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Service Reminds Delegates to Walk Humbly with God

June 12, 2017
The synodical service of prayer and praise.

The synodical service of prayer and praise.

Karen Huttenga

Delegates of Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, joined the congregation of Crossroads Community CRC in Schererville, Ind,, for an annual synodical service of prayer and praise. Crossroads is about 35 miles south of downtown Chicago and about an hour from the site of the synod at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. 

To reach the service, some delegates drove themselves in their own vehicles, but most travelled by school bus. With temperatures toping 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), delegates were grateful to arrive at the air-conditioned church, where they were welcomed with lemonade, coffee and snacks.

The worship was contemporary and the tone was informal and welcoming. Following some opening songs, Rev. Drew Brown gave a brief message about Micah 6:8, focusing on the requirement to have a humble walk with God.

Wondering aloud why the third requirement, humility, should be added to the first two, justice and mercy, Brown came up with two reasons. First, it points to the danger that exists that in the pursuit of justice and mercy believers can become self-righteous. Secondly, he said, it reminds those who pursue these things that “authentic spirituality cannot be reduced to what we do.”

“God wants our heart. It’s not about the actions [of justice and mercy themselves], but about the heart behind them,” he said.

“Humility,” Brown continued, “is a submitted willingness” to be the servants. True service is difficult, he reminded the congregation. No one wants to be treated like a servant, but if you are to be a true follower of Jesus, “you must put yourself in a position to be humbled.”

This type of humility constitutes the power of the church, Brown said, reminding delegates that the church humbly following Christ has the capacity to bring healing and hope to a hurting world.

Urging the delegates of synod to pray every day for a humble spirit, he concluded his sermon with a quotation from the popular book by Robert Fulgum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.” Brown’s emphasis was on sticking together. For that humility is required.

The service included the Lord’s Supper. Two more songs, the old hymn “When Peace like a River,” and a popular contemporary song based on an older hymn, Hillsong’s “Cornerstone,” brought the service to a stirring conclusion.