Consumerism "Worship"

I am both a minister and a salesman. I have the salesman job, as they say, "to support my preaching habit".  

Now I know I am not the only guy who has both a calling and a vocation, but I do believe that wearing both of these hats does, at times, give me a little extra insight into people and why they do what they do. For instance, we all know that $999 is just $1000 minus $1. Everyone knows the practice of "rounding down" exists, but it is used because it works. It is not dishonest or deceitful. You know exactly what you are getting, but it is used in retail because, despite all  logic, it works. It is my experience that customers have become so accustomed to things ending in 9's that any other number seems to disturb them. In some weird twist of circular reasoning retailers must end their prices with 9's because retailers always end their prices with 9's.

Sometimes I take my "retail brain" to church...and the Christian book store...and let it listen to Christian radio...

and my retail antennae start buzzing...

You see, if you could time travel to any era of the church, in any part of the world, there are a few things you would find that remain constants. Christians gather together. They pray together. They worship together. They learn together...and then they worship and pray some more. These are fundamental facets of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. By its very nature, at the core of its existence, are the practices  of prayer, worship, and preaching. These practices are Biblical, and necessary for the health of the Church.

Now we time travel back to our own time and culture. By the standards of past centuries, even the poorest among us are wealthy. Think about the things you have that practically no one had 150 years ago: indoor plumbing, refrigeration, fresh produce year round (that someone else grew), electric lights, and the ability to talk to almost anyone you know with the push of a button. You also have access to nearly unlimited amusement.  

And I am thankful for all of those things...except for the  amusement.

By definition "a-muse" means to "not think".  

It is my observation, that the cultural obsession with amusement has deeply rooted itself in the church. 

Let the pastor preach a moderately deep, theologically sound sermon and many people's eyes begin to glaze over... Don't make me think. 

Call for a spontaneous "testimony service" and many will scrunch down in panic... Don't make me think.

Try to draw people into worship...well you know...don't make me think. 

You see, instead of gathering together with the intent of contributing to worship, I suspect many of us gather with the intent to consume worship as if we were going to a concert.What we are really seeking is amusement. We want to be entertained. And if the musicians mess up, or the singer is off key, or too loud, or too quiet, or too fast, or too slow, or the pastor preaches too deep, or too shallow, or the prayer is too long, or the Sunday School teacher rambles, or senile Sister Suzie embarrasses us, or the unruly kid three pews back disturbs us or...(etc.)... then I just didn't "get fed" or [use spiritual voice here]  "I didn't feel God there".

  Really?

"Well, I put my money in the offering and I should get something for it."

  Oh, I see. Consumerism. I pay. Amuse me. 

If you try to dance your pastor on that string it will kill him.

If he agrees to dance on that string it will kill you.

Here is the thing. Biblical worship means that I come to contribute  worship not consume worship, even if (especially if) it requires sacrifice on my part. I "worship" because I deem God to be "worthy" of my adoration. My walk with God on a daily basis prepares me to give to God  when I am among His people.

To be honest in church not every song rocks my world...

not every lesson gives me a great insight on life...

not every sermon I hear (or preach) inspires me to conquer spiritual giants...but it's not about me. It's about Jesus.

This does not mean we should settle for mediocrity. Every musician, singer, preacher, teacher and window washer should strive to hear from God and perform their sacred duties with fidelity, reverence and awe...and if I sit in the congregation, so should I. Worship is not passive.

Worship requires participation, and personal contribution. If I expect a pastor to come to the pulpit prepared, and I expect musicians and worship leaders to come prepared, shouldn't I also arrive at the time of corporate worship with my heart prepared to do my part? 

God help me to live a lifestyle of worship so that I may be totally consumed in you!

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." [Hebrews 13:15 KJV]

IMAGE ATTRIBUTION: By Peter17 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"Well, Well, Jezebel"

Characteristics of the "Jezebel Spirit"

Tragic history is recorded in the Biblical books of 1 and 2 Kings. Among the most tragic, in my estimation, is the account we have of a woman named Jezebel. If you haven't done so recently, I encourage you to read her story beginning in 1 Kings chapter 16. Her's is a legacy of destruction and spiritual deprivation. 

I am convinced that same spirit is alive and well in the church today, so I want to take a few lines to help you identify the evil that lurks behind the "Jezebel spirit".

The Jezebel spirit is cloaked in religion. The greatest opposition to the people of God is not the"anti-God" crowd. Rather, it is the "almost-God" crowd. It veils itself in religious tradition. It is fluent in "church-speak", yet totally devoid of the heart  or Spirit of Christ. Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost" [Luke 19:10] but the Jezebel spirit thrives in arrogant exclusivity [1 Kings 21]. 

This Jezebel spirit can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes it will manifest itself in old-fashioned racism. Other times it will show up as prejudice rooted in social class, economic status or even a person's history.  All of these are just as evil and destructive as blatant racism. True Christianity eliminates social strata of all kinds, but "almost-Christianity" amplifies it.

The Jezebel spirit is domineering. She was not the monarch, but she was married to King Ahab. Though he tried to project the image of regal strength, Ahab was a weak man who repeatedly gave into the evil ambitions of his wife. To satisfy her, he committed all kinds of evil, and left a trail of blood throughout Israel. Good men, honest men, godly men were all the recipients of her murderous wrath.

The Jezebel spirit is unrepentant. Despite multiple demonstrations of God's supremacy, she would neither acknowledge or  repent of her evil.  Famine could not break her obstinate heart. The mighty display of God's power on Mt. Carmel only angered her. God's mercy displayed in life saving rains only emboldened her.

The Jezebel spirit is enslaving. Have you ever looked at these "prophets of Baal" and wondered about their unflagging loyalty? They danced to her tune. They sacrificed their children to the torments of hunger. They willingly injured themselves on the altar of a false god, and they did it all at her bidding. She displayed neither love nor affection for anyone but herself, yet she had a loyal following, for they feared the wrath of Jezebel more than they feared the displeasure of God.

The Jezebel spirit is destructive. Eventually all of those around her paid the price for her evils. Her cadre of "prophets" were violently killed. Her children were cursed. [1 Kings 21]. Her husband died an agonizing death. [1 Kings 22]. Jezebel herself died violently, tossed out an upstairs window by those in her own household. [2 Kings 9].

The Jezebel spirit plays to the most base instincts of humanity. Pride, vanity and lust for power all make the short list. Mostly though, the "spirit of Jezebel" is simply a rebellion against God. It is rebellion that tries to reshape God and godliness  into a package that gratifies the the fleshly/carnal desires of humanity. It revels in religious experience and despises the oracle of God.

How do you fight it? You don't fight it, you simple expose it. Then you leave the fighting to God. I am struck by the fact that the only defense that the real prophets of God seemed to have against the Jezebel spirit was distance. They left. They hid in caves and deserts and foreign towns, while Jezebel strutted and the hearts of Israel were tested. Sadly, the Kingdom of Israel never returned to the true worship of God. They were eventually destroyed, still enslaved in their idolatry.

So please, be ever so careful my friends. The Jezebel spirit is still out there on the prowl. It exists in mega-churches, in small country churches and everywhere in between.  It will sweet talk you. It will draw you in. It will promise you many things, then it will turn on you and destroy you. It will come after you family. It will never be satisfied. It maliciously attacks all that is good or godly. It spreads like a cancer, and it has its eyes on you.

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." [Matthew 10:16 KJV]