ENTERTAINMENT AT CHURCH. Ezekiel 33:30-33.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inGod is the Audience of Our Worship and Preaching, Preaching, WorshipTags:, , , , , , ,

SESAME STREET convinced generations of children that school should be fun. There’s nothing wrong with an entertaining class. But EXPECTING to be entertained at school is TERRIBLE. If students believe everything must be entertaining to “earn” their attention, then they will refuse to learn when things become boring or tedious. Why is that a problem? Because there are many things worth learning that can only be learned by pressing through boredom.[1]

Bodybuilders say “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” I say “BOREDOM IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE MIND.”

Do you go to church hoping to be entertained? Do you expect musicians to be world class and preachers to overwhelm you with humor and great stories? God saw that in ancient Israel. He complained to Ezekiel:

“Son of man, people are talking about you all over town. They come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them…. To them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. It’s entertainment only. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Yet when judgment comes—and it will come—then they will know….” Ezekiel 33:30-33.

At our church, we have been blessed with incredible music and speakers. It is never boring. But God would prefer preachers who read their sermons without looking up and singers who sing off-key, if their hearts are right. A tiny church like FBC Hempstead pleases God more than a place as big as Lakewood, if the big place takes its eyes off God.

Soren Kierkegaard wrote long ago: The choir, preacher, and congregation are the worshipers—the entertainers, if you will—using their gifts for God’s glory.

The AUDIENCE of our worship is God Himself. Anything else is backwards.

Dear God, bless our worship. Never let us go to church to be entertained like the people who enjoyed listening to Ezekiel. Help us listen with our hearts and be TOUCHED by You. Work in us. Soften our hearts and help us worship You at church with our whole hearts.

ΑΩ

[1] It was my childhood inability to tolerate boredom that kept me from learning to speak Spanish and to play the piano.

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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