Is it possible to have “church” and yet miss God while in church? I have listened to more music as of late. Amazing Christian Artists with God-given musical talent are writing some great music right now. I hear some common themes which make me grateful, while at the same time cause me concern. We sing about grace, as we should, being thankful for the grace we find at the cross. We sing about God taking away my fear. We sing about all that God can make of me. And though these are messages that we need to hear, they carry over into the church.
Church, as you know, is so consumer oriented. We sing about what God does for me, rather than what we might do for God. We seldom hear words like, glory, honor, worthy and adoration directed to God, but instead seem to be (I could be wrong, I often am) self-absorbed, singing about what all I get from God (we should be grateful). We have become a people who are more concerned about what God can do for me rather than what we can do for God. Have we become so consumer oriented that we miss God in church?
I wonder if we should heed the words of the prophet Habakkuk: “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” -Habakkuk 2:20 (NIV) I wonder what God would do, if we would direct our attention to Him and not worry so much about the lights and the transitions and the song endings. One of the Psalms of David says this; “Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.” -Psalm 30:4 (NIV)
We sing to the Lord, about the Lord, as we sing praises to HIS HOLY NAME. Maybe you can take a moment and sit in the silence of your office or home or car and praise HIS NAME. He is worth all of our attention and His glory, does indeed, fill the whole earth.
Just a thought,
Scot