Last night I attended the Florida Orchestra’s last concert of the season with my dad and stepmom. It was marvelous, as they all are. After a piano concerto, during the standing ovation, a woman behind us started yelling “Bravo! Bravissimo!” along with many other whoops and hollers. Then after the final piece, Tchaikovsky’s 5^th Symphony, it (she) started up again, even more forcefully along with, “Michael Francis (the conductor) is the best in the world! We are so lucky to have him in Tampa! Marvelous! Encore!” She continued at the top of her lungs as we walked out. It was out of character for a symphony concert; borderline crazy.

You may be wondering what my point is; what’s the big deal? As I think about it (her), yes, her exuberance was way over the top. But how could anyone find fault with her enthusiasm? She happens to be right; the Florida Orchestra is world-class. So, I have been wondering about my stoic, reserved nature. What if I, or any other Christian, were to respond the same way to a worship service? I’m sure many do, in the Pentecostal/Holiness traditions. They get carried away, sometimes sounding like lunatics. Shouldn’t we be that fired up? Is not the Good News of Jesus Christ the best thing that has ever happened?

Pastor Rob Carlson, our Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Mission and Evangelism for our North District of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, has become a good friend. He is much like me – close in age, introverted by nature. But you would never guess it when he is preaching or presenting. He comes out of his shell with his “Yea, God!” exercise he usually does. He is animated, on fire. His passion for the gospel is infectious. Maybe if we were all like perpetual cheerleaders for the Lord, non-believers might get swept in – or at least wonder what the heck we were up to! Such incredible news: that we are saved by grace through faith. Why are we so reserved about it, keeping it secret, close to the vest? Fear. Like the crazy lady in the concert hall, afraid of being derided, scorned, laughed at.

We are primed and ready for a wake-up call, a re-founding. We have to keep trying, at all times and in all places, to get people’s attention. Or we will continue to live in weak resignation to the divisiveness, hatred, evil, and apathy that we see all around us. We will always have the backing of our gracious heavenly Father, who loves us unconditionally. 

Pastor Art