The Idol of Space

Sacred spaces are amazing.

Walk into a number of churches and look up. Do you see "ribs" lining the ceiling? Those may not just be decorative, but communicating that the church is an ark, a container for the redeemed. Much as Noah and his family was rescued by God, worshipers have been rescued by Jesus.

I remember walking into the former national cathedral of Canada when I was in my early 20s. I was overcome with awe. The colors. The smells. There was no doubt that it was a sacred space.

I also remember standing in a charismatic church in Cincinnati, Ohio, best described as a modern, plain, giant theater complete with cup holders attached to the chairs. There was a rock band on stage and not a stained glass window in sight. But I was undone with the presence of God in that simple room.

And it was a long time ago, more than a decade, that I was sitting in a gathering of church musicians. We were singing one of those amazing choral anthems that seem to transcend time. It was a beautiful piece of music in very sacred feeling space--a single massive stained glass window, a grand pipe organ, and more.

It, too, was a holy moment.

That is until after the cut off of the last note, the guy next to me--a colleague from another state whom I'd just met--said something like, "Moments like that don't happen in those metal-building churches that are popping up everywhere." And yes, there was disdain in his voice.

I believe that dear brother had an issue with idolatry.

Now before we shake our heads with disdain of our own, you and I could probably share the same kind of story. Maybe you were worshipping in a building that looks more like a shopping center, or one that is cathedral-esque. And you may have thought, "Finally, THIS is what sacred space is supposed to be."

Idols. 

They're everywhere.

And they are hard to see, especially when we are surrounded by them.

So look around. What is it that tempts your affections away from Jesus and toward itself? The kind of seating--pews or chairs? A beloved window? The color of the carpet or the paint on the walls? It can be just about anything. All of us deal with the temptation Paul mentions in Romans 1:25. We are inclined to worship created things rather than the Creator.

What makes a space sacred is the Presence of a holy God. It can be a barn or a forest, a meetinghouse or a basilica. Friends, let's remember where to place our eyes--on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Next week it's gonna get real! We'll talk about the idol of music. Gulp.

Any thoughts y'all have about the idol of space?

The Idol of Fashion

What's an idol? Anything that becomes more important than, or gets in the way of, our relationship with God. It has been said that the Bible is the story of our idolatry and God’s desire to replace our idols with Himself. And as I wrote last week, I offer these thoughts confessionally, not judgmentally. I have been an idol worshiper, even an idol pusher.

So... fashion? Really?

Yes.

Chances are, you and I notice what people are wearing--may even their shoes--before we see the color of their eyes. We care a lot about what people wear.

We care even more about what the people on the platform wear, especially the preacher. The staff. Some would say "if the preacher is in a coat and tie, I feel like he is distant, even disconnected from God." Others say, "blue jeans and flip-flops are disrespectful and I just can’t worship like that." My brothers and sisters remember, anything that gets between you and Jesus is an idol.

The Bible doesn't give us a lot of clarity about how to dress in 2020. The toga might have been popular in Jesus' day. Not so much in today's worship gathering.

But still, fashion matters, and not in the ways we might think. Here are 3 things I believe are helpful in thinking about how to dress to lead worship:

1) Be modest.
2) Be considerate.
3) Be contextual.

Be modest. Let's go straight to scripture here. The end of Exodus 20 contains instructions about worship, specifically about sacrificing on an altar. God says, "Do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed." (vs. 26, NIV) Seriously, that's in the Bible! So be modest. Don't draw attention to anything but Jesus. Nothing too short. Nothing too low-cut. Nothing too tight. Don't expose yourself, especially with the choice of your clothing. Our goal is for people to see Jesus, not us.

Be considerate. If your grandmother attends your church, wear something that would please her. After all, chances are pretty good that somebody's grandmother is there. Be considerate of them. And  be considerate of the "outsider," the person who hasn't yet found their way into your fellowship. Consider what they will think when they walk in for the first time. Look like you respect the church, the role with which you've been entrusted, and the God you worship.

Be contextual. Dress like you really are from where you're serving. Don't try to dress like a Nashville artist if you live in Chicago. And don't try to be urban if you're in a country church. Dress like you, but dress like the best you in the community where you live. Think like a sociologist and a missionary. How do people dress in your town? Bridge the gap between the church you attend and the city where you live. Connect with the regular attender and the first time guest. If the preacher doesn't want to wear socks--in an effort to connect with the culture of his city--he can do that in a considerate way. Love people enough to tell them why you're connecting with those in your context.

Bottom line, whether you are the one picking out the clothes to wear, or the one noticing what is being worn, just don't let it be an idol.

If you haven't read it, check out the previous post. Last week we started with an overview of five idols in worship gatherings in our day:

1. Fashion
2. Worship Space
3. Music
4. People
5. Musical Style

Next week: pews or chairs... does the look of the space matter?

Minister of Idols?

"Do not make idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves." - Leviticus 19:4

That same instruction appears dozens of times in scripture. 

In fact, it has been said that the Bible is the story of the idolatry of humans and God’s desire to purge those idols and replace them with Himself. The more I read through our sacred texts, the more I agree.

But somebody has let the idols in. My fear? That's I've been the one to bring them in.

I fear I have been, not a minister of music but a minster of idols.

So let's ask ourselves what idols have made their way into our lives. And as a leader in worship (pastor, worship leader, platform and booth folks, committee leaders, etc) we should be intentional about asking what idols we have brought—or allowed—into our gatherings.

What is an idol? Anything that becomes more important than, or gets in the way of, our relationship with God.

I’d like to share just five that I’ve observed repeatedly and increasingly across 35 years of leading worship. And in order to be able to talk about all of them responsibly, this will be a series. I’ll introduce all five here, and then be you to explore them with me more thoroughly before determining that you and I aren’t idol-worshipers. Or idol pastors.

One more word: I offer these confessionally, not judgmentally. I have been an idol worshiper, an idol pusher. I am as guilty as anyone. But I don’t know about you. I don’t know if you’ve been as fallen and broken as I have or not. I simply invite you to look into the mirror of scripture and see what God shows you.

Speaking of scripture, remember that our enemy, when tempting Jesus, used scripture. You may find yourself doing what I’ve done—using the Bible to defend our idols. This is one of the reasons we need spiritual community. We can, full of grace and truth, point out the errors in one another. I offer these five under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and with grace.

1. Fashion — some say "if the leaders are in coat & tie or long skirts and blouses, I feel distant from God." Others will say, "blue jeans and flip-flops are disrespectful and I just can’t worship like that." My brothers and sisters, anything that keeps you from worshiping is an idol. It has taken the place reserved for God.
2. Space — I hear people talk about how contemporary worship spaces (chairs, black background, lights, and haze) are obstacles to worship. Others will describe stained glass, wooden pews, and formal architecture as cold and distant. If the place you’re in keeps you from encountering the sacred, the space has become more important to you than the sacred. 
3. Music — Not style, just music. Some can’t wait for the music to end so they can get to the preaching. Others wish the music would have a bigger place. Music isn’t that important. While it is commanded by God in scripture to sing, music is only a medium and never an object. If music matters that much to you, it has become and idol.
4. People — I just can’t listen to that preacher. I just can’t worship under that worship leader. I just can’t pay attention when that person is on stage. Oh how this must grieve the heart of God! If God can talk through a donkey, he can talk through the person you don’t want to listen to. If you aren't able to listen, then that person is getting in the way of you hearing God. That’s what idols do.
5. Style — Yep. This is perhaps satan’s favorite tool of the last 50 years. "Old hymns leave me feeling disconnected." "New songs make me feel empty." Here’s the good news of scripture: you don’t have to depend on a style of music to encounter and experience God. Instead, be filled with the Spirit and you will find that the style music becomes largely irrelevant.

One of the reasons I want you to stay with me for a further, deeper dive, is that the Bible actually talks about every one of these five things. They aren’t un-important. They are just easily made into idols. And while I’ve been quiet about these issues for decades, I hope I’ve finally gotten to the place personally, in my own soul, that I can talk about them as a servant, not as an expert. I want to serve you—the reader—with the ways God has delivered me from my own sins of idolatry in hopes that he may deliver you too.

Next week: does it really matter if my preacher wears socks or not? (Because to many, it does.)

Stop Producing THAT!

One of my favorite things about teaching is what I learn. I imagine the same is true for you as well. This past weekend I had the honor of teaching about time management at a local worship conference. In preparing, I learned something that has rocked my world.

Hang with me for a couple of paragraphs and I'll tell you straight out.

First, I reflected on how much I like producing stuff:
   --Rehearsals that are spiritually energized, relationally oriented, and musically productive;
   --Worship gatherings that are dripping with the Presence of God, build up the body, and testify to the not-yet-redeemed;
   --Meetings that are meaningful and effective, full of handouts that show how prepared I am;
   --Better musicians, and more effective worship leaders;
   --Events that are life-changing with shared leadership.

I could go on and on with the things I DO produce that are far less righteous sounding. Things like an impressive image, a good reputation, and a professional platform.

Ouch.

Second, I reflected on what God says I'm supposed to produce. I came up with three things. Just three:
   1) Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)
   2) Christ-likeness (1 John 2:6)
   3) Disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

I'm sure there are others, but they seem to be contained in those three.

If my calendar (aka my time-management) is to honor God, then I should spend more time doing the things that produce Spirit-fruit, Christ-likeness, and Jesus-followers.

So I'm curious. What could you and I stop producing SO THAT you and I could start producing more fruit, more of Jesus, more disciples? That's a question I expect to spend a good bit of time thinking about in the coming weeks, and one that may help me decide what to say "yes" to and "no" to as ideas come to my mind and invitations land in my in-box.

Maybe that's the key to all of the time-management challenges we face.