Monster of Praise and Worship

 

In nearly every Pentecostal or Charismatic church I've visited, there's often a "Monster of Praise" who alienates members before the pastor even begins the sermon. During praise and worship, this individual dominates, dictating the fervor of worship and rebuking those who don't meet their standards. Like a self-appointed praise police, they believe they are responsible for ensuring the congregation's worship intensity.

This "Monster of Praise" can be a member of the Praise and Worship team or a leader in the church, someone with authority. When they are deeply moved by the Holy Spirit and notice others who seem disengaged, they react with holy indignation. They might call out individuals with statements like, "Jesus rose from the grave, and you can't even get out of your chair to praise Him!" or "I can't believe you're not more into it. God is in this place! I can feel it!!” However, instead of inspiring worship, this approach often leads to offended spirits and angry faces, as people feel judged rather than encouraged.

Unfortunately, this behavior is sometimes tolerated by the pastor, leading to a cycle where congregants either fake their praise to avoid being singled out or leave the church altogether to escape the public humiliation. Consequently, what should be a heartfelt act of worship becomes a reminder of negative experiences. Instead of ushering God into the sanctuary, the "Monster of Praise" pushes people away from God and the Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 8:9 warns against becoming a stumbling block to the weak, and Romans 14:13-23 urges us not to cause others to stumble. We must remember that we don't set the standards for what constitutes fervent worship to God. When we impose our standards on others, we're effectively saying, "Father, if Your Word and my praise aren't enough to move them into worship, I will embarrass them into Your glory." This is spiritually harmful.

Today, there's a sinful acceptance in some churches that suggests harder praise, more giving, and longer fasting will compel God to bless us more. Acts 10:34 tells us that God shows no partiality, and Romans 9:10-13 reminds us that He blesses whom He pleases. Our actions should not render Scripture ineffective.

Worship should not be a bargaining chip for future blessings. This misunderstanding leads pastors and worship leaders to berate and embarrass those they view as lazy worshipers. True worship is a response to what Christ has done for us, a constant state of gratitude that extends beyond the sanctuary and singing hymns. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-, we are God's temple; 1 Peter 2:9 calls us a royal priesthood, and Romans 12:1 urges us to be living sacrifices. Without Christ, we are none of these, so our worship should reflect His sacrifice and be an act of obedience.

True worship is much more. Christ is both the sacrifice and the priest, mediating between us and God. His obedience to God's will exemplifies pure and true worship. As Christians, we strive to be like Christ, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices. Trying to present someone else as a living sacrifice is futile.

As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, we become more dead to sin. A dead sacrifice stays on the altar until consumed by fire or decay. An unwilling living sacrifice, not dead to sin, will resist and climb down from the altar or be pushed off by others' piety. How others react to our worship is not our concern. Efforts to elicit a response often lead to forced, emotion-driven displays rather than genuine worship. This atmosphere of anger and resentment delights the enemy rather than glorifies God.

When our congregations seem disengaged, instead of embarrassing them into worship, we should focus on directing their attention to the living Christ among us. We should turn our own broken lives into beautiful offerings, living sacrifices to God. Whether we stand or sit, shout or meditate quietly, true worship is about offering real praise to God in the freedom we have in Christ. 

Day 1 Understanding Faith

 

Day 1 Devotional (Understanding Faith)

Everybody talks about faith, even the atheist, if he would be honest with himself has to admit that he/she put their faith in someone and something.  The most common argument for this is “I don’t believe in God.” But before we address if it is even possible to not believe in God, let's address why they have nothing to do with one another.

Faith is not believing in God, Faith is putting your trust in someone or something other than yourself. It can be a simple as a chair or as complicated as God the creator of the universe. Consider this when we sit on a chair we put on faith in that chair and the builder of that chair that the chair will hold us.  If we had no faith that the chair would support us, we would not sit in it. However, every day, we put our faith in chairs, and the breaks of our cars, and so many other things to support us and sustain our very lives.

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But would you put your faith in a habitual thief to keep your wallet? Of course, not because the character of the thief makes you question what he/she may do with your money. Most of us have a story of a good friend that has gone behind our back and hurt. And to be fair we never really trust their character again.

The same is true for an experimental drug ( like those used to treat COVID-19) even though authorities have told us these drugs are safe, much of the world is still very cautious about getting vaccinated. In fact, even though there are more than enough medications only about half of America is vaccinated. And why have some people refused to get vaccinated? Because it's a new drug and we just don’t know the possible side effects.    But does it mean we don’t put our faith in drug manufacturers? No. In fact, every school-age child must be vaccinated for Small Pox, Measles, and a host of other diseases before they are allowed to start public school. So to be honest even those people that refuse to get vaccinated for COVID-19 actually do put their faith in drugs, every day, for everything from headache relief to major surgery. So the first question is

1.   1.   “Can we put our faith in Jesus?”  That is trust Jesus to do what we cannot do on our own? To be equivocal we must ask ourselves,

a.       What is the history and character of Jesus in our lives? If historically he has not given you a reason to doubt, and his character has only shown itself impeccable.  Then it makes sense to trust Jesus in your life.

b.      What are the benefits of having Jesus as Lord of my life?

2.  2.      Why haven’t put my trust in Jesus?

a.       What in my life has caused me to say no to Jesus?

b.      What is it in my life that I value more than I value the love of Jesus?

3.    3.  What does putting my trust in Jesus look like in my life.

Think on these three things and recite this prayer as many times as you can remember today.

Oh, heavenly Father;

Lord Jesus my mind had been so preoccupied with everything of this world that I did not have time to develop a quality relationship with You. Forgive me for allowing everything else to come between us. I understand in order for any relationship to work, both parties must give up something to make it work. You have given up the heavens and died on the cross to be with me. Show me what in my life I have to give up to be with you. Now abba, I know that I will never love you as deeply as you love me but help me to love you as deeply as I can. 

In Jesus’ name Amen.

Abba is a Hebrews word for daddy

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Gentleness of Jesus Christ

For the joy that was set before Him

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There was a joy that motivated Jesus to go to the cross. We often miss this joy and because we miss the joy we mistake our value to God the Father.

This passage helps us to remember that there is was a Joy set before Him.

Hold my Mule ( shouting John gotta shout)

Whom the Son Set Free

Whom the Son Set Free is Free indeed

This is an update of a post on June 18^th 2018

Abolitionist such as Fredrick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, Presbyterian Minister John Rankin and Levi Coffin, worked tirelessly, in many cases even in defiance of the law to free black from bondage in the United States. Then on January 1^st, 1863   when President Abraham Lincoln ratified the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that all enslaved persons in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands were to be freed.  It appeared that the institution known as slavery had been defeated.

Shockingly, some enslaved African Americans had no idea that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which mandated that they be set free. In Texas, more than two-and-a-half years passed before they attained the knowledge of their freedom.

For 30 months the African American Slaves in Texas were free but did not know it. They were no longer under the law of slavery, yet they were stuck in the system of slavery. They had no ability to live an abundant life that their slaver owners could enjoy. However, on June 19^th, 1865 all that changed and the celebration of freedom began.

Today all fifty states except Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota celebrate this most joyous occasion with events like the re-reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Singing of traditional Negro Spiritual such as “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”,  the reading of noted black authors and poets, family cookouts, community rodeos, street fairs, , historic reenactments and even a Miss Juneteenth Contest.

On this most celebratory day (also my wedding anniversary) I think of the many Christians that have  to keep the letter of the law so that we might not be seen as  sinful. There are churches where they will actually measure the length of w women’s dress, or the cut of a man’s hair. They will return to the six hundred and thirteen precepts of the old testament to hold us prisoner.  To a pious a boastful righteousness. (Hebrews 6:5-6)

Today many American are slaves, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free us of the hurt of 400 years of subhuman condition. So we are slaves to anger, and we lust reparation or  revenge or at best to be avenged.

Other of us are a slave to anger, we despise what we feel have been years of paying back what we never did. Many are slaves to hate and can only see the truth in the punishment, and even death of those whom we feel has caused this hate. Slavery is living a life whereby you are controlled by something that ought not to control you. Be it hate, or unforgiveness, revenge, and even anger whatever it is all of us are in some way slaves.

So even though as a nation we are fighting together against a pandemic that has killed over 8 million people 2.2 million in the United States alone! At a time when we should be joining together to mourn our loss, minister to our elderly, and protect our children. 

We are killing our innocent, looting our shops, and dividing people by race, religions, skin color, and political parties. We are still slaves obedient to a wicked master.

Like hypocrites  after pledging to be one nation under God indivisible, we divided and went our separate ways, destined to serve a master who’s name is hate and racism

But the scripture says”
whom the son sets free is free indeed!

So this Juneteeth as you celebrate the freeing of the slaves, by President Abraham Lincoln 157 years ago. With hotdogs, hamburgers barbeque ribs, with song and dance and celebration and praise to good and wonderful God.  Do not be fooled like the slaves in Texas who served a master out of ignorance. Remember that you too were set free of despair, and anger, and unforgiveness, and hate, and racism, about 2000 years ago by our Lord Jesus Christ.

And you no longer have to serve a wicked master

Because;

 “whom the Son sets free is free indeed!
(John 8:36)

Exercise in Godliness

 This is the best of the series so far. Please forgive me  I had a number of interruptions during this sermon.  that may have knocked me off point but I think I got most of the information I wanted to address in this.
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Exercise in Godliness