Baptism by Fire

Uh oh....what kind of Sunday Morning visit is this?

As we sit in the pleasant sanctuary at Christ the Redeemer or another church amongst faces that are familiar and friendly, John the Baptist enters. He doesn't just stroll in and sit quietly in the pew. He's noisy, disruptive and many of the children are frightened by his presence.

What would the greeters and ushers do or say?

According to our 21st century standards, he's dirty and smelly. His clothing, made of camel hair makes him look more like a beast than one of the Lord's blessed people...in fact, he looks and sounds like a visitor from bedlam. Still, the scriptures tell us that people of his time were attracted to him. The prophetic message he proclaimed was magnetic. From the firey core of his voice radiates the hope that life will be different....forever.

He's crying out to us to change our ways, telling us that we've been looking in the wrong direction. He tells us that we are deluding ourselves when we pay attention solely to external or surface changes.

As the prelude to Christ's eternal message, John foretells the profound transformation that will burn deeply within. Everything...every thought...every action that is not "of God" will be consumed when we meet Christ. We are being told to faithfully listen to words that will expose the regions of our thoughts and hearts that attempt to hide from the truth. Disconcerting, isn't it?

Watch...wait...He is approaching!