Are We Missing The Point?

So God's been rockin my world lately... at first I assumed it was a few seperate things.  But as I am getting closer to the root I'm realizing it's all coming down to one fundamental idea.  I feel I havent even scratched the surface on this one, so this entry may take a while to come together.

Over the past two months I've had a bit of a "Matrix" experience.  You know, the one where you're living your life and things are going pretty good... and then something opens your eyes and you realize you've been looking at your life and even the whole world the wrong way.  Maybe it's not as elaborate as millions of humans hooked up to a machine that projects reality into our minds as we sit inclosed in pods... or... then again... maybe thats precicely what it is.

The Westminster Catechism defines the cheif end of man (AKA meaning of life) "to glorify God and enjoy him forever."  Wow, that sounds really nice, meaningful, and honestly pretty easy, right?  Depends what you mean by easy.  If you mean the Romans 12 way, to give your entire life, thoughts, words, strength, time, talent, treasure as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God... then yes, it is easy. 

I've been preaching that verse for 10 years, and trying my hardest to live it out in a number of diffferent ways.  Especailly on our worship team.  I absolutley love that I get to do this.  But is it possible to lead a thousand people in worship every week, raise up and minister to our volunteers, facilitate spiritual growth and community, write songs that bring praise and honor to God... and completely miss the point? 

God says yes in Isaiah 58.  He defines true worship as feeding the hungry, untying the chords of injustice, satisfing the needs of the oppressed.  Being a light in this world and a tangible agent of healing, the very hands, feet, and voice of God.

So the question I ask myself "How desperately, how sacrifically, how deeply do I really want to bring glory to God?"

When it comes to being a loving husband, a good son and a caring brother, this where it starts for me. When it comes to issues of the homeless, the incarcerated, the orphaned, the sick, those who have no voice in this city, WHAT ARE MY SONGS REALLY DOING?  How many McDonalds dollars am i giving out, how many homeless have I prayed for, How many tires have I changed, how have I made myself available?  The opportunities are all around us.  These are the issues that are a FIRE IN MY BONES.

I was at a conference this month with a bunch of worship leaders: Micheal W Smith, Paul Baloche, Robin Mark, and this pastor from Berkley: Mark Labberton.  As a culmination (or esculation) of my season of angst, God chose for Mark and MWS to hit this topic of justice and healing so hard i could barely keep from crying there in my seat.  Maybe I'll detial some of those highlights in a later blog, but it was one of those "God speaking directly to my heart moments."  I've noticed in the past few years that many of the prominent church leaders are getting more fired about about this and I think it's really good!

What would the church look like if we all "worshipped" like this with the majority of our time?  What if only 5% of our worship was done on Sunday mornings and the other 95% was done in our world. 

Has something called the "American Church Institution" created a culture of worship that has twisted the true meaning of the word?  Are we really a million Christians hooked up to a machine feeding us a distorted reality while we sit in comfortable Pods? 

Wow... I dont know.  Sometimes it feels that way.