Matters of the Heart: from heavy to hallelujah

An amazing thing happened last week: I read another book. Like the first one, it was a Christmas present; unlike the first one, it had only 35 chapters (but 261 pages in the Portuguese translation). If you read my posting on the first book, you remember it was not exactly a bright and cheery journey through sunlit fields of flowers. It did, however, have its bright moments and gave plenty of weighty material to think about. This second book was a long walk through a dark valley, with something of a ray of light at the end.

Shame, by Jasvinder Sanghera, offers us a look into the culture of the Sikh communities of the UK, through the words of a girl (now a woman) that describe the depths of human suffering, words that can only come from one who experienced the pain. Read the book (you can find it at Amazon, and I'm sure at any bookstore), but do not expect to be entertained; it is a portrait of mankind alienated from God. But you can expect to be inspired by the courage of one person who takes a stand against obvious evil and overwhelming odds.

In the end, it doesn't matter if it is Sikhs that are alienated from God, or "Christians" alienated from God: the wages of sin and rebellion against God are paid in all currencies and cultures. I know there are "Christians" that have suffered many of the things Jasvinder describes; the shock, I think, is realizing that such humiliations are "programmed" into the Sikh culture. Read the book. Be challenged to take a stand for right where God asks you to.

With a heart still heavy, I came to Sunday morning, time to bring a message from the Word of God. In the end I settled on a simple message from Psalm 145. "I will extol thee, my God, O king: and I will bless thy name for ever and ever." (v 1) What is there we can say about our God? I saw the effects of the Sikh god(s) on its followers...but what kind of God do we serve?

The Psalmist says (our) God is:
v. 3 = Great in His works
v. 8 = Gracious and full of compassion
v. 9 = Good to all
v. 17 = Righteous and holy in His ways and works
v. 18 = Near to those who call on Him

The sermon was simple and reflected a bit on each of the points above. Among those attending was an elderly couple from Scotland. They said they had visited once before, but I didn't remember them. Turns out they were here 9 years ago. After the service they both mentioned what a blessing the sermon was to them; he added that he was almost at the point of shouting "Hallelujah!" as I preached. It would have been most appropriate if he had, and some others of us would have joined in, I'm sure.

I still say it was not a great sermon, but it was a great message, because it pointed to a great God...great not only in power, but in grace and holiness; a message that uplifts the hearts of those who heed it.

From heavy to hallelujah: read the book...and read Psalm 145, as well.