Trinity and Humanity

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ~ Colossians 1:16-17

Because, based on this verse, there is no sacred/secular divide!  Inside, I’ve always known this, and primarily through music and dancing. Whether it was watching my God-loving, fiery-evangelist dad boxing and jumping rope to KC and the Sunshine Band’s song “Shake Your Booty”, or listening to Chicago’s “If You Leave me Now” at my 92 year old grandfather’s funeral, I’ve always known the presence of God in it all! In fact, when it comes to songs around major relational memories in my life, the songs that come to my mind are an even mix of both “secular” and “spiritual”.

In fact, and to be honest, I had to be told by the deacons at Church not to “do that dance, or sing that song here” in order to begin believing there was some kind of sacred/secular divide! Interestingly enough, the deaconesses never seemed to have a problem with it and were often encouraging of it!

Fortunately, and because of Jesus, His Father and the Holy Spirit encountering me and my Church with Himself and with more clarity about Who He is as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, I no longer divide life up like that anymore. In fact, thinking back on it, I can see how hypocritical and ridiculous it is to do that kind of thing. Never was I encouraged to only admire Christian trees or wear Christian shoes. No one urged me to avoid the secular sun and only swim in Christian water under a Christian sky. I am also pretty sure that no one I’ve ever known, Christian or otherwise, has questioned whether or not their home was made of secular vs. sacred wood! I’m sure you are getting the point.

And, lately, because of experiencing the godly freedom that comes from holding the sacred and secular together as they are in the Person of Jesus (God as a fully creaturely, human being!), I am helping my local congregation to experience this freedom, and boy is it fun! We always begin our services with a 5 minute dance that includes music from yesterday and today, including everything from Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” to Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, to Kirk Franklin’s “I Smile”! You can be sure that the future of our dancing music will include Country, Island, the Blues and other wonderful varieties!

End result? What a multi-cultural/generational and congregational bonding experience it is to sing and dance to all of those varieties of songs; especially in a culture where we constantly proclaim the Inclusion and Adoption of all humanity into the relationship of the Father, Son and Spirit! How fantastic to PARTICIPATE IN AND OBSERVE IN LIVING, DANCING ACTION that everyone REALLY loves to dance to those songs anyway – we’ve just been pressured to hide it but are now pleasantly and joyfully EXPOSED! Ha-Ha!

Drop in and visit us anytime you are near New Life Fellowship, and bring your “dancing shoes” (which is “code” for any pair of shoes you feel free to dance in that won’t put you in jeopardy of twisting your ankle and breaking your neck!) As an aside, even though we play all kinds and styles of music, the ONLY music we try to avoid is that music which has lyrics that don’t line up with who humanity is in Jesus (and that means we have to exclude even MANY types of “Christian” songs from our dancing!)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete. ~ Colossians 2:8-10

~ Timothy J. Brassell