A SACRED ARISTOCRACY

I am missing something in the world today.  While I am an informal person there are times I appreciate formality.  I can get too sloppy, and to familiar and something seems to get lost in that.  As I watch Downton Abby or Sense and Sensibility there is something in me that relates to all that formality and pomp; it seems respectful and noble act with good manners towards one another; to treat others well; to take time and energy in making everything beautiful and according to standard.  I never would have thought that would attract me, but it does.

Back in my hippy days I was on a committee that advocating getting rid of the dress code in public schools in my county.  Years later, as I looked at how kids dress and carry themselves in school, I regretted being apart of that decision.  I saw a correlation to how people dressed and how people acted.  Just last week I watched a highly respected Bible scholar addressing seminary students; he was an older man and was wearing a tie; the students slouched in their chairs and looked like they were on a picnic at the beach; it bothered me.  Is it just because I am getting old, or is it something more?

There is a flippancy towards God and sacred things that I once thought was ‘cool’ but now find offensive.  This started when I went to church with my mom a week before she died.  She knew her time was coming and asked me to take her to a traditional church service.  I took her to a church that said it had both a traditional and a more casual service.  We walked into the traditional service and everyone was dressed in ‘beach attire’, there was a surf board on the altar and the sermon was about how Jesus was a ‘beach boy’; and this was the traditional service! My mother was disappointed and I, as cool as I am, was appalled.  They have gone too far; we have gone too far.  

God wants an intimate relationship with His people.  Intimacy increases respect and a sense of honoring one another; it is sacred knowledge of one another.  Folks have become casual with God, bringing Him down to our level.  The Word of God became flesh so that He could be one with us, not one OF us.  He came to elevate people to a high calling, not dumb down to the lowest common denominator.  Intimacy is the highest form of respect for another; it is a precious treasure that should not be abused and taken for granted.

God is God; He is high and to be lifted up; He is to be honored, respected, and given His proper place as Lord and King.  He came to earth to be one with us but only stayed for thirty three years.  Throughout eternity He will dwell with His people, but will be on a throne with His Son and we will be His people, in an intimate relationship with Him, face to face with Him, but we will continually bow, serve, and worship Him.  I believe it’s time to start practicing now for the Aristocracy we will come to know and love for eternity.