There are no Jews, Greeks, etc... Part 25

Amos 6:1-14 speaks to me of my need to follow God. As we collectively all do. We need not to take our eyes and ears away from the Father and look to other idols, especially in our services. What idols, you say? If you are saying to your self your church is not prone to that, remember that pride comes before a fall. Is there a chorus? Who makes up that chorus, the best singers, or can anyone join? If the answer is, “We want to give our best before God” then think that Jesus came to be sacrificed and he was a carpenter and could meld into the crowd. Yet God considered Him the best, and was well pleased with Him. And that there was nothing the outward appearance could save but there was something internally that people needed to change, their hearts and minds. If one gives oneself wholly before God and yet hasn’t been blessed with a good singing voice but want to sing, sing out. When directed to sing, sing out. We are not in competition amongst ourselves, (I hope not!) we are all trying to be in communication with God spiritually, mindfully, and with heartfelt gratitude and love. The warning in Amos means that we shouldn’t look to our own designs about what we think would make a better worship, but what God wants. Does He want a big band? Does He want a preacher that can entertain as well as preach? Does He want fire and brimstone from the pulpit? Does He want a chorus? None of this means anything if we do not realize that God is God and wants us just to come to Him just as we are. If one looks at the Word of God and the life of Jesus, it is a simple word, a peaceful word, a Word that causes us to stumble because we always want more, we think that we need to bring in more and the only way to do this is to entice them in a worship service. Not into, in a worship service. People begin to think of worship as a good time, a party, a time to let themselves go. While it is true, we need to bring our emotions and spirit into worship with us, service is not a party. There is a time and place for everything.