The Braves used to be "America's Team." Also from the ATL:"America's Preacher," Austin Humphreys on Psalm 122

Pastor Austin Humphreys’ Sermon “Grace Let Me In”

My Christian Facebook friends love to send me jpegs of Bible verses. This “David” is my first effort to make one.

The May 7, 2016 Sabbath Celebration at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church featured a sermon by Pastor Austin Humphreys. It was based upon a very familiar statement by David, one recorded in Psalm 122:1 (the pastor utilized the New King James version, but the KJV translation is so ingrained into the minds of everyone, most later translations leave it unmolested): “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Here, as usual, is a link to the ENTIRE SERVICE. Pastor Austin Humphreys’ sermon is titled “Grace Let Me In.”  It starts at time marker 1:31:35. Pastor Humphreys’ sermon was crafted in a manner that would have made it a perfect preface to an “appeal.” It came as a surprise to me that there was none. The prospects will keep for another few weeks, I am confident. The mothers in attendance at today’s service were all presented with a long-stemmed rose (are there many short-stemmed ones, I wonder), and honored with an al fresco reception after the service.

Music for the service was provided by three separate ensembles, but the three keyboardists who backed these groups were a common denominator. In World War Two, when you mentioned The Big Three, the people around you knew that you were referring to Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. At Berean, the “Big Three” consists of Luther Washington II, Bruce Seawood, and Natalie Raggins. The last person is a semi-regular. She has exhibited more restraint in regard to her chromatic fantasies as of late. I know that I had nothing to do with this. They were always interesting! I am likewise endeavoring to “cool my jets,” but relative to the “Big Three,” I don’t even qualify as a tin pot dictator. I know just enough about the subject to be able to appreciate real talent. That may be why they used to educate schoolkids about art and music. I hear that these programs have become woefully underfunded nowadays (although the link below to “Michael Tompkins” reveals that they are not yet extinct).  I will now facetiously state that they are all “better of without it!” “Ignorance is bliss!” “A little learning is a dangerous thing!” A former acquaintance of mine once tried to insult me. “You read too many books,” he venomously proclaimed. His life consisted of eating, sleeping, and glorying in the magnitude of his superiority.

This Michael Tompkins is not a Berean. He attends Shiloh SDA Church in Norcross GA (home of Waffle House HQ). Here is a link to this man’s organization, Hightower Trail Middle School Orchestra in Marietta.

The Berean men’s vocal group, “Men in Christ,” was under the direction of Michael Tompkins, who is now listed in the church bulletin as “Director.” He humbly revealed to me once that he “played the piano,” but must have been sandbagging some far greater capabilities. He is very modest, and I am very shy, so I can’t question him directly about anything. I am a master of conjecture, however. How many Adventists with musical proclivities named Michael Tompkins can there be in this world? Here is one who’s Linked-in profile I have relocated. His name is Michael Tompkins, but he is not the Berean Deacon and Director of that name. He does, however, work within a twenty mile radius of Berean. You are free to jump to the same conclusions that I have, in regard to these matters of public record. What about me? Who cares! My life and attitudes are all on display, even though they are not the least bit significant, and of absolutely no interest to anyone. The best thing about Christian regeneration is that it leaves you with nothing that you feel compelled to hide. It is fun to be boring!

HOW DID I EVER WIND UP IN THIS FANCY PLACE? “GRACE LET ME IN” ACCORDING TO PASTOR AUSTIN HUMPHREYS

The YouTube record of this sermon has already been viewed by over 400 people as of Sunday morning, 5/5/2016. I am not one of them, My technology, like the late Howard Hughes, often takes a notion to exclude the outside world. This summary will be impressionistic as a result. Anything that appears as a quote is, in reality, a pseudo-quote. Instances of “repetition” will only be noted, and not replicated.

Even the fire exits at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church are fancy. America stood an the threshold of a new era when this edifice was built, way back in 1962. It was the best of times, It was the worst of times.

Since I can’t view the video, and I was not taking notes (because I was praying) memory will have to serve as a flawed record of the opening prayer. In this prayer, Pastor Austin Humphreys referred to the podium, or lectern, or pulpit (take your pick) as the “Holy Desk.” That is a great description. For the pastor, this was another “day at the office.” This Holy Desk, and the grand piano, were not really designed to be portable, as they are both very heavy, but varied functions often require that they be relocated.

Pastor Humphreys commenced by noting that there are “moments in our lives that are filled with joy and gratitude.” Some examples were provided. They are sometimes overwhelming, and they seem to come from out of the blue.

A year ago, Pastor Humphreys got lost in an airport in England (link is to Heathrow. Is there any other?). He did not have much time left before he had to be on board, homeward bound, back to the spouse he sorely missed. He needed assistance badly. He could not spot any Americans around him, of whom he might inquire as to how he could get to where he had to be. He asked a local for help. “Sir, you are on the wrong side of the airport,” she revealed to the despondent pastor. He scanned the crowd, and his eyes alighted on a brown man. The pastor digressed a moment in order to note the American tradition of mutual acknowledgement between African American men, even though they may not be acquainted with each other. It represents a kind of reciprocal “congratulations” in regard to the fact that each has managed to survive in this crazy world (this topic was included, for comic effect, in a  movie that was recently premiered at Berean, Anthony Hackett’s “Love Different“). Motorcycle riders do the same thing.

London’s Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe, but Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest airport in the world! We have the bragging rights. So I am bragging! The runway layout of the two is almost identical.

The pastor approached the man, an employee of the airport, uncertain as to whether he would be able to establish an instant bond with the stranger. “What’s up, brother?” The pastors greeting was returned in a manner that gave him cause for optimism. “I’m just maintaining,” the worker familiarly responded. The pastor spelled out his dilemma. The airport employee was not without influence. In a jiffy, the pastor was onboard a transport that in normally reserved for old folks, and speedily bound for his distant gate. Fraternity, with an assist by God, was experiencing one of those “moments that fill one with joy and gratitude” that he had mentioned at the outset of his sermon. But this point, edifying though it may be, was not the main point that the speaker was trying to make. The climax came when he reached the proper gate, and walked on to his flight. Pastor Humphreys expressed his relief and gratitude with this statement:

“I was happy when they said to me, step onto the airplane!”

His thanks to God was emphasized by a list of praises to Him that repeated the word “God” about eight times. Rhythm was now a component of the presentation.
“King David had accomplished much in his life,” (a pseudo-quote) “but of all of his great accomplishments, the greatest excitement he ever experienced was when he was invited to ‘go into the house of the Lord.'” It was indeed a magnificent edifice. It was often filled with pilgrims from all around the ancient Near East, aware that it was a place wherein God could resolve whatever issues they brought before Him. It was clean. It was neat. It was resplendent.

I forgot where I put this image of the Tabernacle, one used for a song that is best forgotten. It makes the portable building look less like a tent, and more like a church. The worship was all within the compound.

David definitely had his enemies. Outside of the tabernacle, he often walked about with a target pinned to his back. His world, like ours, was torn by contention. The speaker noted four or five contemporary issues that trouble the world outside of the doors of our church. Among these societal ills was mentioned the inordinate percentage of African Americans that are being murdered, troubles that plague our communities and schools, and the backstabbing ways of many who hold positions of leadership. “Outside, things were not good,” Pastor Humphreys remarked, shifting the time-frame back to King David’s day. David knew that the Lord was not surprised by what was going on the outside world (the pastor does not deny the omniscience of God, and frequently alludes to this fact), but David, and other potential supplicants, knew where the solution lay. Not outside, but inside; inside the tabernacle. Pastor Humphreys emphasized the sanctity of this place by referring to one of Moses’s initial encounters with the Lord, imitating the tone of a father chastising his son. “Boy! Take your shoes off! This is Holy Ground!”

The omniscience of God was reasserted with a recollection of the pastor’s boyhood in Huntsville, Alabama (you will recall that the pastor is a “PK”). His father would occasionally take he and his siblings to an Imax theater. Sometimes the action onscreen would nearly scare the youngsters to death. But the kids would look at their father, and be impressed by how calm he seemed to be, despite the cinematic insanity (I can draw an unspoken metaphor from this, one that posits life as a screenplay, and God as a screenwriter, but it reeks too much of Calvinistic determinism). The reason that the pastor’s father could maintain his composure was that he had “seen it all before” (I have just been criticizing, in the preamble of this post, my former employer’s, and by extension, Solomon’s weltschmerz that was the result of the canonization of this “done seen it all” attitude). God really has seen it all.

Highly copyrighted, I guarantee, but this detail from a Charles Adams cartoon sort of puts Uncle Fester in the same position as Pastor Humphreys’ father (who was also named Pastor Humphreys) was in at the Imax.

Pastor Humphreys referred to verse 4 of the Psalm 122, which reads “Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.” The tabernacle was (as was the later first temple) a destination for pilgrims from throughout the known world, kind of like Lourdes (Marian apparitions), Guadalupe (Marian apparitions), and Fatima (more Marian apparitions). But God Himself was the denizen of the tabernacle in Jerusalem, and not the idolatrous memory of some mortal (albeit a most blessed one). Pilgrims to the tabernacle energetically, in the spirit of fellowship, confessed the greatness of God to one another. They laid aside all of their prejudices and troubles at the threshold. A comparison of this level of sanctity was made to some contemporary worshipers. “Some professional Christian seem to ignore this good example, comparing themselves to others, manifesting judgmental attitudes. Rather than comparing themselves with themselves, they should be comparing themselves with God!” This is another pseudo-quote by myself. The pastor’s next statement emphasized our unworthiness, when measured against God’s perfect standard. “Woe unto me! I am undone,” he quoted. The source is Isaiah 6:5:

“Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues” reads Verse 2. Psalm 121 (a “greatest hit”) reveals the source of God’s assistance: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills…” I have to use the KJV, in order to digress about the third oldest (1950) recurrent outdoor dramas in this country, “Unto These Hills,” is the story of the Cherokee Indians. This was the brainchild of the grandfather of one of the rich kids I grew up with (a la “The Richest Caveman“), back in the hills. It was, and remains, a real “cash cow.” Former “Dukes of Hazard” regular, and Georgia Congressman Ben Jones got his start acting in this company.

A penultimate scene from the Oberammergau Passion Play. There is now a shed over the audience, so only the actors are outdoors. The Bavarians don’t actually nail the players to their crosses, but in some places they do!

The previous aside leads right into another, thereby extending these digressions. Another Southern-fried thespian, Andy Griffith, similarly cut his chops in yet another North Carolina outdoor drama, the “Lost Colony,” which happens to be the oldest outdoor drama in the USA (1937). As a method of getting back on topic, here is a link to an outdoor drama that has been around for 382 years, the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. Like “Unto These Hills,” the script has been modified through the years for purposes of doctrinal purity and political correctness. This Passion Play, like Mel Gibson’s movie on the subject, has proved to be another enduring “cash cow” for the Bavarian village that plays host to it.

The pastor recreated the scene of one of the frequent visits that David made to the House of the Lord. He had previously noted that the people in the tabernacle were undoubtedly sharing testimonies. They were literally competing against one another, seeing who could come up with the most extravagant relation of the goodness of God. Pastor Humphreys compared them to a group of children who had just received gifts, and expressed their gratitude by extolling the virtues of their new possessions (this kind of praise was a component of Amerindian “Potlatches,” where the status of the host is not tied to how much he has, but to how much he gives away; more historical fodder you can build a sermon around). When David passed through the gate, and into the tabernacle, the pastor conjectured that he may have been singing to the Lord in a manner similar to this one:

“Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
Tis Grace has brought me safe thus far,
and Grace will lead us home.”

A watercolor by James G. Swan of the Klallam people redistributing the wealth of the tribe in the context of a highly formalized “Potlatch.” This is sort of what the Berean Food Pantry does every Wednesday, 1 to 5.

David knew he did not deserve to be there. He was upfront with God concerning his many shortcomings. Pastor Humphries contrasted the humility of David with some of the smug and self-important attitudes displayed by more of those “professional Christians.” “They won’t even remove their masks long enough to allow God to fix their problems,” the preacher lamented. With respect to David, it was WYSIWYG (my bizarre contribution). David was no pureblooded Hebrew. Technically, he was in violation of Deuteronomy 23:3 by even being there: “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord forever.”

David was not too many generation removed from his ancestress Ruth, Boaz’s mate. She was a daughter of Moab. I will make some halfhearted statements concerning the structure of Pastor Humphreys’ sermon at this point. Perhaps their lack of specificity will insulate me from charges of being obsessed with “form,” at the expense of “content.” But as I noted earlier, the form and content of the pastor’s sermons are inextricably linked. This close association transcends the simple contours of craftsmanship, and elevates the presentation into the exalted category of “art.” The sequential statement of the ancestry of David, as recorded in the Bible, set up another rhythm. It built into a crescendo which could be labeled “climax #1.” The Hammond organ, which traditionally serves as a kind of Greek chorus during the conclusions to the pastor’s talks, was introduced at this time. The fact of the unworthiness of David (and ourselves) was underscored, but the goodness and grace of God triumphantly countered our unfit condition. The contest between sin and grace was won by grace. The termination of “climax #1” was a reiteration this sermon’s theme by the preacher:

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!”

“Is there anyone here who can say that my past was messed up, but I am glad that God has invited me in anyway?”

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!”

Saint Augustine writes that the barbarians who sacked Rome spared those who sought sanctuary in Christian churches. This photo was taken May 22, 1961, during a similar scenario in Montgomery. Dr. King was inside.

Some more contrasts between the badness of the past, and the goodness of the Lord, were provided (in a rhythmical manner, needless to say). The atmosphere in the sanctuary became temporarily discharged, as Pastor Humphreys assumed a more intimate delivery style.

“We all have messes in our lives!” [a paraphrase] “Church folk [those pesky “professional Christians, again] will take these messes and use them to tear you down! God will take these messes, and use them to build you up!” David messed up real good, the pastor reminded us, but came out from under the shadow of these transgressions, and emerged a much better person. We need to cut people some slack [pariphrasis in extremis]. Pastor Humphreys expressed his disgust for hypocrisy by exclaiming, “I am tired of people always trying to throw your past in your face!” The second crescendo was fast approaching. [David was not perfect. I am not perfect. You are not perfect. Pastor Humphreys was soon to reveal that he, too, was not perfect]

“God had called David out of a messy family. But He had a plan for him.” The pastor then confessed to his own inadequacies. But he knew that, like the case of David, theses shortcomings would not keep God from using him to further His work. “I’m glad that God is still using me! I’m glad that God left me in!” This last exclamation marked the appearance of “climax #2,” and the Hammond organ chorus now took a short break, saving its breath for the finale.

Pastor Humphreys thoughtfully projected a diagram on the big screens that displayed David’s direct descent from one of those hated Moabites, Ruth, wife of Boaz.

As usual, a dry recitation of the course of the sermon does very little to communicate the efficacy of the Gesamtkuntwerk (“total work of art.” Don’t ask me how to pronounce it! Some wag will inform me that they were previously acquainted with this term, and don’t understand why I would bother to “reinvent the wheel” of their erudition). Both intellect and emotions of the congregation were now fully engaged by the content and form of the sermon. We were truly thankful that God extended his grace in order for us to be admitted into His residence, and exceedingly joyful to be there. Many rose to their feet, including my unnamed role model. If I had not been frantically scribbling away, I would have jumped to my feet as well. Again, calm descended upon us.

Pastor Humphreys resumed his address, speaking in a “still, small voice,” Intimate, personal affairs would lay a foundation for the final “metaphor” of this Sabbath’s sermon [one that was extended enough to qualify as an allegory, I suppose], and blaze a trail towards “climax #3.” The pastor can extract theological elixirs from the most unlikely of incidents. This is a handy skill for a pastor to have! The concluding remarks described the joys of a recently attended concert, related this event, by proxy, to the present joys of this Sabbath’s corporate worship, and came to roost with a revelation of the  greater joy that will come when Jesus returns. It was very Adventist, this final anecdote.

Before Chuck Barris invented “The Gong Show,” there was legendary stage hook. The venue that the pastor and his wife attended must have lacked one.

Pastor Humphreys related how he had recently escorted his wife to a musical event. They had managed to acquire some really good seats. Anticipation had been building, for the “main attraction” was a noteworthy performer. The pastor and his wife arrived at the venue, and assumed their good seats. But the prelude was long, way to long. And the music was bad. The singer was bad. The songs were all unknown ones. There was way too much chatter between the songs. A nearby lady patron overheard the negative comments that were being made about this excruciating build-up. “I hear you,” the lady responded, “but I came too far to get here, not to get what I came for!” The tedium and the torture persisted for what felt like an eternity, but at last the concertgoers were put out of their collective misery. The headliner assumed center stage.

“I know you waited a long time! But I am here now!” The audience nearly went out of their minds. The waiting was over. What they had anxiously anticipated was now present with them. They started to shout, and the shouting did not stop. It persisted throughout the remainder of the event. Climax #3 was approaching. Pastor Humphreys revealed the moral of his story. “All God wants us to do is endure the prelude of life. He will satisfy our desires at the end!”

The intensity got ratcheted up a notch or two. “I don’t know about you, but I am so glad the God took me in! [Here the unifying theme was restated, marking both apex, and culmination of the third crescendo]

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!”

A diagram of Pastor Humphreys’ tripartite sermon.

Pastor Fredrick Russell was not present for today’s service. There is no telling where on the planet he might be, as could literally be anywhere. He often makes provision that an appropriate song provides a brief musical interlude near the conclusion of his sermons. He did not invent this technique, but he deploys it often, and to good effect. It sets the mood for an appeal. Guest Pastor Furman Fordham used this technique prior to his appeal at the end of last week’s sermon. I am not very observant, but this Sabbath was one of the first times I can remember Pastor Humphreys enlisting song as an adjunct to his remarks.

 In the calm that reigned in the aftermath of his last vehement quotation of Psalm 122:1, an edifying song was introduced. It was “Were It Not For Grace,” a song that is so connected to its creator, Larnelle Harris, it is hard to find a version on the internet that is not by him.
The Berean edition of the song was sung by a female soloist, and can be found at time marker 2:09:05. The song was first released in 1995. “Beauty and the Beast” is from 1991. The two songs share one line of melody, the principal one. Five identical notes. Five disparate syllables. (My cat used to intercede at times like this to proclaim “Who cares!) The groundwork for an appeal was well laid, but, as noted, there would be none today. I am confident that this particular sermon will, in some form, see the light of day again. Pastor Humphreys is such a youth, he may still be peaching when Jesus returns, should His Father choose to delay this much anticipated event. It should be redeployed frequently, for it is an effective weapon in the war against the forces that would be all too glad to see you suffer condemnation. It emphasizes the grace of God. And it also emphasizes the fact that attendance at church is not a chore. It is, rather, an honor, and a privilege, and a joy! Here, out of sequence, but nevertheless welcome, is a final restatement of the theme:

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!”




Some summary statements by the pastor followed the song. They were epigrammatic. The inclusive nature of the congregation at the tabernacle was mentioned: “Big or small, they all brought it to God!” The infallible nature of God’s provision for us was noted: “Is there anything too hard for God?”

A closing prayer, like the opening prayer, alluded to useful work that Pastor Austin Humphreys does every day. The opening prayer remarked upon the tools of his trade, the “Holy Desk.” The closing prayer, far from containing a statement of his qualifications for the job, might be described as a statement of his inadequacies. But anyone who had been paying the least bit of attention to this Sabbath’s sermon, “Grace Let Me In,” knew that the pastor was not referring to himself alone when he thanked God for…

“Turning this mess into ministry!”

This is a description of every child of God who comes to a knowledge of the truth. Step one fixes the mess. This is a matter of faith. Step two turns you into a minister, just like Austin Humphreys. This is a matter of works. Vous travaillez?

Evangelism in China, circa 1870. In 1888, an Adventist layman named Abram La Rue carried news of the second Advent to Hong Kong. The “professional” missionaries arrived 14 years later, in 1902.