Watching Worship

What do you like to watch? Maybe you enjoy going to a sporting event, a play, or a concert. Maybe you enjoy watching T.V. or a parade. A lot of our world has turned into spectators. Has our worship turned into a spectator sport? I ask that question because some people, it seems, come to watch worship. When opportunities come about to participate, they simply pass and watch someone else. Then they might throw their five dollars in the plate and move to the next event.

Let’s talk about one of the most obvious examples of this mentality. Singing is one of those things that we justify not doing because we do not have a “pretty” voice. We are blessed with some good song leaders; I will just throw my five dollars in, and they can sing for me. Not singing is in direct violation of God’s commandments (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19). Justifying not singing because of the “sound” of your voice just does not fly. If God were not pleased with the way your voice sounds, He could have made it another way.

Does watching someone cook or eat feed us? Is my belly any less empty after watching a cooking show? You know the answer. How can I feed my spiritual appetite by just being a spectator? I need to be active in Bible class by being prepared as much as possible before coming to class and by actively participating in class. The sermon should be the same way. I want to be actively involved in the lesson by taking notes or opening my Bible and reading along. This might help some who struggle to stay awake.

We could talk about the Lord’s Supper and really thinking about what Jesus has done for us and about our relationship to Him instead of figuring out what we are eating for lunch. In prayer, we need to be focused on what is being said and if we are in agreement. Worship is not a spectator sport. I hope you will come participate with us at the next opportunity.

Flying in a V

My family and I were talking last week about what my article would be this week. About that time, a flock of birds flew over us. They were in the traditional “V” shape flying formation which prompted us to talk about why birds fly in a “V” shape pattern. From my understanding, the birds fly in this formation to be able to fly further distances. The “lead” bird is doing the hard work by flying first. The lead bird can create an updraft for the bird behind it causing the flock to conserve energy and fly faster. Being that lead bird is the hardest spot to be in that formation. It can be a spot that you want to quit because of the difficulties that come with that role. It is also my understanding that the reason geese “honk” is to encourage the leader to keep going. Why would I tell you all that about birds? Because I think it has application to our human leaders as well.

Leading people can be a very difficult job. Just ask Moses, Jesus, or any other leader. When you do the difficult job of leading and all you get is criticism, it can make you want to give up and quit. Unfortunately, that can be true in church work as well. The church needs good leaders like elders and deacons. We see over and over in the word of God His desire for these leaders (Ex: Timothy and Titus). Part of our responsibly to them is to “appreciate” them and to “esteem them very highly in love” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). 1 Timothy chapter five would teach us to consider them worthy of honor.

In our culture, October is considered pastor appreciation month. Though we do not have pastors like the denominational world, we do have pastors in the biblical sense. It would seem that the men we call elders could also be called pastors. I am not encouraging us to follow leaders away from God, but I am encouraging us to encourage godly leaders. How can you “honk” at our elders to encourage them?

Procrastinating

Are you a procrastinator? Maybe you wait until the last minute to get something done or you say things like, “It will get done sometime,” or “It will be done when it needs to be done.” There was a story that went around while I was in school of a student who was working on their big paper the night before it was due, and the computer crashed. No iCloud, no back up, nothing. And not enough time to start afresh. This student dropped out. I have been burned enough times by procrastinating that now I really try to get my stuff done early.

You might say, “So I am a procrastinator; what is the big deal?” If you want to live your life like that and understand the consequences, you can live how you want, I guess. It is your business about your bills, papers, projects, or whatever it is that you have to get done. What I want to talk about is more important than those things. I want to talk about eternity. I read a quote the other day by St. Augustine of Hippo that said, “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” It reminds me of the story of the man who was going to be immersed for the forgiveness of his sins when the weather warmed up, but the weather evidently never warmed up enough to be baptized before he died.

James chapter four verse fourteen reminds us that our life is but a vapor. We do not know when it will end. The reality is that any of our lives could end shortly. The Lord compares His return to a thief in the night in passages like Matthew chapter twenty-four verses forty-two through forty-four. Which means it could be any time. Are you ready? Well, I need to be baptized. Why not today? Well, I have some sin I need to take care of. Why not today? The Lord is gracious to forgive. Why not take advantage of that before it is everlasting too late?