That’s My King, Do You Know Him?

We had an interesting sermon today on Ezekiel 1, the description of Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord’s glory. As part of the overall message, and specifically on Ezekiel 1:28, the pastor talked a bit on how the American mindset of “we bow to no one” makes it more difficult for American Christians to understand the Biblical response to kingship. Christ did not come to establish “the democracy of God”, but the kingdom of heaven. As citizens of a country that was established on throwing off the yoke of kingship, I wonder if American Christians perhaps get caught up in promoting a worship of good works that we substitute for the servant’s role of simply falling prostrate and bowing before our King.

Earlier in the service, they played a clip of S.M. Lockridge’s “That’s My King” sermon. If you haven’t seen it before, check it out (note: this specific video is a slightly extended version of what we saw, with different visuals).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX_7j32zgNw]

I’ve seen this clip used twice in services now (at different churches) and it’s always interesting to see how self-reserved Minnesotans respond to the passion and diction of a black Baptist leader. While my previous experience underscored the stereotype I just wrote – a gentle murmur passed over the congregation in response – this week’s encounter in the Baptist church had a little more active response, though still restrained. Which, as someone not inclined to hooting and hollering, suited me just fine, though it does beg the question of whether the culture we grow up in can cause our hearts to harden to the passion of God’s message.