Last night I went to the concert of a
well known Christian band which I won’t name because it will distract from the
things of which I want to write. The
music was great and God honouring. The
enormous crowd seemed to be good hearted and God loving. The band speakers have a passion for the
Lord. All seems well and I had a good
time but yet I am unsettled. One thing
keeps rising to the forefront of my thoughts: who was the thunderous applause
really for…
God… or man?
If it was God then why don’t we hear
that kind of worship in our services? If
it was for the band (man) why are we giving them more enthusiastic cheering
than God? I don’t think the band really
wants us to adore them and not God. I don’t
think God wants us to adore man and the talents He gave them over Him- the
Creator. When the band got off the
stage, the cheering was deafening until the band came back to play a couple
songs. That never happens when the
worship team or the preacher goes off stage.
When’s the last time we thundered praise so that God’s presence wouldn’t
leave a service? Um, well, a better
question might be if we’ve EVER thunderously
applauded God.
…Clap your hand,
all you peoples; shout to God with the voice of triumph. Ps. 47:1
Make a joyful noise
to Jehovah, all the earth; breakout, and rejoice, and sing praise. Ps. 98:4
There’s so much more I’m thinking as
it’s racing through my head and I know the Lord’s using it to change something
in me, and that’s okay. But I don’t know
where it’s going and I sure am not comfortable with how unsettled I feel,
though I know that God is good and always does His utmost to teach and guide us
into truth. Should we be clapping so
much for man? I don’t think so. Was the clapping all for man? I’m not sure.
Should we want to shout and clap and stomp and praise our God
loudly? If we are those kinds of people
at concerts then I’d say we should be those kinds of people toward God.
After all Jesus has done for us,
how could we not be?
those who honor Me I will honor,
and those that think little of Me shall be lightly
regarded.
1Sm. 2:30