Acculturation?

Last night, I attended a Fall revival and it was "unusual". Last night served as a first for many things. I attend church quite often and always thought that I was efficient in the activities that are exercised in a church- until, I attended revival last night.

I was introduced to a plethora of "difference." I felt inapt. I thought to myself, " this is probably how a white person feels when they come to a southern Baptist church." I was oftened distracted because I noticed that I was observing more than I was listening. I was compelled to stare and examine movements and words. I felt like a child first entering pre-school where there is so much diversity that it only seems natural to consume and amass all that has been encountered.

Maybe it is me, but last night I witnessed such things that I thought my thoughts were allowing the Devil to come in (like old folk would say.) If there was one nonbeliever in the house, it was me. I left baffled. I was dazed by what I witnessed and reluctant to "judge." Was I judging the actions of "workers" for the Lord? I argued with myself that it is okay to wonder and to be apprehensive.

I was astonished, intrigued, and bemused by what seem to be an unrelenting “show.”

The speaker of the hour, my purpose of coming, did not show. I must say, the minister that delivered the message for the hour did a marvelous job. He is very combative, cut throat, and seems to almost be swathed in the skin of Malcom X. It is not often that I attend service and hear the truth not flowered- he did not flower anything last night. I enjoyed him. After he spoke, I quietly dismissed myself, and as I drove home pictures of what I witnessed in my mind would make me laugh, confused me, but it left me with the feeling of doubt- did I allow my “worldly” nature ignore a blessing because it seemed unreal and most comical?