Hosannah

I went to Hosannah tonight. It’s the weekly worship night over at Whitworth College. I haven’t been in over a year. Somehow, tonight was different.

It was at the end of a rather dry day, spiritually. Just self focused, one of those days you know you’re a sinner and only have God’s grace to stand on, even if it doesn’t feel real right at the moment. I was doing much better after a prayer meeting and Bible study, but something still hung on my heart. Some guilt, I guess it was. That filthy stain I had already scrubbed at earlier in the day. And one scrubbing was all I wanted to endure.

Standing there worshipping, amid a crowd of people I don’t know, though I did recognize a few faces, I was struck by how prideful I had been. Not today, but every other time I had been to Hosannah in the past. I maybe never saw it until tonight, but the dozens of times I had been there, something in me always felt… better… than everybody else. More on top of things spiritually, more keen concerning true Biblical doctrine. Maybe it’s connected to my perception of “Christian” colleges. I’ve often heard from students of such schools, including Whitworth, about the hypocracy of so many students, or how clueless the PKs (pastor’s kids) sometimes are about the real Christian life, and so forth. And so I somehow perceived myself as being better than them. I used to be bothered by the girl (there’s always one) who waves her hands around a lot and dances a little more than anybody else and stands while the rest of the congregation is sitting. I used to wrinkle my brow at the people praying out loud during the songs or being anything that might be associated with, well, the charistmatic movement. I had always judged them. They were just trying to look more spiritual, I thought.

Not tonight, though. Praise God, it was not like that tonight. Tonight I was one of them. Young. A baby. Just a needy infant in the arms of a very big God. I will not boast, the song said. Not in gifts or strength or wisdom. I will not boast. Save in the cross of Christ. For some reason he chose us. Before the foundation of the world, he set us apart and said, “These will be mine. I will make them in my likeness, in my very own image, and they shall be mine. They will flee, and I will chase them down, and they will be mine. I will purchase them with the highest price. For they shall be mine.” Not even the angels have such an amazing honor. Not only made in the image of God, not only the benefactors of an incredible grace and forgiveness, but co-heirs with God’s own Son, to be crowned with glory and to walk with him for the rest of eternity.

I will not boast, save in the cross of Christ. Indeed, I have no other boast.