I just finished watching the funeral service for Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, the man who was recently shot by an acquaintance at a Dallas-area shooting range. The service was obviously very moving and meaningful on many levels, but what I found especially meaningful was their choice of musician -- Randy Travis.
Recently, Travis has had his fair share of trouble with the law. It can't be more than two or three months ago that he was found drunk and passed out in a church parking lot. I think there were some other embarrassing episodes in his recent past as well.
When I saw him singing at this service today (on television), my first thoughts were, "Why Randy Travis?" and "Why invite someone who has experienced such trouble to sing at a high-profile funeral service?"
I am still a bit perplexed at the decision, but maybe it has something to do with the song that Randy Travis sang today at the funeral service -- "Amazing Grace."
When it comes down to it, none of deserve to be in a worship leadership role. Everybody on that stage today, whether it was the preacher or the eulogist, "falls short of the glory of God." In fact, I do not deserve to preach, pray, and otherwise lead people in worship on Sunday mornings. It is the amazing grace of God that allows broken people (like Randy Travis, like me, like you) to lead others in songs that celebrate God and give thanks for his mercies.
As Paul reminds us, "It is by grace that you have been saved." And as Randy Travis reminded me today, God can still uses broken people to sing his praises. Once we are forgiven, God does not go about, "diggin' up bones" from our past, and I guess neither should we.
No comments:
Post a Comment