Jesus Unplugged
Way back in the MTV days when media technology
was ramping up in the music industry, rock and roll guitar guru Eric Clapton,
did something really daring. He
unplugged! Wanting to get back to the intimacy,
feel and beauty of the acoustic sound of music, he recorded an album which
deemphasized the electronic “plugged in” sound.
The
Album included a version of the successful 1991 single "Tears in
Heaven" and an acoustic version of "Layla". It remains the most
successful and best-selling live album ever, winning two Grammy
awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993.
Clearly,
there is something in our spirit which connects with more organic forms of
music. The acoustic sound seems to
gather the attention of our soul in a unique way. So, as I stood up to begin
our 11:00 classic worship last week, and a loud boom was heard followed by an
electrical power outage, I should have been happy considering the message would
now be “unplugged” possibly making it the most successful sermon I’ve ever
preached!
Once
the shock that none of our projection or amplification systems would be
available for the rest of the service, my mind turned to other matters – the
air-conditioning!
As the bulletins began
to wave in fan-like motions, I had another thought -- no organ for hymns and
the choir.
Plus, we had invited the
Hungarian Church Preschool we sponsor to sing.
There would be no microphones and no musical sound track for them to
sing with. But, not to worry. Just like Clapton’s “Unplugged” the music was
offered, and our congregation responded with our own annual Grace awards of
2018.
Finally,
it was time for the message. Fortunately,
we had just received a wish from our “Wish Book” of a new modern lectern. So, I moved it close to the congregation and
launched into the message. It reminded
me of my old Young Life days of speaking in a more relaxed and intimate
“unplugged” style with high school students.
While speaking, something amazing happened. I noticed a unique quietness in the
room. No whirling hum of the three AC
blowers. No rumbling from the organ
pipes blower. A sacred quiet fell onto
the place.
It
was very interesting, because the point of the message was the Apostle Peter’s
call for us to slow, stop and turn (repent) toward God and receive a breather –
a refreshing. Even the hymns and piano accompaniment
of the choir felt different.
It
was as if God was helping us to experience this point as a stillness settled in
among us. I had the sense that in the
moment, every ear was open and listing as never before. While having everyone’s attention may, or may
not, have been the reality, it felt so.
The
unplugged nature of our worship, created an intimacy between those of us
gathered in Jesus’ name and God’s Spirit in the place. While I did not create the power outage –
although now thinking about it, it would have been a nifty sermon illustration
– the experience taught us all that slowing, stopping, turning and unplugging,
is a wonderful process to more fully experience God. I think we will pay attention to this
“serendipitous” lesson by unplugging on purpose at some worship service in the
future. Only the next time, we will do
it when the temperature is 'unpluggable.'
