I was surprised to receive a comment on the first post of this blog. A friend I've known since highschool wrote to share how he found a church that fit and invited me to check it out. Thanks Dean. I know a number of your family at Grand Valley as they were close friends in my Jesus People days and I always enjoy seeing them but again I know that this isn't my fit. I'm just talkin' here. Bit by bit maybe as I blog I'll describe what I'm looking for well enough that I can find it.
Commentator Terry C. Muck wrote; "Counterfeit spiritualities do not work. But their persistent growth and appeal should teach us two important lessons.First, human beings created for fellowship with God abhor a spiritual vacuum. And second, only the real thing will effectively scratch the spiritual itch." This is a problem that I see. We emulate successful ministries and their methods forgetting that what happens in one place may not be right although it appears successful, and in any case duplicating it certainly wouldn't be God's will any more than exactly duplicating your neighbors marriage would be right for yours. It's about authentic relationship with God and then with each other. Worship is an area where we fall short today. Michael Card says in an interview that most worship music today is "an industrial response to a trend"
Card also talks about the nature of worship. He says " We can't worship God without recognizing our woundedness. We have a worship revolution going on in the U.S., but we're not worshiping. There is no woundedness in it. True worship celebrates God's worth, and without experiencing woundedness, you don't know his worth. You don't have that experience of God's presence over God's provision. You experience his worth in the wilderness, not in the picnic grounds. "Amazing Grace" says, "I once was lost, but now am found." Without that acknowledgment of loss, what do you have to worship him for, unless you're just worshiping feeling good? Lament is the lost language of worship.
I have to agree. Most worship today is no more than entertainment. Church has devolved into a show. While the early church set the example of total involvement, when real revelation comes or a psalm comes to mind or a testimony rises up in our spirit we must quench this and allow the leaders to continue their program. Church has become a business enterprise more than a place of mutual edification like 1 Cor. 14 speaks about. There's a professional leadership at the front that put on the show, an audience in the pews to watch and pay and the Holy Spirit who needs to be on time to keep the program moving along.
What would happen if the Holy Spirit anointed that grubby guy in the back pew with the psalm for today or filled his spirit with a powerful message like Peter received on Pentecost. What if God never turned the church back over to the pastor and worship leader. What if God wants His way in the church.
later................dave
Excellent posts Dave. Sad to say that this summarizes a lot of my experiences with church. I've tried to make good come of that by praying regularly for God's will to be done in His people and congregations everywhere, but admittedly it's often disillusioning to see things remain the same week after week. That said, we have just started attending New Covenant on a regular basis and it seems to be a good fit for us so far. I pray God will reveal somewhere for you that is right for you. At any rate, it's great that you're addressing these issues. God bless.
ReplyDeleteRyan Drayson
I have to agree with Ryan. Ifeel that you are actually one of the more fortunates that actually knows deep down what you're looking for and I know that you will eventually find it.
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