Unlearn a Naturalistic Worldview
Learn to Worship a Supernatural God
In this excerpt from the book in progress, “The Art of Unlearning,” I risk going to a place that could bring ridicule. When you begin to talk about supernatural beings instead of just rational beliefs, people might start to look at you differently. But as I hope to demonstrate in the next few posts, it’s important for us to remember that we’re not alone. God has appointed messengers and spiritual warriors to watch over us.
When I preached my first sermon at the Woodway campus of Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, I was a guest preacher. Coming from the state of Washington, I was a bit in awe, because Washington churches don’t have buildings like the one I was about to preach in (two balconies!).
I was also introduced to my armed guard. That was also a first for me.
I vividly remember sitting near the front of the sanctuary when, during the worship, I thought I needed to use the men’s room. I almost certainly didn’t need to, but I get nervous sometimes and think I do. In this august sanctuary, I didn’t want to “feel the urge” halfway through my sermon and start shaking my leg like Elvis Presley in a concert.
I figured that if I got up while everybody was standing during a song I could slip out unnoticed, only to find out, to my chagrin, that when you are a guest preacher at Second Baptist, the armed guard goes where you go. He escorted me out and then stood just outside the men’s room until I came back out.
There shouldn’t be any shame associated with needing to use the men’s room, but I was still very embarrassed. I manufacture shame like McDonald’s creates French fries.
After the service, the armed guard escorted me to my car. When I pulled out of the parking lot, there was an almost humorous sense of loss. My armed guard was gone! I had only had one for about .000001% of my life, but it was kind of nice while it lasted.
Continue reading this blog over on Substack HERE.
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