Madness Dancing: The Eye of the Storm

I want to start by sharing a song with you. It was from a favorite artist of Janice and mine from the 1980’s (No jokes please).

Madness Dancing by Bob Bennett (Click to listen to the original song)

In the middle of this madness I am dancing Though I'm not sure why just now I tried to be sober, tried to be logical But I could not stop my feet I know I have not turned off my mind I know there's evil all around me But for now, it's outside And I am in my room And joy is like a crashing tide I don't wanna burn no books Don't wanna argue rock n' roll I don't wanna shoot anyone With my high-powered doctrine gun Let the madness roll on like a hungry beast No one will miss me (No one will miss me) For a half-an-hour at least A song came this morning and woke me And as I listened, then I found That I was not alone I was standing, moving Dancing, dancing On holy ground I don't wanna burn no books Don't wanna argue rock n' roll I don't wanna shoot anyone With my high-powered doctrine gun Let the madness roll on like a savage beast No one will miss me No one will miss me No one will miss me For a half-an-hour at least No one will miss me No one will care No one In the middle In the middle of this madness In the middle of this madness I am (I am dancing) In the middle of this madness I am dancing Songwriters: Bob Bennett Madness Dancing lyrics © Straightway Music Div.

There it is. The secret. Did you see it? It is laying there in plain sight. 

The ability to be wooed, to be drawn into the beauty of the King in the midst of crazy times. (Sounds like now, eh?)

Monday , I met with dear friends who happen to be pastors. We spoke together about what is now and what is next. We talked at length about openings and procedures, protocols and legalities. In addition, we spoke of our deep experience (over 100 years collectively) with Jesus and the roller coaster of trends in the church over the years. We touched on the fears of some and the faith of many. It was enriching, eye opening and affirming to see that what we are facing is fairly universal.

So, here is what I am committed to. 

Madness. 

A deep, overboard sense of joining Jesus in whatever adventure He has for me and by extension, for us.

That may mean opening public church gatherings when everyone says it’s wrong. 

It may be standing when everyone else is bowing. 

Madness. 

It will mean prioritizing Jesus above all. 

Slipping out of routines and planned programs to just be with Him. 

To break laws and touch the untouchable. 

Madness. 

Feast on this bit of madness from 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

"18 To preach the message of the cross seems like sheer nonsense to those who are on their way to destruction, but to us who are on our way to salvation, it is the mighty power of God released within us. 19 For it is written: "I will dismantle the wisdom of the wise and I will invalidate the intelligence of the scholars."

20 So where is the wise philosopher who understands? Where is the expert scholar who comprehends? And where is the skilled debater of our time who could win a debate with God? Hasn’t God demonstrated that the wisdom of this world system is utter foolishness?

21 For in his wisdom, God designed that all the world’s wisdom would be insufficient to lead people to the discovery of himself. He took great delight in baffling the wisdom of the world by using the simplicity of preaching the story of the cross in order to save those who believe it. 22 For the Jews constantly demand to see miraculous signs, while those who are not Jews constantly cling to the world’s wisdom, 23 but we preach the crucified Messiah. The Jews stumble over him and the rest of the world sees him as foolishness. 24 But for those who have been chosen to follow him, both Jews and Greeks, he is God’s mighty power, God’s true wisdom, and our Messiah. 25 For the “foolish” things of God have proven to be wiser than human wisdom. And the “feeble” things of God have proven to be far more powerful than any human ability.

As we make decisions in the next few weeks as individual believers, a corporate family (“corporate" meaning together, a body), and as citizens of a nation state, we need to go back and review what wisdom is and is not. 

Wisdom is not a “thing”, not a conceptual, academic pursuit, but the union of Christ in us. Remember, 1 Corinthians 1:30 & 31: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Jesus learned wisdom from an early age that was not from this world. (Luke 2:52)  Yes, he knew the practical things of this world, he was a stone mason/carpenter. But his wisdom was rooted in a different world, mentioned in James 3:15ff - "15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

We must employ divine, heavenly wisdom in the next few weeks, because there is always a solution! In everything trial, God provides a way of escape, "3 No temptation (periazmos - test) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13). There is always a way forward in the kingdom. 

So, I am calling on us as a people to focus our prayer. To ask the LORD for mercy on our land, to foil those who would steer us away from God and deep dependency on Him and for heaven’s wisdom on opening, which will have a tendency to clash with man’s wisdom. 

You see, madness. 

But for me, this kind of madness is the only sanity.