Amos 5:21-24 (the message version)
I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it.That’s what I want. That’s all I want.
yes yes and more yes.
This Is strong, Its very true. People get wrapped up in their own image and don’t grasp on the true purpose, escpecially when they are constantly being put on a pedestal. Thank you for sharing:)
wow…thats deep. I would agree though. I am on a worship team and many times we have to stop and refocus ourselves. Yes, we want to sound good and everything but in reality pleasing God (by keeping our hearts and minds on him) should be our number one focus. I have nothing against using lights and things in a church as long as our hearts are in the right place. Thank you so much for putting this up it really made me think. I’m going to share it with the team.
Mall, I totally agree with you, a lot of so called “Christian churches” have forgotten what we are called to do. It’s more about entertaining people and sometimes sharing a Bible verse (which is a good thing to do) not sharing with people that if they don’t turn from their sings, they are going to be spending eternity in hell. We’re not supposed to scare people into believe in God, but show them that there is god is heaven who loves them so much that He would send His son to die for EVERY sin of EVERY person that ever lived or will. To many churches have strayed from teaching line upon line from the Bible, they teach only about the things that won’t offended people. Sometimes the truth hurts, and the truth is that we’re all sinners and we need a Savoir! Many people really need to start praying, ask forgiveness and turn back to they’re loving Father. Not be worried if they have the most people attending they’re church. We all need to be praying that peoples hearts would be changed and they’re main focus would be telling people the good news, that Jesus dies for everyone and rose again and that if we’d only accept Him into ours hearts and live for Him, we’ll be with Him forever!
Well I must say I was very pleased and thankful to see that my Favorite singer and his wife have come to see the sad but truely poor state the church has put itself in.
I thought you might like a book I read about a year ago..changed my life! its called “unCHirstian” its by David Kinnaman and GABE LYONS..and the site is http://www.unchristian.com
Please dont let the title push you away..its a very good book.
May Gods true Gospel of Grace fill you both and consume you!
Andrew
Carter I’m glad you brought this up. I actually deleted the part where I originally addressed this. But you actually just unknowingly proved the problem I have with the modern church. You just compared it to a ticketed concert… Does that strike you as odd that they are even comparable? Phil is putting on a show ( a Christ centered one, but a show nonetheless). To me these things shouldn’t be comparable.
For those who read my comment before I want to add something…Yes…I do have a home church that I attend ( I am in Massachusetts) but I tell you… most of my “food” comes from the Ihop ministry in Kansas City… that is a sad thing…We need a change in our churches. Come Jesus come…
Oh! This is so good and so bad at the same time…I agree with you in all… specially with the awesome, amazing scripture that you share at the end…Oh Lord come! I have watched the webstream from this ministry ( IHOP.org/prayer room) for 2 years now and I don’t know if you guys know about it…They are always singing songs from Phil ( that is how I heard about Phil for the first time!) and it is a great place to hang out for church…24/7 worship and justice..going to the poor and also to the renewal of the church that we need so much! Right now they are singing to Jesus…If you didn’t yet..you should check it out…by your beautiful songs I KNOW you will love this part of the body…Thanks for your obedience that brings so many of us a lot of joy and more important..brings us closer to…Jesus.
Mallory, I couldn’t agree more with you about the man and his church. I actually am a part of a million dollar church, but none of that matters to me. I just think of how much the Lord has given me and how much others need him and ways others and I can make that happen. The church actually stands out since the area the church is placed in is kind of old. Your post has made me think…Why did we spend over a million dollars for this church? Shouldn’t this money be going to Haiti, or China or Chile or the poor? I will still give money to my church because I love it and it has helped me through a lot, but I think I will suggest more charities our church can provide to help others in need.
Thanks Mallory for this post(:
-Anita
right on. couldnt agree more. Although the bright lights and extravaganzas are cool, they are of this world, which will burn.so i kinda like the theory of investing money and time into the people of god since its eternity we have so graciously been given! our god is majestic.
It’s an interesting point you make, specially since you are making it from the comforts of the back of your tour bus which must cost a couple grand to operate daily. Why did you agree to play this elaborate church? I know your intentions are genuine, but you completely contradict yourself. If you truly feel this way, get off the bus, forget about nice sound & lights for the show. If what your saying is true, Jesus doesn’t need that for your shows and why must you travel so comfortably? Are you trying to make a point pulling up in your nice comfy tour bus and your big production. Interesting.
They are actually pretty crammed in that bus I heard. And I am glad they are coming to different churches because I went to Rolling Hills on Monday, and I cried because my weekend had been the worst ever, and when I sang along with Phil, I was renewed and I felt God’s presence in me. Yes it was a very big stage, but I wasn’t even aware of it during the concert. I was aware of God, I didn’t go there to see cool technology, I went there to worship God.
God Bless,
Yesenia
I am glad you feel this way!!! I got to a huge church. It has a nice sanctuary and nice lights, not too extravagant, but still it is super nice. Within this building there is a group of legit followers of Christ who walk as He did. But still I long for a more Biblical Church. A lot of the hip, cool, please the sloth theologian is acceptable and it bothers me. I guess all we can do ( it is a lot) is pray for a revival among the people and be a part of the revival. There is a hymn that says ” the revival starts in me.” Thank you for being transparent! Also have you heard the song “instead of a show” by Jon Foreman??
mallory – SO well said.
“helping the poor, rather then entertaining the rich.”
amen, girl!
and just like churches, there are some incredible, humble godly musicians in christian music, and some … not. you got a good one
enjoy your travels!
Growing up in a mega church, I have asked these same questions but then I am reminded of when God gave David instructions on how to build His temple. The people of Israel came and gave freely and built an extravagant temple for God. The children of Israel were being so generous that the king had to tell them to STOP bringing stuff for the temple. The Bible goes into great detail about the beauty, quality, and detail that went into the temple. It must be in the Bible for a reason, right?
I don’t think there is anything wrong with building a beautiful and extravagant building for God’s glory, as long as it isn’t at the expense of people not being helped.
Any comments?
Very good thoughts. Church is really supposed to be incarnational and missional rather than attractional. I am part of a church plant that meets in a school. Our goal is to keep the focus on Jesus and the gospel not HD screens and moving lights. The church is not a building it’s made up of people. I love Phil’s music, it is a blessing to me. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings.
Point taken. But doesn’t Phil use a lot of expensive lighting and sound equipment for his shows? Couldn’t he cut back on the equipment too?
Carter I’m glad you brought this up. I actually deleted the part where I originally addressed this. But you actually just unknowingly proved the problem I have with the modern church. You just compared it to a ticketed concert… Does that strike you as odd that they are even comparable? Phil is putting on a show ( a Christ centered one, but a show nonetheless). To me these things shouldn’t be comparable.
Well you can also tell where Phil’s heart is when he is playing and singing. I have seen him multiple times and I am always amazed at how much passion I can see from him even when I know he has probably played these songs many many times before. God is using Phil and like Mallory answered, he is playing shows.
i agree with a lot of this. sadly the “you have to have something for everyone” mindset pretty much embodies modern day christian america. i pray this changes.
if you guys happen to drive through the fresno area on your way to camarillo, you should come visit us and have a chili dog at chuck wagon (the best in CA) we would gladly open our home to you guys.
I went to the show at Rolling Hills just this last monday night. Praise God I was able to attend and I don’t mean this in an idolitory way. I had come to hear all these great bands through my church I belong to Solid Rock. They play his music all the time and I had actually seen Phil there on NYE and he was great. (For inquiering minds, the setup was MUCH more scaled back but mondo productions are just mondo productions and artist imput is limited.)
I actually wanted to go to the show that was in Portland but I was unable to attend due to it being involved into a youth event, which is great for those kids to be a part of. Tualitin is a sketchy drive I wouldn’t have considered for any other reason than why I had, My friends 21st birthday.
I’ve been trying to help him get back into the swing of going to church with me and i’ve been succesful twice but both times, he’s loved it, and it resonated turning the fire for the Lord back up in his heart by His own grace. So when I was reminded the night before it was his birthday, being late I went and got some cake and we hung out for a bit. Later being told of his plans the next night(monday, His birthday), the thought of going out and partaking weighed heavy on his heart after hearing a message a few nights prior that spoke to his plans, but he knew he would probably give in and go. God lit a FIRE in my heart that it had to be stopped and I knew I had to step up to him and for him and keep him from going out.
Now my normal routine when I drive is listen to worship music and God knew what he was doing that morning. Phil was his weapon of choice. I thought all morning of how I couldn’t let my friend go and sent him some verses that weighed on my heart for him, and sent them though it was Very early in the morning. Cant say no to Christ when he’s asking you to move in his spirit. I passed my new prayer to a few people at my work that go to the same church and asked that they pray an answer could arise and he wouldn’t go out. Sure enough, asthough God spoke right to me, I remembered the Night of Worship tour MIGHT be back from Washington. God Bless it was THAT NIGHT!
I knew that was my sign right then and there. I texted him asking if he wanted to go knowing he had plans, prayed and pushed for almost 40 minutes solid trying to sway him and prayed God would tear open his heart and mind and convict him to go if He saw fit. Finally, reluctant to ditch his friends, he was convicted by God and he knew his answer was to Worship not Sin.
The show was great, my car survived, and we Both made it home safe. Although the trip struck some terror in my heart. This church is a mega-church…. Just as you spoke of(If not THE one you spoke of). The Church is the people! God tells us to fellowship and join together! I am greatful for the tour to bring such great worship leaders to the area but I was afraid for the regular church goers of that church. I have been VERY vocal in my hopes of a great pastoral team but I was in shock to finally be in one of those mega-churches, compaired to the ones i’m used to.
I am newer to faith and believe that Gods will isn’t to have an arena for a home of worship on a weekly basis. I pray that His message is not lost and that His word fills that building day in and day out without being weighed down by lights and spectical. I don’t mean any offense to anyone who is apart of this church by any means. If Gods word is truely and purely taught there without any strings attatched I am excited to hear that. May that building be a blessing to all who attend it and continued to be used to show God to people far and wide.
God bless
Thomas