God made us to party & fight
We’ve completed our fourth after-party on the heels of Talia’s wedding and I think it’s biblical. There was the debrief party, then the brunch party with the in-laws and friends, then the clean-up party, then the “help us eat and drink all this extra stuff” party. And tonight we may just do it again on Jeff Hylton’s boat.When David was building the kingdom of God in Israel, warriors and their families came to him from all over the country. They had particular battle skills. Most may have been shepherds and farmers, but they were pretty good with a shield and a spear.
They were loyal to their tribes, but didn’t know one another, so the first order of business was not to march and drill, but to build trust and esprit de corps. So David ordered up a big three-day party “for their families had supplied provisions for them…fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for their was joy in Israel.” (1 Chron. 12:39-40)
The party wasn’t just an evening. It was a messy knock-down, drag-out affair that kept rolling day upon day until warriors felt like brothers and they began to catch David’s vision for a nation. After an experience like that, they made short work of the Philistine army that came up against them.
Before Jesus began his three-year campaign of laying waste to the enemy’s kingdom and establishing his own, he extended the festivities at a wedding party by producing about 700 bottles worth of really awesome wine. (1 John 1-10). And when he is done fighting for his kingdom some day in the future, he plans on having another wedding feast like it. (Rev. 19:7-9)
I grew up with a brand of Christianity that is puritanical, that doesn’t know how to dance and wouldn’t be caught dead trying to do what Jesus did with the wine. I heard one of our pastors once try to show through his powers of biblical exegesis that the wine didn’t have any alcohol in it.
Thankfully, that sad version of Christianity is withering in America. People who preach an up-tight, sterile version of the faith don’t know the great joy that extended, God-honoring, community-wide celebrations can bring, and they consequently are ill-equipped to fight to establish his kingdom.
My children’s generation may not know the Bible verses, but they know in their spirits that great parties are righteous. We need them to bolster our spirits and prepare us for the heavy-lifting of the battles God has also ordained in our future.
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This is good Seth. Stay in a spirit of partying and fighting…!
YES! So glad you wrote such a blog, Seth!
i’m very cheered & inspired today, by your thoughts about the kingdom of God. maybe soon i’ll re-join fellowship full time, but now i’m still putting down roots in God’s Love– to get me there. i rejoice in private worship, & occasionally in a church service where the spirit of celebration prevails. (that’s so wonderful.) but i have not been able to freely socialize with brethren beyond the occasional service. i don’t know why, but meanwhile i maintain a facebook page dedicated to fellowship with my brethren. i connect to brethren all over the world,& celebrate Jesus without walls. i guess we’re all different, & i have socializing weaknesses to be sure, but that’s where i’m able to recieve abundance of Grace…& be without condemnation, until my new season unfolds. Glory to God,Amen.
i agree with your vision of dancing & partying unto our Lord. it’s awesome to be joyful, & i think you’re a prophet there…because i had this vision many weeks ago, & so did my facebook sister in Christ…something’s brewing that will be an awesome testimony to God’s Goodness…& we’ll be there! brother…it sounds like we’re experiencing visions of the marriage feast of the coming Bridegroom. in my heart, i feel that the Lord is putting a spirit of celebration into our hearts because of His soon coming! HALLELUJAH!
i agree with your vision of dancing & partying unto our Lord. it’s awesome to be joyful, & i think you’re a prophet there…because i had this vision many weeks ago, & so did my facebook sister in Christ…something’s brewing that will be an awesome testimony to God’s Goodness…& we’ll be there! brother…it sounds like we’re experiencing visions of the marriage feast of the coming Bridegroom. in my heart, i feel that the Lord is putting a spirit of celebration into our hearts because of His soon coming! HALLELUJAH!
Amen! Dance on!
The wedding was/is truly a “moveable feast”. In the tradition of our celebration of the Resurrection, the power and meaning of the event simply cannot be restrained within the confining parameters of a single day on the calendar.
It was a special treat to participate in that with your family. I just with I had the energy to keep it going like you do.
Q. Do you know why the Southern Baptists don’t believe in premarital sex?
A. Because it might lead to dancing!
Enjoyed reading your blog post Seth. Thanks.
I’m all in on the party aspect but I will stand to disagree with your line about your children’s generation not knowing the Word. They will be disciples of God with passion in their hearts and the Word of God on their lips.
That wedding was the loveliest party I’ve ever been invited too and we delighted in the feast of joy.
You have done well my friend. Your children are your best work to date 😉
Thanks Seth – you have stated my theology in a nutshell!
Thanks Seth you guys are the best
Woohoo! I want to have a danceathon really badly!! One of my favorite moments of Talia and Joe’s wedding was dancing to Midnight Oil just like in the old days. 🙂 love ya pops, and thanks for the compliment, Rozy! You are just so good at pointing out the truth! 😉
Good blog
agree! The problem is that we don’t know when or how to party or fight!