Downward Mobility (just another dying star)

“If the whole wide world is staring straight at you, they can't see me...”-Jason Upton (from Dying Star)

Recently, I received a ministry newsletter via email and it was sort of unexpected. I didn’t remember signing up for it, but I had recently met the person who’s ministry it was, so maybe this person assumed I wanted to be updated on the recent ministry happenings. Regardless of intent, I read the email newsletter.

The best part of the newsletter, entitled “what’s God up to?” was interesting…really interesting. In this section, it described various church events that the ministry had been involved in; as well, it talked about a recent audition for Nashville Star (a USA Network star-search kind-of-thing). Read below:

"On Saturday November 5th I traveled to Raleigh, NC on a whim to audition for the Nashville Star show that comes on the USA Network. It’s like a nicer, safer, country American Idol. I was genuinely uninterested in going, but for about 2 or 3 good reasons that I may fill you in on later, I went. Over two thousand were present, only 25 were called back on Sunday. Yours truly made call backs. After leading worship Sunday morning, I traveled back to Raleigh to be videotaped. These tapes got sent straight to the main producers of the show and now it’s a matter of waiting. If they think I have what it takes, they’ll invite me to Nashville in January to compete in the national finals with about 100 others from around the country. If I make it in January I’ll be on the show in March. We don’t know any details, or what’s going on, but it’s surely a matter of prayer. As far as ministry goes, I couldn’t hand pick a better way to be able to share the gospel; potentially hundreds of thousands, even millions could here the gospel if God’s favor allows me to make it on the show (which 6 million tuned into last year). If I when the show, guess who will be the 2006 Nashville Star? You guessed it, King Jesus. There is no doubt that they no where I stand and what my calling is, as I was able to share the gospel on the videotaping to the judges and to the producers of the show. I’ll fill you in as I find out more, but that won’t be for another 4-5 weeks."

Yes, I included the misspelled words. ☺ (when = win)

After I read this, it was hard for me to keep my thoughts to myself. I mean, was this person really asking me to pray for this? Maybe that’s too honest to share with the general Christian public. I don’t know. But you and I know both know you’ve thought that before. The thought of, “why are we praying for this?” or “is this really something I should be praying for?”

I couldn’t help but think of the song “Dying Star” by Jason Upton. It’s a song from a worship leader, to a worship leader (including himself), about a worship leader (including himself). When you read the lyrics, it’s like a reading a poetic, Jerry Maguire-style “mission statement” about the heart’s intent of a Christian musician.

“If the whole wide world is staring straight at you, they can’t see Me.”

Because of our humanity, it’s difficult for us not to see our selfish motives. The way we project our hidden desires onto the ‘calling’ God has on our life. In some ways, we’re simply cloaking our agenda in a spiritual language that seemingly justifies our pursuit (of anything other than God’s heart) and the prayer request.

The main reason that this prayer request and overall mindset has my thoughts stirring is because my personal awareness of God’s relational presence began with my career ending. By letting go of my career, I was able to begin hearing the heavenly Father’s voice calling my name.

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “when it says, ‘He went up,’ what does it mean? It means that He first came down to earth. So Jesus came down, and He is the same One who went above the heaven. Christ did that to fill everything with His presence.” (Eph. 4: 9-10 NLT)

He, Jesus, came down, before going up.

It’s the concept of downward mobility. The deepening of our relationship with the Father comes from our ability to step down. It’s not a religious act of humility or submission; it’s an honest response to the life and model that both Jesus and Paul left us through the scriptures.

Consider what Paul wrote to the church in Philipi:
“Christ himself was like God in everything. But He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for His own benefit. But He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born a man and became like a servant. And when He was living as a man, He humbled Himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused His death – death on a cross. So God raised Him to the highest place. God made His name greater than every other name so that every knee shall bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. (Philippians 2: 6-10 NLT)

We must be dying stars in order that our Father may glorify Himself through our lives. We must be willing to step down in order to go to the next level in our relationship with the Father.

The next level, better said, a deeper relationship with the Father, enables a conversational life, hearing from the Him and responding to His voice and His calling in our life and of our life.

Stepping down is tough. The toughest part about stepping down or letting go is that we give up control of the outcome. When we relinquish control of the outcome there is a possibility that what you desire for your life is not what God intended. Your aspirations, your dreams, your career may not be God’s aspiration, dream or career for you. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but it is reality. The reality of following Jesus and placing our faith in Him for our entire lives, not just the parts we want to give Him.

“To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

In losing yourself, you position your heart for the fullness of the God’s love for you. Let go of your identity and allow God to find His identity in you. Allow God to show you His aspirations and dreams for your life. Then, after stepping down, God will move you to the next level. It will be less of what you know and more of what you need.

Maybe my newsletter friend has stepped down and maybe God will move his life in the direction sharing the gospel through his musical talent. I don’t know. Things like this newsletter just get me thinking, that’s all.

If all we know is all we see, then our finite perspective (our humanness) has put limitations on how our lives can be used to share the heart of the Father to those around us. We trade the eternal for the temporal.