of their way" to hurt me, I am supposed to pray for them. Why, because Jesus instructs us to love them...unconditionally as he loves me. So, we "get the picture" on our enemy. Or...so I thought. This is the "ta-dah" moment.

Tucked away in the final sentence of verse 35, there is the "how come" and "what for" answer as to "why" we treat our enemy in this degree of love and concern. "For He is kind to the unthankful and evil." GOD IS WHAT?? Yes, God is KIND even to the unthankful and to those who are evil!

God loves all of us regardless...even if not all of us love Him in return. It is God's desire that we always respond in the way that He would...in love. I think we need to reverse our current trend of "making things worse" by retaliating or seeing that an offender "gets what they deserve" in a punitive sense.

God is kind to the ungrateful, the unthankful, the evil, selfish, self-centered, egotistical maniac....you know, like me...and you, possibly? That's why I get a lump in my throat when I begin to sing about God's "Amazing Grace" that "saved a wretch like me."

Everyone is equal and on level ground when on their knees at the foot of the cross. His love knows no bounds or limitations...no labels, no classifications...just love...period. He died for me, for my enemies, and for those who are "unthankful and evil."

How can I model God's example towards my enemies...those I can't stand...people that are hard to get along with...those who are annoying, mean, vile, crude, and down-right hateful? You know...all those people God loves! :)