New Gear, New Buildings, and the Problems in My Heart

I'm a Jesus follower
and a worship leader.
Because of this and this hunger to lead my life as one of worship,
this verse has struck a chord with me for a number of years.

Amos 5:21-24

How can we justify this verse when all around us we see
new worship centers being built and new worship services
that cater to our style or different age groups?
How can we justify it when we always need...
New gear
New songs
New buildings
New guitars...

I think the conversation that needs to happen is;
Is this what GOD wants or what WE want?

I want to be honest
I love all of those things!
I love it when I get a new guitar
or when I learn a new song

Especially when people who are talented and passionate about
production, lights, sound, or art,
use their talents that God has given them
to tell the story of God's love and redemption for His people and His overall plan.


I love it.


But are we missing an important element?

Worship is a response to what God IS doing, what He HAS done, and what He WILL CONTINUE to do in our lives.

What has happened is the Church, which includes me, has traded a life of worship for an event.
The glorious life that I should live in response to Jesus and the gospel has be traded for a lesser idol of new buildings, new lights, new guitars, and creative shows!

None of these are evil things
but they are just things.
They WILL FAIL us and they will NEVER give us what we are truly seeking...
God


That's who we truly want.
The beautiful thing is He tells us exactly
how to get Him.

What God wants in our response to Him is:
a "flood of Justice"
and "righteousness like an ever-flowing stream"

Things that God has called good
can quickly become bad.
Passions that God has put in our hearts
will become idols if they are not put into check.

John Calvin said: "The human heart is an idol factory... Every one of us from our mothers womb is an expert in inventing idols"  

Our hearts want to cling to physical things instead of God.

That's what God is telling the Israelites in Amos.
Along with the other idols that they have adopted
they have made the way they worship to God an idol.

When we put what we want before what God wants
it becomes an idol.
Again, God is clear in what He wants in terms of our response to Him.

New worship venues and styles of worship are good things
when put in the context of true worship.
They are good when added onto true worship that is already happening.
They are not the main thing.

I have been ignoring that verse for years....
because, I thought that what I wanted was better than what God wants.
And now, I am abstaining from those good things
because my heart needs to be put into check.
And I think that a good form of worship for me is
telling God that I want Him more than I want
a cool venue,
or a new guitar,
or to write new music...

my heart needs God not these idols that I've created.

What are some things in your life that might need to be
put in check in view of what God has said in His word?

Are there things that we might be putting before God?

Is our Joy anchored in Christ or is it anchored in things?

Let's get better together.

Reflect God

I was listening to Judah Smith this morning.
He was at Passion 2013 this year talking about community

My thoughts that came from his sermon are reflected in my
blog posts community Part one and Part two

While I was re-listening to his sermon
a major point stood out to me

Our main purpose is to reflect God.

When He created adam
there was one thing that God
said that was wrong with this picture

...he was alone

Everything else that God had made
reflected God's glory
except that Adam was alone

We were made in God's image and because of that
it was not good that we were alone.
God isn't alone
He's got the trinity
God knew that if people were going to truly
reflect who He is 
then theres no way that they could do it alone
...because God in Himself is not alone
God in Himself is community

So if we are called...to what could arguably be our greatest purpose
theres no way that we can do it alone

Theres no way that this world can see who Jesus is if we're alone
Because Jesus isn't alone

This is why I love the church
Because without it we cannot show the world who Jesus is

and while there are some weird strange, bizarre, mean, overly critical people our there
We need them and they need us

not to fulfill some emotional need
but because we cannot do what God has called us to do

because of this the excuses of 

"I can worship Jesus more in my boat than with a church"

or

 "I don't need the church to worship/love Jesus"

Don't have a leg to stand on

You do need people and the church
Don't believe the lie
Don't be deceived into the doctrine of isolation
because...in all reality...it seems easier but
...to put it how God put it...
It is not good for man to be alone

proverbs says

the man who isolates himself seeks his own desires and rages against all wise judgement!

Don't let the dirtiness and the brokeness of people
lead you away from the pack

And I'll tell you what...
I give you permission to give up on people and their brokenness
if God gives up on you and yours.

Don't give up so quickly on what God has called us to do
because this will help you complete the greatest purpose
of your life.

It's simple I seriously need you
and you need me

What are some reservations that you have about maybe being in a community
or investing in the people around you?
(Please answer in the comment section)

-Sam