The Big Diehl

“The bible is not boring-we are boring. We have been deluded into believing that true pleasure and fascination come in the form of loud, stimulating, immediately gratifying entertainment that we don’t even really take part in. We just sit there and passively watch or listen. Its over as soon as we turn off the TV, walk out of the theater, switch off the stereo, win the video game, or shut down the computer. This kind of entertainment doesn’t engage our spirits or make us more alive.

“the bible is divine entertainment- real entertainment. It contains the life of God, the creator of heaven and earth. And I guarantee that it will blow the mind of anyone who is willing to enter in. We must see the word of God for what it really is: a place of delight and pleasure.”

Quoted from “Pursuit of the Holy” by Corey Russell.

That first paragraph got me thinking. Maybe those loud stimulating forms of entertainment like TV cloud up our creative thoughts and desensitizes our spiritual receptors. How would we expect to receive a vision or hear Gods voice when we are in that state?

“let’s stop reading the Bible just so we can feel good about having done our daily reading. Let’s begin to actually stop and meet with God during our quiet times. Let’s ask God to encounter is. God promises [in Psalm 1:1-3] that whoever meditates on His Word will bear much fruit and prosper in everything. That’s a massive promise — a promise that I believe will be fundamental to awakening the Church in this hour.”

- Corey Russell in “Pursuit of the Holy.”

If you’re doing the corporate Furnace Fast, or if you’re interested in fasting at all, you seriously need to read what God said about honorable fasting in Isaiah 58. Go read it, and check your heart and motives in fasting.

Isn’t it interesting how one thing can represent something else much more specific?

Think about it. We may hear, “The White House says ….” is this a modern day miracle? Did s building miraculously grow lips and begin speaking? Of course not! We know this is refering to what the president and his policies have said.

There are lots of examples. “Washington” often represents the legislators, the individuals. “the pentegon” is another place yet it often refers to the generals and military officials. The employees at the Fort Wayne GM plant refer to their bosses at corporate headquarters by saying something like, “We will wait to hear from Detroit.”

And when [insert your name] says or does anything those around them should know that they’re representing Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be cool if our names were synonomos with “a word from God”.

Okay so in the last post I talked about how the prayer furnace at new hope was doing a corporate 40 day fast. we are fasting from different things as the Lord directed.

In fasting the idea is to replace food with God. When your stomach growls, take it as a reminder to worship.

I’m doing the Daniel Fast which is only fruits vegetables and water. I occasionally have cravings for all the other stuff. That’s my “growl.” Some of us have given up other non food things … But the urge to do whatever can still be your “growl.” We must embrace the growl and let it remind us what we are doing.

But why don’t we?

Maybe its just me, but I’m tending to find other ways to occupy my time besides spend it with God. I even went as far as unplugging my TV for these 40 days to ensure I have more time set apart for God. But somehow I find other ways to fill that time. How silly. This is just a diet without embracing more time with God.

I’m gonna embrace the growl more.

Tonight I’m challenging the Prayer Furnace at New Hope to join in a corporate 40 Day Fast in preparation for the DeKalb County “24/1 Prayer Furnace.” The TYPE of fast is totally up to each individual, but I do not recommend ANYTHING less than a juice fast for that long. The “Daniel Fast” is also common (fruits, vegetables, and water). I know there are also some of us who will be fasting something smaller, such as “Carbonated Beverages” or “Video Games.” In some ways that becomes a little more like Lent, but whatever its still cool. We’re fasting to humble ourselves before God and ask God to move in DeKalb County.  I welcome anyone to join us in this corporate fasting.

Here is a great website about fasting.

There’s a saying … It might have come from someplace else first but it is at least a song lyric from the album Lakewood Live. It goes ‘every day with You Lord is sweeter than the day before.”

Every day with God is sweeter than the previous day?

Bull.

The concept of this lie is strengthening legalistic religion but is absolutely KILLIING genuine faith. Maybe that’s too harsh but my point isn’t.

A faith filled relationship with God has ups and downs. What about the times I do the thing I promised God I wasn’t going to do? What about the day I totally ignore Gods direction? Is that day sweeter? No, in fact I’d say that day is downright bitter.

But the faith filled relationship with God doesn’t stay there. Its filled with restoration and renewal. That is biblical; think of all the times the psalms asks God for restoration. That requires that something went wrong at some point if it is to be restored.

Here’s the big Diehl, we Christians all too often think that our spirituality is supposed to be a nice and shiny thing. The truth is if your relationship with God is not filled with bitter days then maybe your relationship with God isn’t as alive as you think it is.

Sin in your life is a GIVEN. If you’re not struggling and needing restored once again then that means you’re LIVING with it. Whew why don’t we think of things in this way?

Funny… When you realize the RICHNESS of a faith filled relationship with God it even makes conviction a pleasurable thing. Now THAT’S sweet.

There’s a song written by Bruce Hornsby (who does a better version of it) and made famous by Tupac. Hornsby calls it “the way it is” and Tupac called it “Changes.” The song is all about racial tension claiming in the chorus, “That’s just the way it is. Some things are never gonna change.”

Yea. Obama ruined this song.

If you haven’t read the post immediately before this, “Why Music?,” go read that first. Let me also add that I’m writing some of this TO other worship leaders, but obviously I want others to hear my thoughts.

Does the style of music we use in a church worship service matter? Yes – I DO think it matters. Absolutely, no doubt about it. Don’t misquote my motives though – read my explanation.

Firstly, I think we need to consider what matters to God since its for Him anyhow. Does our style matter to God? Nope. I don’t think he gives a hoot. I don’t think so. God will hear our hearts (and specifically our attitude of excellence, for those of us with the specific Call to play skillfully (Ps. 33:3)).

So if it doesn’t matter to God, why should it matter to a worship leader? That’s a great question. Let’s consider what does matter. Emotions towards God matter. Devoted lives to Him matter. Our expression of worship to God matters (worship cannot exist without an expression of some sort, otherwise its just music). An assembly worshiping together matters to God (Unity), which is a great reason we use music in the first place. So if those things matter to God, how can our music meet that goal? Wouldn’t the style choices help us meet these goals?

Consider this lyric: “No hay nadie como dios.” For most of you, it will be impossible for this lyric to help you encounter God. But when I translate it into English, “There is no one like our God,” that changes everything. With this lyric you understand the meaning and actually stand a chance at joining me in magnifying God. It works this way because I’m speaking your language.

Can you imagine a church in inner city Los Angeles hee-hawing in a worship set with a banjo, mandolin, jug, and spoons? Can you imagine a church in the back hills of Kentucky connecting to God with an Urban-Jazz Black Gospel style like Yolanda Adams? Can you imagine any church in the Western World doing a worship service using the Asian “Gamelon” style of music; which has absolutely no regard for the 12 tone system (throw your “scales” out the window). Is it possible for people to connect with God with a musical style they’re not used to? OF COURSE IT IS! And the spiritually mature should be able to handle it. But as a worship leader I’m trying to HELP PEOPLE experience God, not make it more difficult for them because “they should be able to handle it.” In a large assembly I have to consider that people are at different spiritual levels; I’d be irresponible if I constantly throw artistic styles that don’t connect with my group. Can you imagine a missionary being so dense as to go to a foreign country and require their church to sing all worship songs in English?

So at this point, I think its pretty obvious that style does matter. It is something to consider. Now comes the messy part.

Musical styles are subjective. People come and go to church every weekend. Only SOME of them have a specific opinion of the carpet, chairs, paint, lighting, or even the sermon. But EVERYONE has a different opinon of the musical style. Which one is the right one? Which opinion is the one the worship leader needs to listen to?

See why its messy? There’s no good answer for this. The worship leader must consider the direction of their local church, the needs and demographic of their congregation, and the voice of the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned that the voice of the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS right and is ALWAYS going to work (isn’t it sad that I had to learn that? lol).

Does our music style matter? Yea, I think it does. It doesn’t matter to God, but our styles can help us accomplish the things that DO matter to God.