The Gospel According to Matt

Yesterday we had our first annual Baby Dedication day at Crossroads.  A number of families participated in the Dedication Service and 16  ”three-and-under” children were dedicated to the Lord by their families.  Each family introduced themselves to the entire church during the 10am Worship Service.  Each introduction was met with a round of applause and a lot of excitement.  We took individual family pictures and we will give those pictures along with a certificate to each participant.

Likewise we read several appropriate scriptures such as Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Psalm 127:3-5, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:1-4 and we prayed over the children.  We reminded the parents that each child must ultimately choose to accept or follow Jesus of their own volition, but our job as parents is to set them on the right track and lead them as close to Jesus as possible.  It was an enjoyable Service to say the least.

What really stood out to me was the diversity of the families who dedicated their children to the Lord.  The Crossroads Staff has prayed that we might be able to appeal to all kinds of people with diverse national heritages, social heritages, and ethnic heritages.  And yesterday it was evident  that God is answering our prayer.

Among the families represented were Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Africans, Native American, and inter-racial families.  It was colorful and it was wonderful—I think much more representative of the hue of heaven than what one sees in most American churches, and for that I am thankful.

And certainly it is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote in Galatians 3:28 that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  For a lily-white country boy from Oklahoma (me) this is all very cool.