Got idols?

I'm writing on Isaiah this semester, so be forewarned that this seer's biblical theology will be informing my thoughts in coming months. Below is a quote I won't have room for in my book, but is worthy of discussion.

"Idolatry is Isaiah's primary concern about us. This is offensive, because we thought we left idolatry behind centuries ago. But Isaiah, who understands the power of God, also understands the power of non-gods.

It works on our minds. Every day we shift our deepest fears behind amusements, professional achievements, and even lesser fears. As we drive slowly around a car accident, we think, "It wasn't me" to distance ourselves mentally. We think, "They must have been driving recklessly," because blaming is reassuring. We sense how vulnerable we are.

But any evasion of plain dealing with God is idol-manufacture.

And we do not let go of our idols easily. In heaping our idolatries together, we assemble a culture—a brilliant, collaborative quest to prove ourselves. ... Ignoring and forgetting is why we hold this banquet called the American Dream.

... Our cheery but demanding idols, with their empty promises, are failing us. The fact is, death watches us, stalks us, takes aim, and shoots straight.

- Raymond C. Ortland, Isaiah.

Any thoughts? Or would you rather shift this discussion behind some amusements?

- Cory

What are we really worshiping?

Imagine that you go to a restaurant to meet a dear friend for lunch. Afterwards someone asks you, "How was your lunch?"

How might you answer?

"Well, I got there early, but a friendly hostess chatted with me while I waited. The food was fantastic and the waiter did a great job. The ambiance was OK 'cause the background music was a bit loud. But they had a great dessert menu. Overall, it was an excellent lunch."

One problem. There was no mention of the friend you went to meet in the first place.

To me, this can all too easily be church today. Many times when I ask people, "How was worship this morning?" they reply with answers like this:

"The people were friendly." - Hostess
"The sermon was fantastic." - Food
"The preacher did a great job." - Waiter
"Didn't like the worship music." - Ambiance
"There are so many neat ways to serve and plug in at that church." - Desserts

What happened to the dear Friend we went to meet in the first place? Remember Him? ... the Lord God Almighty?

Isaiah 1 sends a wakeup call about worship. The "good" nation (southern kingdom, Judah) worshipped God by the book, but God loathed their offerings. Why? Their sacrifices were plentiful, but sin-stained, resulting in God's judgment and spurning of their prayers.

God hates worship tainted by sin as much today as He did millennia ago. Like Isaiah, the Apostle Peter taught that our prayers could be hindered by sin. So it's possible that Christian worship, though it may be "by the book" of our worship tradition, be something God resents. The cause could be unrepentant sin, but perhaps the problem is that the objects of our worship aren't God. Perhaps we're too busy being caught up in other things at the "restaurant."

I'm not saying people aren't trying. Perhaps it's all we know. After all, God is mentioned over and over again during our services (in songs, Scripture prayers, etc.). All I'm asking is, "Wouldn't personally serving the Lord God Almighty leave enough of an impression to dent our conversation afterwards?" Do we leave church having truly encountered God in worship?

I'm not placing the blame on how various church traditions design a worship service (that's another conversation). I just think that, if we leave a service talking about everything but our Lord, there's a problem. We may have missed Him sitting across the table the entire time. Maybe something blocked our view ...

Followers of Christ shouldn't be going to church to be entertained, impressed by a spiritual hero, exalt an institution or movement, or even to glean more truth (which we already have in full in our own personal copy of Scripture). Since it is a worship service, we should be there to serve God in worship.

According to Isaiah (ch. 6 particularly), personally encountering God should have an effect on us. People who leave church without any mention of God on their tongues likely missed the whole point of going (and maybe the entire point of human life). It's not to know about God, but know God Himself (there is a big difference). A worship service isn't for appreciating accutriments pointed in God's direction, but for encountering the living Lord.*

(*FYI, I am intentionally not defining what a spiritual encounter with God looks like. Jesus encountered people in countelss ways based on their need at the time, so it's likely the Lord does the same today with each of us at different times in our lives).

May our worship leave us more than just musing,
"That sermon could have used more salt,"
or "I prefer music with less spice ..."

NFL Draft prophecy

After this morning's trade between the Lions & Broncos, I felt compelled to post my upper tier NFL draft predictions:

1. (Oakland Raiders) - JaMarcus Russell, QB (LSU)
Even on life-support, Al Davis can't resist this big-armed stud. Any disagreements?
2. (Detroit Lions) - Brady Quinn, QB (N.Dame)
They couldn't pick a WR #1 four years IN A ROW, could they? Actually ... they very well might.
3. (Cleveland Browns) - Adrian Peterson, RB (Oklahoma)
Poor kid goes from OU to wearing the dumbest uniforms in sports. Wait, was that much of a change? (ouch! I forsee a retort coming from Jay Mendenhall)
4. (Tampa Bay) - Calvin Johnson, WR (G.Tech)
Since Joey Galloway is about 48 years old, this one's a no-brainer. CJ is probably the best athlete in the draft. I'm praying the Vikings trade up to get him (a Red Sea-type miracle).
5. (Arizona) - Joe Thomas, OT (Wisconsin)
The big winners in the Detroit/Denver trade. They can't believe Thomas falls this far. Somewhere (from inside a nightclub in southern California), Matt Leinart thanks Jesus.
6. (Washington) - Jamaal Anderson, DE (Arkansas)
All logic suggests a DE here. So they'll probably pick a WR. Does anyone really care?
7. (Minnesota) - no pick.
They will turn in their card 15 seconds late ... after which I will leave the NFL Draft watching party in disgust. Oh well, at least they're no longer the NFL's bad boys (Thank you SIN-cinnati Bungles!)

Looking forward to your rebuttle.

Things I learned in February

The blur of February 2007 becomes finito today.
Here's what I think I learned:

• Peyton Manning can win the big one.
• Even true friendships require consistent cultivation.
• Presentations to a Board of Directors can actually be enjoyable.
• Meeting with a board of elders usually isn't.
• People in their 80's have much to offer, and yearn for conversation.
• Early Valentine's surprises can be a big hit, if done right.
• In-laws can change their minds about you - even if it's just for a weekend.
• A right attitude gained through daily prayer adds incredible strength to life.
• Daily prayer is the easiest and one of the hardest activities a human can accomplish.
• I can't help but see the potential in people, which means reality often frustrates me.
• Putting big life events of our friends on my calendar helped us pray for them.
• Bad spiritual leaders cause strife in truly great people.
• There are too many undefined terms being thrown around in Christianity.
• Change can be scary for people.
• I have a LOT to learn about worshiping God.

Is church in America just a business?

Just starting. Didn't want to, but had to begin a blog to reply to my friend Skip's.

In response to him, I wrote that denominations seem to me like corporate businesses and individual churches like franchises -- with each marketing Jesus (for tithe checks) in whatever way reaches their target market best.

A bit cynical, I know. But I'm starting to wonder how much of what we call a "worship service" on Sunday is really just idolatry -- people exalting their favorite Christian hero/team. Most Christians I know leave church talking way way more about the pastor, message, or church itself than about Jesus Christ or God.

I'm not saying there are no true believers at church. I'm just wondering if what we've been raised to believe is ministry ... just isn't.

Real ministry according to Jesus seems to be either prayer or humanitarian efforts like feeding the poor, visiting the lonely/sick/imprisoned, etc. (see Matt. 25). I've yet to see a church where meeting those needs dominate the budget.

Any thoughts?