DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF FOLLY

By Charles N. Spence Jr.

This Sunday, many churches will celebrate what has been commonly called "Easter." During this week, people went out to prepare themselves for this supposedly festive occasion. They spent good money to make themselves pretty. They bought new clothes; they got new hairstyles; they purchased gaudy hats. These churches made ready their glorious day by decorating their buildings and made ready their choirs. Their "Pastors" made sure that their phylacteries were pressed and their sermons were polished. The women scrambled to put the finishing touches on their prized delicacies while at the same time were trying to woo a commitment to attend Sunday's service from their prodigal husbands. The children were somewhere trying to remember their lines for their Easter recitals while getting an early start on their Easter candy. “Easter Sunday” has come; these fervent church members awake in their homes to the lingering smell of ham, greens, candied yams and pies. They adorn themselves in their newly purchased apparel. Off they go to enjoy another annual “Easter Sunday” service. The places are packed with a showcase of fashion conscious worshippers. All the women with their so called bonnets make it almost impossible to see the choir or the preacher. What a show! But, wait a minute!! Where is the Lord? This is supposed to be His day. No way can He be there in the midst of such a circus. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there shall I be in the midst” (Matt. 18:20). I wish some one would dare to ask the question, "In whose name are we gathering in these churches?" Would they dare to utter the name of Christ? “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Here they come trying to force feed the Lord with their traditions, but He will spew them out (Rev. 3:16). The wise man said, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil” (Ecc. 5: 1). Does not this passage invoke your pity for these misguided sheep that follow blind guides? With all their pomp and circumstance they did not draw one millimeter closer to the Lord. Yet, they love what they do, they believe there is profit in it. Such is the result of a lack of knowledge and careful study of God's word. Wisdom teaches, “Folly is a joy to him who is destitute of knowledge, but a man of understanding walks uprightly” (Pro. 15:21). Such a display each year is a reminder that we, brethren, have our work cut out for us.