Singing Lies
"Christians don't tell lies, they just go to church and sing them" - A.W. Tozer
Were it not that this was said by so great a man, I would likely try to soften it a bit, though this is truly how I feel. It is often the thought which plagues me in any 'worship' time. When a sea of people are singing about how they are giving everything to God, how He is the most important thing in their lives. So many words sung that no man could dare to stand up and truthfully say. Yet week after week are such things sung without any thought given. Indeed, the question should be if any thought is given during these times of singing, or if it's only feelings, only some emotions. Has the act of singing praises to God become little more than a feel-good pick-me-up. Has it become nothing more than yet another form of entertainment for ourselves. I see those who choose not to give up much for the savior, people I know closely, who do not live as they ought to live, and don’t want to change. Yet they may raise their hands and sing to God of how great He is, and of how they give everything to Him. I have seen it, and it infuriates me that we have reduced singing praises to our God down to such a pathetic state. Not only do I often remain silent so that I do not lie singing these songs, but it is as well that I am surrounded by so many who do sing these lies, with tears in their eyes. My challenge then, to myself, and to any who read this, is to think of the words being sung, and ask yourself if you would be able to stand in front of a crowd and speak these words truthfully.
Were it not that this was said by so great a man, I would likely try to soften it a bit, though this is truly how I feel. It is often the thought which plagues me in any 'worship' time. When a sea of people are singing about how they are giving everything to God, how He is the most important thing in their lives. So many words sung that no man could dare to stand up and truthfully say. Yet week after week are such things sung without any thought given. Indeed, the question should be if any thought is given during these times of singing, or if it's only feelings, only some emotions. Has the act of singing praises to God become little more than a feel-good pick-me-up. Has it become nothing more than yet another form of entertainment for ourselves. I see those who choose not to give up much for the savior, people I know closely, who do not live as they ought to live, and don’t want to change. Yet they may raise their hands and sing to God of how great He is, and of how they give everything to Him. I have seen it, and it infuriates me that we have reduced singing praises to our God down to such a pathetic state. Not only do I often remain silent so that I do not lie singing these songs, but it is as well that I am surrounded by so many who do sing these lies, with tears in their eyes. My challenge then, to myself, and to any who read this, is to think of the words being sung, and ask yourself if you would be able to stand in front of a crowd and speak these words truthfully.
posted by nebeno at 09:56
1 Comments:
I've really been convicted of this recently, as well. It's always bothered me to see people singing "Oh, I feel like dancing! It's foolishness, I know..." in a dead voice with a blank stare. Good grief, people. If I'm not fooled, God certainly isn't!
The emotionalism of modern day worship services has also really started to bother me. I'm not denying that there are times when God is in the house, and it is a beautiful, sweet thing. But it seems to me that a lot of what goes on today is not too far off from a religious "rave", an emotional high induced solely to convince oneself that one truly is in love with God and is serving him. Religious experiences are entirely possible apart from God, and I'm deeply afraid that much of the "worship" in which we participate today in today's churches is fake.
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