Entertainment or Worship?

You sit in a soft, comfortable seat for about an hour and a half.  You watch people (some talented and some not so talented) perform.  The experience can, at times, be deeply emotional for you.  There are moments that move you to tears. At other times, you have goose bumps.  If you’d be honest, there are times your mind wonders – you think “how much longer will this last?”  When it is over with, you make an evaluation of their experience.  You believe that you could enjoy it more if the person behind you would make their children behave (it’s hard to concentrate when a kid is demolishing the place).  The person in charge of the thermostat should be fire; it was cold enough to hang meat in that place.  It cost you around $20-25 to attend.  And you debate  whether or not you'll come back.

Here’s the million dollar question: Did I just describe a Saturday night movie experience or a Sunday morning church experience?  For some people, it might sound like a Saturday night at the movies.  For others, it might sound like their Sunday morning experience at church (notice I didn’t say “Sunday morning worship”).

WHY IS THE LINE SO BLURRED?

Many professing Christians go to church for entertainment, not worship.  The tragedy of the situation is that many don’t even realize it.  What are some differences between worship and entertainment? 

• Entertainment is Me-centered; Worship is God-centered.  When I seek entertainment at church, everything is about ME.  If the music is MY style, I enjoy it; if it isn’t, I hate it (I also check out mentally).  If the sermon is a topic that I like, I listen intently; if it isn’t, I think it is boring (I either check out or fall asleep).  I go in order to be stirred emotionally, which leave me open to emotional manipulation.  Worship, however is completely different.  Worship is about God.  True worship sings about God.  True worship focuses on God.  True worship preaches about the Gospel (the entire counsel of God, not just sugar-stick sermons that get a reaction from the congregation).  True worship brings us to repentance, for we are confronted with God’s holiness and our unholiness.  True worship stirs our emotions through truth.  Although an emotional reaction is never the goal of our worship, we are emotionally stirred as the result of true worship. 
• Entertainment is about what I get from God; Worship is about what I offer to God.  We have “Americanized” the church experience, making it all about what I receive.  Worship is entirely different: Worship is about what I offer God.  What Israelite in the Old Testament would go to the Temple empty-handed and attempt worshiping Jehovah?  They understood that worship was about offering a well-pleasing sacrifice to God.  They brought the best that they had and gave it to the Lord.  Paul understood this and recorded these words in Romans 12:1, “¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (ESV).  Sadly, I fear that our worship resembles that of Malachi’s day, a time when people didn’t offer God their best (Malachi 1:6-14).  We want to offer God that which costs us the least but makes us feel the best.  We want to do just enough to sooth our conscience and make us feel religious. 

OFFER IT TO YOUR GOVERNORS

Malachi, in his rebuke against Israel’s worship, told Israel to offer the same thing to their governor that they offered to God.  Would they accept it?  Would they be happy to simply receive something?  No.  Think about this: What if you treated your job the way you treat worship?  What if you show up 30 minutes late, half-heartedly go through the motions, leave early, distract others while you are there, complain once you leave, and never really contribute?  Would your boss accept it?  No.   They wouldn’t accept it; they shouldn’t have to.  Yet, we think God will.  Why is it we revere our job (or should I say our paycheck) more than the King of Glory?  Could it be that we worship something, just not God?

Please Change Clothes Immediately After Church

Like many "Christians", my family and I often go out for lunch or dinner following a worship service (maybe it's the Baptist in me).  And I have a confession to make: I wish many church members would either (a) not go to a restaurant immediately following a worship service; or (b) change their clothes (get out of their "church clothes") before they go.

After reading that, you're probably thinking, "Why on earth would he care about who goes to a restaurant after church?  And why does he care about what we wear?"

On more than one occasion, I've entered a restaurant to observe over-worked, under-paid employees trying to serve and appease grouchy, self-centered, complaining, impossible-to-please church members - all of whom are fresh from "worshiping the Lord".  I've watched as professing Christians - people who claim to follow a Master who sacrificially and selflessly became the servant of others - go off the deep end because they didn't get extra pickles on their hamburger, or because they were shorted three french fries.  I've seen the worker roll their eyes, look at the person's attire, and smirk, as if to say, "Here we go again - it's the church-crowd; their clothes give them away."

I spoke with some workers last Sunday night at a local restaurant (I'll not mention the restaurant).  I asked them how their day had gone.  I could tell that they had worked extremely hard, and it hadn't been easy.  After talking to them, I couldn't take it any longer so I blurted out the question: "Are Sundays worse than other days?"  I think the question caught them off guard because their facial reactions gave the answer I was looking for.  It was a resounding YES!  Sundays are far worse than any other day of the week.  Christians in their Sunday best come in, take over, act like the world revolves around them, and leave.  Their children nearly destroy the place, while Mom and Dad pay no attention.

When we behave in this manner, we project a pitiful witness for Christ, dishonor the name of Christ, and make ourselves look like hypocrites in the process.

So, the next time you visit a restaurant after church, allow me to encourage you to take one of two actions.  Either be gentle, kind, loving and gracious (Christ-like) or go home and change clothes before you go eat.  That way people won't assume you've just came from church.  You won't look like a hypocrite and the name of Christ won't be dishonored.

The Best Message I've Ever Heard!!!

Last week, I was privileged to attend Together For the Gospel in Louisville, Kentucky.  It was three days of worship, fellowship and encouragement.  I listened to men of God preach the Gospel clearly, powerfully, and passionately.  To be honest, when I left my house on Tuesday morning I was already looking forward to hearing John Piper preacher.  Piper is one of my heroes (actually, he is about everyone's hero...or at least should be).  However, the most powerful message of the conference (at least for me) came on Wednesday night when David Platt, pastor of The Church of Brook Hills, preached a message entitled "Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions".  Piper later tweeted that it was the best message he had ever heard on missions (that is a big statement!).  For me, it was just the best message I've ever heard!!

I hope you will take time to listen.  If you will listen, you will be challenged and changed!