"It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and to proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?'
"Nor is it beyond the sea so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?'
"No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.
..."I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
"For the LORD is your life..."
Deut. 30:11-20, TNIV
The fact that the God of Heaven is a relational God, the "God with us" (e.g., Matt. 1:23) is something we take for granted too often. Growing up in the church is a tremendous blessing, but can also be a burden. It's far too easy to become a part of the "church culture" rather than the kingdom culture Christ called us to.
My church, Open Door Church in Suffolk, VA, recently had a worship conference. I was unable to attend because I was back in Indiana, but I've been working my way through the recordings online. Chris DuPre was one of the speakers. While the messages were geared specifically toward worship leaders and in the context of worship and music, the underlying principles apply to everyone.
Some quotes, notes and comments on Chris' first message:
"Anything that replaces relationship becomes religious."
Awe, rejoicing, intimacy: all three are needed in worship and in relationship (and therefore, in the life of a true believer). Churches tend to emphasize one or two areas in their worship, but rarely do you find a balance of all three. What happens is people become comfortable with certain types of songs but not others because these are the songs that "resonate" with them. For example, some congregations may love the intimate "bridal" songs but couldn't worship with a dance song to save their lives.
When these three areas (awe, rejoicing, intimacy) are out of balance, what happens is their lives become devoid of whatever area is lacking. Then relationship is replaced by religion. For example, people may "become religious with their thanksgiving" or "they say words of awe but they don't have a relationship that has awe in it. There's never a bowing in their heart outside of the four walls of the church." Relationship has gone away but the need to express this aspect of worship remains. If I am lacking one of the aspects in my walk with God, I will try to fill that void in worship "with other people's songs." If there's nothing to draw from within myself, I will feed off of other people's fire.
Ouch.
When you lose the walking part of relationship, it has to be replaced by a system. For worship leaders that might mean choosing songs that we know people like, or for a pastor that might mean using certain terminology that has been effective. We "do what works. We become a little more 'professional' and a little less relational." You still do it, but the reason you do it changes.
Ouch again.
Here is a deep confession: I feel as though my walk with God is in constant danger of becoming religious. Constant danger. So often I tend to have this distance, this spiritual system that draws on the theoretical, the theological, the "church culture" stuff I grew up with. I know God because of everything I've studied and read and He does answer my prayers, but (thank God!!) it's just not enough anymore. I want more, more of Him. I want more relationship, I want to experience Him.
I need a breakthrough. Again.
And I may have had a little one this morning.
(More on that later...)
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