Too Bland
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1 NIV
“Church is boring!” I have spoken those words on several occasions during my lifetime. Usually, my complaints were cut off by loving mentors who told me, “It’s all what you make it!” Today when I hear those words being spoken by other believers, I echo the words of the godly saints that spoke into my life. Those mature believers made a difference!
What makes church a bland experience (a.k.a. boring)? There are numerous reasons including: just saying words, not understanding the sermon, lack of interest, habitual attendance etc. We have all gone home on a Sunday morning with religious headaches!
Worship is a fiesta! Maybe we need some spiritual salsa to liven us up. When was the last time you sat in your car after church and just thought about the sermon? How about the times when you could not get that song out of your head? Did you ever give a shout for joy? Have you ever just burst at the seams with uncontainable gratitude?
“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37). No one needed a worship leader; their hearts exploded with contagious exultation!
Perhaps we are too stuffy! We don’t want to lose control or have anyone look at us like we have lost our minds. Personally, losing my mind for Jesus is not something negative. Going out on a limb for Him is probably the safest place in the world to be. Something is not right if we must look around to see if anyone else is clapping with the music.
Maybe someday in our lifetime we will see how “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV). On that day, worship truly will no longer seem bland!
How about if we start practicing today? I am going to no matter what you decide to do but I certainly pray you will join me.
Father God, we praise You for all that You have done, are doing and will do but most of all, we give a shout of joy for who You are! AMEN.
Photograph: Michael Johnston