now that's funny

I recently got an email from a friend. At one point in the email, my friend wrote "I'm not big on celebrity Christian worship". And I thought to myself, 'now that's funny'.

My reply to the email brought about a stream of thoughts that I felt like sharing via blog. Read below:

"christian celebrity worship" -- now that's funny.

It's not my personality. I'm a jazz musician and an a pastor -- which means a couple of things:

1) I enjoy the creative process of making music with friends
2) I enjoy inviting and guiding people into the process of hearing the voice of God and living a life as people of Spirit and Truth.

Neither is about quantity of life, but quality of life.

The words 'christian celebrity worship' got me thinking...

It's unfortunate for Christians and Christian music - because of our lack of creativity and desire to run from culture (and creating subculture) rather than run into it - we've allowed the marketing and business practices of modern rock bands to infiltrate the art of worship through music.

Moreso, we've created a musical genre out of worship, when in fact, worship is a way of life. Music is one form of connecting to our Father - as is working a job (Brother Lawrence), studying (Thomas Merton) or caring for others (Henri Nouwen, Mother Theresa) or simply loving God (A.W. Tozer).

I love Jesus way too much - and I value the creative Spirit within me way too much - to box my relationship with Him and my response to that relationship with Him (which is my worship) into only music.

When Christianity begins to base the quality of worship on Character rather than talent - we will begin to create culture in the midst of running into it.

All that to say...I'm not big on 'celebrity Christian worship' either.