I wanted to start off with an update on the elder search process. To be fully transparent, we are in need of your help, as the process has hit a bit of a lull.
The elders had previously said that a nominee for elder would need a minimum of 3 nominations to be considered a candidate for elder. This requirement, coupled with the relatively small number of overall nominations that we received means that we can’t move forward in the process at this time.
So, we are going to ask for additional nominations in the hopes of getting a few nominees past the 3-nomination threshold and to help us in discerning who God is calling to this role. Nomination forms will be placed by the offering box in the lobby this Sunday and next Sunday. You can put them in my mailbox or hand them to me. If you haven’t already submitted a nomination form, please consider nominating someone. You do not need to be a member of the Bridge to nominate someone.
On a different note, a number of years ago (I was probably in my 20’s) Rawlinsville Camp Meeting had an evening evangelist who would call on the congregation to stand each evening when he read from the Bible. He cited Nehemiah 8:5 as his reasoning for doing so:
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
Although the evangelist didn’t go so far as to say that if we don’t stand when the Bible is read then we are sinning, he definitely suggested that standing was an act of obedience. There are churches today that teach that standing for the Word is a necessary part of a worship service. Some teach that you should only stand when the Gospels are being read.
Obviously, that is not the practice at the Bridge. Are we doing it wrong?
Standing for anything is obviously a sign of respect. We stand, for example, when the National Anthem is played at concerts and sporting events (I know this has become a political issue…I’m not touching it!), we stand when a judge enters a courtroom, we stand when bride starts walking down the aisle, and it’s considered proper etiquette to stand up if you are being introduced to someone.
However, there is no Biblical mandate to stand when the Scripture is being read. We don’t see any evidence in the New Testament of it being a practice of the early church. So where did this practice come from?
Many churches who practice standing for the reading of Scripture cite a work called the Didascalia. It is believed to have been written by an anonymous bishop of the early church in the late 3rd or early 4th century. The author claimed that he was writing down the practices for the church that had been established by the 12 apostles themselves, but there is no evidence that this is the case. One of the practices that the author wrote about was standing for the reading of the Gospels.
The Didascalia is an interesting look at the traditions of the early church, and many of our modern-day church traditions have their roots found in it. However, these are traditions, not Scriptural commands. Although some churches still observe the tradition of standing for the Word, many do not.
So…no, we aren’t disobeying Scripture by not standing for the reading of it. That’s not to say that there is anything wrong with the tradition, and indeed many people find it very meaningful. There’s a reason why I still remember when we did it at Camp!
Ultimately, however, merely standing for the Word isn’t the best way to show respect for it. We best demonstrate our respect for God’s Word by studying it, obeying it, and allowing it to be the authoritative guide in our lives!
Here’s what’s happening:
- The Harvest Party is this Friday night, November 3rd from 6 – 9 pm. Dinner, the Kids Bake-Off Challenge, and plenty of fun activities!
- Senior High service project– We will be helping to bake apple pies for the Lighthouse Youth Ministries auction this Saturday, 11/4 from 9 am – noon. Meet at the Fite home at 9 am or at the church at 8:30. Bring an apron and a rolling pin!
- Junior Youth meet this Sunday, November 5th after the worship service.
- Senior High Youth meets on Sunday, November 12th after the worship service.
- The annual Thanksgiving Fellowship meal is on November 19th after the worship service. Please see the meal signup sheet in the lobby to see what you can contribute to the feast.
- It’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox time! Shoeboxes and brochures are available in the lobby. Please return shoeboxes by Nov. 19, and please remember to pray for the child who will receive your box. If you prefer to donate through the offering, you can earmark your donation for Operation Christmas Child.
- Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour Saturday night!
All of us have a life story that has good, bad, and ugly in it. Every person’s story matters and every person’s story is powerful, especially when it has Christ in it! In Nehemiah 9 Nehemiah shares a prayer that is all about the story of Israel. We’ll be looking at that prayer and seeing how similar the story of Israel is to our personal story. Come ready to worship, and if you know of someone who doesn’t have Christ as part of their story this would be a great week to invite them to join you at the Bridge.