May 7, 2025 -- Psalm 133 -- Tourist or Citizen?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
    when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
    life forevermore.
Psalm 133 ESV
 
To dwell in unity means to live together, sit together, spend time together. It is a wonderful expression; I am not sure it captures what is going on in our churches today. Listen to the musings of Elyse Fitzpatrick on this very topic:
A number of years ago, my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to
vacation in Europe. In about three and a half weeks we visited thirteen
different nations. When we’d enter a country, we’d get our passports stamped,
exchange currencies, learn a few key phrases, and then off we’d go to visit
the natives. We’d wander through outdoor markets, peruse museums, sample
the cuisine. We’d exchange a few niceties with the locals, sit on the steps of
cathedrals, watch the life of the town go by, take a picture or two, and
purchase a little something to remind us of our time there, and then we were
off. We had a wonderful vacation. Our hearts weren’t changed in any
significant ways by our little visits, but then they weren’t meant to be. We
were tourists. It seems to me that what I’ve just described is very close to many
people’s understanding of the congregational life of the local church. On any
given Sunday, or better yet, Saturday night, many tourists can be found in
church. They pop in for forty-five minutes or an hour, sing a chorus or two,
exchange niceties with the locals: “Hi! How are you?” “Fine! How are you?
Fine! Nice fellowshipping with you!” They sample some of the local cuisine,
 they might purchase a book or CD to remind them of their visit, and then they
race to their cars to get to their favorite restaurant before the rush or home
before the game. For many people, church is simply a place to go once a week.
It is about being a tourist, and our land is filled with tourist-friendly churches.
Pop in, pop out, do your religious thing, catch ya later!
E. Fitzpatrick as quoted in B. Bigney “Gospel Treason:
Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols” page 189
 
Strikes a chord, doesn’t it? For us to be transformed by the Gospel we must be prepared to listen to Bible-based preaching. Meet with brothers and sisters through-out the week for prayer, for encouragement, for debriefing on how we are walking out the talk of our faith. We can’t be tourists. We must be citizens of the new kingdom that is ours in Christ.
 
Father in heaven I confess how often I am a church tourist, rather than a citizen in the Kingdom of Your Son. I admit how often I deflect well-meaning questions of fellow Christians, so that I can skim the surface of my faith. Spirit of the Living God, direct me more deeply into intentional community, where Jesus is adored, honoured in the lives of His people. Bring me into the fellowship of those who long to know Jesus and humbly serve Him.  Among such help us to remove hindrances to such deep relationship with Him. Expose our idols and all false concepts of Christianity, so they can be expelled from our lives. Blessed Jesus, cause me to be one who invites brothers and sisters to dwell in sweet and pleasant unity. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/kOQ9FM5gtjU?si=21NL4hL73arVx-Lu Psalm 133 Song
 

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