When The Kingdom Of God Is Near, You Dance

by Eric Elkin

“But she answered him,“Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

— Mark 7:28

Have you ever had a time when you felt caught up in the grips of something you could not describe, but the feeling was overwhelmingly powerful? When the moment was over, you struggled to explain it to those not there, but you knew something special had just happened. I call these experiences "Holy Spirit moments." I feel sorry for you if you've never had one. If you don't believe in them, my heart breaks for you. You're missing out.

My favorite Holy Spirit moment came while serving a camp in New York in the 80s. Our summer camp population was the most racially, religiously, and socio-economically diverse community I have ever been blessed to dwell in. Diversity comes with its own unique challenges. Mixing children from different socio-economic levels was the most challenging. If you were not diligent, fights could break out in the blink of an eye. So, counselors and leaders became skilled interventionists and managers of conflict.

Music in the 80s defined your identity and our cultural differences. Back then, youth did not cross over into other musical genres like they do today. Kids who liked rap did not listen to country or rock. And the same was true of rock-n-roll kids. Camp songs were the perfect tool to hold a diverse community together. None of the songs fit into any category.

One summer, a staff member asked if a Christian rock band could come and perform at the camp. They were friends of his from Michigan and would be in the area. I was against the idea. Only a portion of our kids enjoyed rock; the rest would feel left out. And, I didn't want our kids listening to the faith struggles of young adults from solid middle-class midwestern families. I asked him, "How does a kid who does not know where his next meal will come from relate to someone whose parents took away driving privileges because they got a C in biology?"

“I believe that appreciation is a holy thing—that when we look for what’s best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time.”

— Feed Rogers

Even though my concerns were valid, I felt I was being too judgmental. I was trying to protect "our dogs" from scrutiny. But, maybe this band had something to offer us, and we had something to offer them. So I agreed to invite them to perform.

As soon as the band started to play, our campers danced . Each danced according to their own tribe and language. There was a mosh pit and a group of fist-pumping rockers. Urban kids gathered in a circle to dance hip-hop. Earl, the big kid from Texas, got someone to dance the two-step with him.

But then something really interesting blew into the gathering and transformed everyone in its presence. The kids started to move out of their own zones and into others. Hip-hop kids started doing the two-step. The mosh pit started hip-hop dancing. That evening, with all its dancing, was the most intense and joyful experience I had ever experienced. Whenever I think about it I keep hoping that someday I might stumble upon a dance like it again.

I think we realized the Kingdom of God had come near, and it made everyone want to dance. It was so powerful, how could you keep from dancing? Theologian Karoline Lewis noted that when you recognize the Kingdom of God has come near, it's hard to remain silent. I totally agree with her.

The reading might not sound like the words of one who is happy. But we don't hear the mother's words after her child was set free of the evil spirits. I bet she danced and couldn't remain silent. May you have the eyes to see, the heart to feel, and a spirit open to dynamic encounters with the Kingdom of God.

Click to read Mark 7: 24-30

Reflection Questions:

When have you experienced a Holy Spirit moment?
Do you believe they can happen? If not, why not?
Consider a time when your heart was overflowing with joy. What made it feel that way?
What can you do to re-create that moment?

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