Heaven And Hell

“I’m always suspicious when we talk too much about ourselves. Somebody pointed out that hymnody took a downward trend when we left the great objective hymns that talked about God and began to sing the gospel songs that talk about us. There was a day when men sang ‘Holy, Holy, Holy,’ and ‘O Worship the King,’ and they talked objectively about the greatness of God. Then we backslide into that gutter where we still are where everything is about ‘I.’ ‘I’m so happy,’ ‘I’m so blest,’ ‘I’m so nice,’ ‘I’m so good,’ always ‘I.’ The difference between heaven and hell is the difference between God and I. Jesus Christ, by canceling His ‘I’ was the Christ of God, not as I will, but as Thou wilt. The devil by magnifying his ‘I’ became the devil -- when he said, ‘I will arise, I will raise my throne above the throne of God’.” - A.W.Tozer, Sermon, “Ezekiel”

Sensuality Accountability. Who Me?

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

I was listening to a radio show last week of one of my favorite preacher/teachers as he spoke of the problem with Christianity today. He gave some startling statistics of how there are more Christian family divorces in America today then secular family divorces and gave some other grave news about the state of our country pertaining to our faith, (or lack of). He then was giving some reasons for what has become of "American Christianity" as he gave a poll statistic of how over 50% of Christians in America do not read their bibles, as they get their theology from the Christian music they listen to. As I examined myself, I can see how in years past not only did I think I knew God through the songs that I sang, but I thought that it was my measurement of my spirituality.

I used to crave what worship music did to my senses. I thought that God wasn't moving unless the songs I sang gave me the tingles. I thought God wasn't forgiving me or was unhappy with me unless I could feel some euphoria during a praise song. Not only did I think these things, but I was told by my worship leaders that this was goal. We sang songs that brought glory to the singer which made me feel good to sing because they made me feel important (I'm Your Beloved). There were songs that contained such bad theology (though I didn't know it at the time) dealing with my importance in the grand scheme of things or that talked about the prosperity gospel (Peace of God, Let It Reign), but the bass line before the chorus was so cool that it made half the church raise their hands in awe. People get their theology from the Christian music they listen to? Yeah. He was talking about me. Again.

This weekend at church I came across this verse in 2 Peter which reads: And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. As I read this I started thinking about what sensuality was. Sensuality is dealing with the senses right? The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company says that sensuality means: 1.The quality or state of being sensual. 2.Excessive devotion to sensual pleasure. So sensual pleasure is not necessarily sexual. I enjoy back rubs, watching sunsets, the taste of lasagna, the smell of Downy dryer sheets, and the relaxing sound of Fernando Ortega. If I had to have these 5 things in order to co-exist with humanity, might this be excessive devotion to sensual pleasure? If I have to have my favorite 5 praise songs played during church in order to allow my senses to achieve heightened levels of goodness so I can feel like I worshipped God, might that be excessive devotion to sensual pleasure? And since when is sensual pleasure a requirement for church? Oh yeah, American Christianity. I guarantee that our African brothers and sisters in Christ do not go to stand under a shade tree to listen to their preacher or missionary preach the gospel for 5 hours (without music) out of devotion to their sensual pleasure.

Now, I lead my congregation in song. I direct my team of singers and musicians as our praise team leader. I write some music, make my own arrangements, breathe new life into older traditional hymns, and also bring new popular praise songs in. I pick between 4 and 8 songs to sing on Sunday mornings. I am now in a position to have a control over the words that will come out of a corporate congregation for a period of around 20 minutes. At our nursing home ministry on Sundays, the sermons are only about 20 minutes, so we are talking about a serious amount of time to have control over lyrics. A teacher, is someone who takes material, learns it and teaches it to someone else. Since half of America gleans their theology (study of God) from the songs they sing, isn't it possible that this could mean that people in the position of praise leader could fall under the category of teacher? Quite an incredible thought, but we as praise leaders have the ability to teach false doctrine, bad theology and even secretly bring in destructive heresies and exploit you with false words.

James chapter 3 also speaks of taming the tongue: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For with the tongue, words are spoken. Even so with a song, lyrics are spoken. If I have chosen a song to bring before another, let alone a group of people, giving it my stamp of approval, am I not now a teacher? Am I not now to be held responsible if someone is led astray in heresy because of my teachings? Am I also now not in a position to carefully choose songs that will be appropriate for a congregation and not only for personal praise? Am I not to look for songs that can be sung by all honestly before God. A simple example would be "I Surrender All". What would transition better into your pastors sermon? Telling God I surrender all even though many in your attendance aren't there in their life, or singing of God's sovereign grace and holiness?

A big reason there is so much sin in Christianity is because people do not see God for His holiness and majesty. They do not see God in truth. They are too busy singing about themselves, and whether realizing it or not, trying to make themselves on level with God. Who helps makes this possible? Christian music artists with songs on the CCM charts because their song had to do with being a better person, even though it is not biblical. Who is enabling them? Praise team leaders who keep singing their songs on Sunday mornings because the congregation will think they are hip for singing a song they heard on the radio.

Now I'm not knocking music ministers and I know how much work goes into what we do, but I have to battle this myself. Our pastors spend a full time 40 hour week (sometimes more like 80 hours) reading and studying, going to the Greek, going back to their study, ministering, visiting the sick and needy, going back to study, to make sure his sermon has all the nougats that God would have him to feed his flock with on Sunday morning. Music ministers spend 4 maybe 8 hours at best (maybe 7 minutes on Saturday night at 9:36 pm) putting together a dynamic set of songs of epic proportions to knock the congregations socks off. By the time we are done singing songs, is there any energy left for the preacher man, or is everyone coming down off their 'spiritual high' and ready for a visit with the back of their eyelids? Be fair to your pastor! If he asks you to choose and order your songs carefully, or limit your number of songs, or even to pay attention to what is man-centered versus God-centered then submit to him and make sure you are doing everything you can to fully understand what he wants. Make sure you understand that you are in a position of leadership and teaching and that the bible says it will not be taken lightly if you are to lead someone from the truth. Make sure you are accompanying the congregation in song and not putting on a laser light show of fluffy emotions and sensuality for everyone, and that you are honoring your pastors requests, otherwise you are in rebellion and should be removed from service.

Being a leader or member of a praise team is to be of service to one another and your congregation. Remember that people in service do not get to do what they want to do. A butler serving his master does not get to do what he wants, but what his master wants. How many of us are serving only to the extent that we are willing to go, but not to the extent that the master has requested of us? If the butler does what he wants rather then the wishes of the master, he will soon be an unemployed butler. We are not in service for ourselves, but for others. Christianity is not about I. It is about people. Yet, we still want to sing the me me, what about me songs.

Emotions are not the problem and using and enjoying the senses that God gave us is not bad. It's like a huge delicious cake. It appeals to all five of my senses. One piece is absolutely wonderful, and if my kids didn't finish it off then maybe I can have seconds. If I were to eat the whole thing, trying to help my senses into a euphoric goodness, I would have heartburn and would gain 10 pounds. If I wanted to do that everyday, I would go into diabetic shock and eventually lose my life to my sickness of wanting too much cake. I would be a destructive fool. If I got others to follow me and eat the cake every day because they trusted my judgement and eventually couldn't live without it either, then I would be partially responsible for their fate. Lets make sure we are serving modest hors d'oeuvre portions of praise (cake), and save room for everyone to feed on the healthy main course; the Word.