The Blacks end their Sunday services with an actual, earnest invitation to follow Jesus. I have related that observation here many times. That is one of the many, many reasons why I attend their service, dragging my family in tow.

Yet, as noble and biblically sound as is the theology of Black Baptists, one thing the Blacks do not seem to understand is the “why” behind the diminishment of their congregations. I do. And yet given my irrevocable status as a white man, I am under no illusion that I will be preaching to a Black congregation anytime soon. But if I did, the below contains the flavor I’d bring.

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(Always pause for what seems like an eternity before beginning. This is a known public speaking trick. People came to see you speak; they will be more and more silent and curious the longer you do not speak.)

“Why not?”

The gospels oftentimes connect the events of Jesus’ life with the word “immediately”.

In the original Koine Greek, the word translated means, “immediately”.

A few verses are in order.

“And immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.” Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭42‬ ‭LSB‬‬

“And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬ ‭LSB‬‬

“And immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.” Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭42‬ ‭LSB‬‬

“And immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.” Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭49‬ ‭LSB‬‬

(The Blacks love when a preacher drives a point home. There is almost an emotional roller-coaster feel to this technique. Just when you think the preacher is losing the group, he’ll insist on lengthening the list and the congregation will vocalize that they are not only picking up what he is laying down, but that they don’t want him to ever stop. So I’d continue.)

“And immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.” Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬ ‭LSB‬‬.

“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and was saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.””Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭LSB‬‬

“came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.” Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬ ‭LSB‬‬

“And immediately he rose up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭LSB‬

(Now I’d have to be shouting over the whipped-up-to-a-frenzy congregants)

And in Luke Part 2, commonly known as Acts, we find,

“and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”” Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭20‬ ‭LSB‬‬

(Still loud, but signalling that the moment is passing, I’d belabor the word.)

Eeeee-mediately.

Immediately.

Immediately.

(Here I will share with the reader that Booker Taliaferro Washington in Up From Slavery has a chapter on public speaking and says the following. “If in an audience of a thousand people there is one person who is not in sympathy with my views, or is inclined to be doubtful, cold, or critical, I can pick him out. When I have found him I usually go straight at him, and it is great satisfaction to watch the process of his thawing out.” So here in the sermon I will search him out and pause until I find him or her. Then, looking at them, I will utter once and again…)

Immediately.

(Another long pause.)

Our problem is that we do not believe in immediately. It’s okay to admit it. We do not believe in immediately.

We are a culture with a great tradition of developing expertise. You know I am right, but to begin my defense of my claim, I offer for your consideration that a very popular book a decade ago made its claim easy to comprehend. The author said that all the best spent 10,000 hours on their particular skill or talent, before rewards came pouring in.

But we don’t need an expert who wrote a book to tell us anything.

We believe our kids should go to school for 17 years, add pre-k and it’s 18. And sometimes we encourage them to go for another 11 (“they’re called doctors”); that’s 29 years before we consider that they are ready to officially have a job.

I can tell you from experience that an Air Force pilot takes about 200 flight hours until they get their wings, but don’t be fooled, that process often takes 2 years of total time. And we don’t officially get the keys to the aircraft often for around 4 more years.

Immediately. Where is it? Not in us.

That’s why I say our problem is we do not believe in immediately.

Our problem is we do not believe immediately.

Indulge me as I give more examples.

True love…?

Waits.

Thank you. Please call them out as you are able.

A good thing takes…?

Time.

What’s the…?

Rush.

Don’t go too…?

Fast.

Tadpoles don’t turn into frogs…?

Overnight.

Only fools…?

Rush in.

Life’s not about the destination, life’s about the…?

Journey.

I don’t want to confuse anyone, but I know there are some biblical scholars here. So here’s one for ya’ll.

“Be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart…”

“Wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Back to our culture.

Good things come to those who…?

Wait.

I believe my claim stands.

We do not believe in immediately.

The reason we do not believe in immediately and the reason we follow our culture is two-fold. Firstly, we have bought—hook, line, and sinker—the man-made philosophy that the only things that exist are the material things. Worse, we raise are children under the assumption that the best teachers are those who know the most about the material world.

Secondly, we do not think when we read the Bible. And we do not read enough of the Bible. And we do not push the Bible’s claims far enough when we do read them.

Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

What are the heavens? What do you picture?

What is the earth? What do you picture?

Moreover, does anyone in this body of believers honestly think that their answers would match anyone else’s here?

All I you need to know for today is the heavens are immaterial. They cannot be calculated, measured, or weighed.

The heavens is from where the Word of God emanates. “Let there be light.” Where was God when he said that? The heavens. But where are the heavens?

We look towards the stars to see the heavens, as if the heavens lie beyond the material world. This is theologically unsound.

I need to be clear.

(The pacing of this next point is beloved by the Blacks.)

There is no telescope big enough; there could never be built a telescope large enough…

You hearing me people?

…you could fill an entire hemisphere of the planet earth with a telescope;

Anyone here understand yet?

…I am telling you, you can take half of all of the known universe and convert it into a telescope with the clearest lenses to see as far as possible and you still will not see the heavens.

(Slow way down here.)

We do not believe in immediately.

We don’t.

Why not?

Why not?

Why not?

“And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it happened, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.” Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭LSB‬‬

Immediately. Implied.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭LSB‬‬

Immediately. Implied.

Why not believe in the god who created the heavens and the earth? Why not believe in the most powerful, the all-powerful living god?

I know why you are hesitant. Every believer sitting next to you, in front of you, behind you, across the aisle from you, up in the choir loft, every believer here was also hesitant for the same reason. The reason is always the same. You’re hesitant because you think you know a thing or two about this god you’ve been hearing about. The trouble is you have limited him to the god of earth. Or maybe you’re some kind of uppity and have some method of imagining he is the god of the known universe. Well, I am here to tell you that you need to go bigger, and you need to start thinking biblically. God is the god of the earth and the heavens. The material and the immaterial. He is concerned with you and it takes no time for him to work. You might say he can start work on you, say it with me, immediately.

And on the immaterial side of life, love, faith, hope, and others, forgiveness, patience, compassion, he specializes in immediately.

So why not believe that Jesus can save you immediately? His call is irresistible. You know it, and I know it. His yoke is light, and his burden is easy. In fact, you’re doing the hard labor right now as you battle what you know to be right. You’re probably sweating. Am I wrong? Heart racing. Come on down, son. Jesus is calling.

****

Again, it’s a draft. For fun. And I would probably go a bit more orthodox Baptist somehow at the end. “Early, Early!, Sunday morning, he got up!” and all. But I felt like recording this idea anyhow and why have a blog if you only post stuff you’re comfortable with posting?