Stinkin' Thinkin'

If you have many religious conversations, you have probably noticed how many times the words "I think" or "I believe" come up.

It's almost as frequent as the phrase "Roll Tide" when you have a conversation with someone in the state of Alabama.

Not quite...but almost.

When it comes to Christianity, we certainly see and hear a lot of this mentality, don't we? Everyone seems to have their own thoughts and beliefs on something that God has made clear we are all supposed to agree on (I Cor. 1:10). 

It almost seems as if some people have organized their personal religious beliefs in the same way that they would fill up a plate at a Chinese Buffet.

"I think I'll have a scoop of faith, a spoonful of trust, a bowl of self-control - no, make that a cup - and a heaping helping of grace. And for dessert, a fortune cookie with a little Bible verse on it...nothing too long, though, or I'll lose interest. By the way, how much is this gonna cost? That much??? Let me put back this trust then. I don't really need that."

To put it as simply as possible, when it comes to following Christ and obeying the Word of God, what I think and what I believe simply doesn't matter. 

Let me clarify...

If my thoughts and my beliefs line up with the Word of God, then they do matter.

If my thoughts and my beliefs do not line up with the Word of God, then they don't matter...and I need to change them. 

"Jeremy, you are saying that people don't matter! You cruel man!"

No, I'm not saying that. 

And I'm not a cruel man. 

That old lady had it coming, no matter what her 3-year-old Grandson says. 

And people absolutely DO matter; but when it comes to the truth of God's Word, their opinions & thoughts don't...can't...and shouldn't. 

Let me illustrate:

Let's say that two people are going to see the same movie. For the sake of the story let's say they're going to see "Lincoln". 

NOTE: I chose "Lincoln" randomly and am not endorsing it in any way. For a more historically accurate version of one of our greatest presidents, see "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter".

NOTE: Before you jump all over me, I have not seen "Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter"...it was sold out and I was forced to see "Madea Goes to Disney World" for the 3rd time.  

I digress...

These two people both believe that they are going to see "Lincoln". They have even planned to go together to the theater. Let's join them in their conversation...

"Hey Dave, are you ready to go see Lincoln tonight?"

"I sure am, Franklin! I've heard that it's really good. I'm excited about seeing the top hat on the big screen."

"Cool. I'll pick you up at 5:00 PM."

"Actually, Franklin, I think it starts at 2:00 AM."

"No, it starts at 5:30. I called ahead and already bought my ticket online. So I thought we would get there a little early & get some fried Oreos."

"I believe you're wrong, Franklin. All my friends told me that it started at 2:00 AM."

"Where did they hear that? They don't even PLAY movies at 2:00 AM."

"Well...I think they do."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because they told me that it started then."

"Where did they hear that?"

"They said that their parents told them."

"Have any of your friends actually called the theater to check on this?"

"Gee, that seems like a lot of work, Franklin. And I'm not sure I like your accusatory tone either. Are you trying to tell me that I'm wrong for thinking this? Are you telling me that the movie DOESN'T start at 2:00 AM???"

"Um, no. I'm trying to help you realize that you think/believe something that simply isn't true. I can prove it to you if you'll just let me pick you up at 5:00 PM. I'll even show you my ticket and we can call the theater together."

"Now you're just being pushy. In fact, I'm not sure I even want to go with you anymore. I think me and my friends will just go together at 2:00 AM...and get our own snacks."

"You're going to miss the movie, Dave."

"You're so judgmental."

Jesus once said to a group of people, "Go and learn what this means..." (Mt. 9:13). Notice that Jesus didn't say...

"Tell me what you think this means..."

"Tell me your beliefs on the following..."

"Let's just agree to disagree on what I'm about to say..."

No, He put the responsibility on them. Jesus told the truth, period. It wasn't up for discussion or debate; it simply needed to be learned, believed and obeyed. 

We are told to do the same when it comes to our faith (2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11; I Jn. 4:1; etc.). 

So, the next time you're in a religious conversation with someone, do your best to replace "I think" and "I believe" with "The Bible says..."

And the next time you're at a Chinese Buffet, don't skimp on the self-control soup. 

It looks thin, but it's delicious...and very filling. 

Worship

For people who call themselves Christians, worship is pretty important, isn't it?

Worship means that it's time to put on our nice(ish) clothes, pile into the family vehicle, and head to the church building.

Worship means that we pray, sing, give, remember the Lord's death, and study a portion of His Word (as we should). 

Worship is one of those things that most Christians are GOING to do, no matter what, right?

No matter how bad the fight was with our spouse on the WAY to worship, we are going to worship.

No matter how tense our relationship is with the person sitting three rows behind us (and it can get pretty tense, can't it?), we are going to worship.

No matter how many times we may have (or haven't) studied our Bible and prayed during that same week, we are going to worship.

No matter how many opportunities we have missed to serve or tell others about our God, we are going to worship Him. 

Worship is pretty important to us, isn't it?

In fact, for some it seems ALL-important. 

Sometimes it is the one (and possibly only) characteristic that defines our faith. This is why, instead of asking people to tell us about their faith in God, we say, "Where do you go to church?" 

We adopt a set of beliefs, show up to worship (in a certain way) a few times a week, and - for some - that might just be it. 



Is worship this important to God? 

Is this what God wants? 



Has God elevated worship to the point that our participation in it will "erase" everything else that may be going on (or NOT going on) in our lives? Or have we done that?

The Bible has answered this question for us. Consider the following Scriptures:

1. Amos 5:21-23 - "I hate, I despise your feasts [worship], and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies [worship]. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings [worship] and grain offerings [worship], I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals [worship], I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs [worship]; to the melody of your harps [worship] I will not listen."

2. Matthew 5:23 - "So if you are offering your gift at the altar [worship] and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift [worship]."

3. Matthew 15:8-9 - "This people honors me with their lips [worship], but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Allow me to make a few observations about worship, based on these passages:

- Worship is simply not as important to God as our hearts and our lives. It never has been. 

- Worship can become detestable - and vain - in the sight of God if our hearts and lives aren't right before Him.

- If we have conflict in our lives with other people, or if we aren't living lives that glorify and honor God, those things need to be a higher priority than our worship.

You might say, "Jeremy, am I supposed to just get up from worship and go have that conversation with that person three rows behind me??" 

Um, no.

You were supposed to have done that before you sat down. 

And the worst news is, if we haven't done that, our worship may not be accepted by God. In fact, He may hate it. 

Think about this: if we were as dedicated to keeping our relationships and day-to-day lives in line with Scripture as we are at keeping our worship in line with Scripture...

What a concept, right? It just so happens that it isn't my concept; it's God's. 

A truly "scriptural" church isn't just scriptural because it worships God correctly (although that's part of it). It is scriptural if it follows the rest of Scripture when it comes to the rest of our lives. 

After all, the Church is the people...not just the few hours a week when we meet to worship...right?

It doesn't do us any good, as God's people, to worship "scripturally" and live "unscripturally". 

So, before you put on those nice clothes, pile into the family vehicle, and go back to that church building...take a moment to think about these things. 

Is there something we need to do differently before we worship God again?

Is there someone we need to talk to?

Is there something we need to pray about? 

God wants us to do these things before we worship Him.