Instead of a Show
Last Saturday, my friend, Shari and I painted my daughter, Nicole's room spring green. It's a pretty light green that's just a tad brighter than we thought it would be. Still, it's pretty and happy like Nicole.
For the past several days, Nicole has played Jon Foreman's solo album while we've driven or worked on getting her room back together. It's deep, spiritually keen, and really beautiful both lyrically and musically.
We were working on her room tonight and watching as the frequent lightening danced in rhythm to the music. We laughed and talked about how God was listening and enjoying Jon Foreman's music with us! Then the song, "Instead of a Show" began to play...I wasn't paying too much attention, but suddenly, the lyrics struck me. Written and performed by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, (now I understand why she's such a Switchfoot stalker! These guys are really gifted!) this song powerfully speaks to religion vs. the reality of the Gospel.
Listen, you can talk faith all you want, but if there's no reaching out to the hopeless and hurting, faith without works is DEAD...faith without love is showy, pretentious, SELFISH. Bible faith reaches beyond self and selfish acquisition to bring Jesus to the lost and dying world regardless of personal cost. Like Peter and most of the disciples, the furtherance of the Gospel was and is the priority. The disciples willingly gave their lives for it. Are we or should we be any different?
Let's make it a point in our lives to do what Jesus commissioned His disciples to do...to GO, preach, teach, heal, do the greater things so that the Kingdom of God will be increased, and the Father would be glorified upon the earth!
Lyrics to Instead Of A Show :
I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I plug my ears when you're singing 'em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
Your eyes are closed when you're praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There's blood on your hands
You turn your back on the homeless
And the ones that don't fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There's blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
Let's argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let's argue this out
You'll be one of the clouds
Let's argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can't love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can't stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
For the past several days, Nicole has played Jon Foreman's solo album while we've driven or worked on getting her room back together. It's deep, spiritually keen, and really beautiful both lyrically and musically.
We were working on her room tonight and watching as the frequent lightening danced in rhythm to the music. We laughed and talked about how God was listening and enjoying Jon Foreman's music with us! Then the song, "Instead of a Show" began to play...I wasn't paying too much attention, but suddenly, the lyrics struck me. Written and performed by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, (now I understand why she's such a Switchfoot stalker! These guys are really gifted!) this song powerfully speaks to religion vs. the reality of the Gospel.
Listen, you can talk faith all you want, but if there's no reaching out to the hopeless and hurting, faith without works is DEAD...faith without love is showy, pretentious, SELFISH. Bible faith reaches beyond self and selfish acquisition to bring Jesus to the lost and dying world regardless of personal cost. Like Peter and most of the disciples, the furtherance of the Gospel was and is the priority. The disciples willingly gave their lives for it. Are we or should we be any different?
Let's make it a point in our lives to do what Jesus commissioned His disciples to do...to GO, preach, teach, heal, do the greater things so that the Kingdom of God will be increased, and the Father would be glorified upon the earth!
Lyrics to Instead Of A Show :
I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I plug my ears when you're singing 'em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
Your eyes are closed when you're praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There's blood on your hands
You turn your back on the homeless
And the ones that don't fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There's blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
Let's argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let's argue this out
You'll be one of the clouds
Let's argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can't love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can't stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
ReplyDeleteRob Americo
reading the lyrics to this song has made me realize that we go to church to be entertained. Denise M.
ReplyDeleteand therein lies the problem with most churches across our nation, and why we see so little of the "greater" power Jesus said we would have. The majority of Christians are spectators, and not warriors...the only way to change this is by each of us realizing where we are in the bigger picture, and doing something about it!
ReplyDeleteI read the lyrics ffrom the song How true. There are times when I am in church, I look around at the crowd and wonder what in the word is going on. Some of the faces look lost and these are the regulars. What have we done to be so complacsent. Sometimes I don't want to be apart of the it. What are we afraid of. Kathy sometimes i wonder.
ReplyDeletelove the note. thank you for sharing. i have been experiencing the same "showiness" recently and i'm glad to see that others can identify that problem.
ReplyDeletewe need to put an end to the church concert style of worship. the Word says "and after they had sung a hymn-- THEY WENT OUT. why don't we go out? isn't that the point of the great commission? to be commissioned is to be called and to answer a call. why are we so afraid to claim that calling? is it that we think it's for others and not ourselves?
As I prepare to go out into the world to the lost and needy, I wanted to remind you about prayer over my situation. I covet your prayers, and I am praying for you.
I leave in a week!
SC
We out here in Dubai cherish each gathering coz we don't whether we will have a place or not next week. Each week hotel ballrooms are filled up, bars are turned into church services in the mornings.. Its time The Church understands that our calling is much greater than keeping attendance. We are His hands and feet in this world. Kathy, thank you yet again for your inspiring word. Our King is on the throne!
ReplyDeleteGeorge Williams
Awesome writing Kathy.....reminds me of Isaiah 58
ReplyDeleteRochelle Frymire
Totally understand and totally scarred from the religious church, its politics and using Gods namefor their gain.
ReplyDeleteAK
I think certain behavior is expected of Born Again Christians yet I've felt made fun of if I act too Born Again so I've toned it down.
ReplyDeleteLois
Sorry you've been made to feel bad. I think the key here is "acting born again." We should just BE who God created us to be, not trying to impress anyone. I like the way one preacher said, "The only difference between us and those who are unsaved is Jesus." And isn't that true? I think more people are drawn to the genuine love shed abroad in our hearts by Jesus than us trying to behave a certain way because there is an expectation. And if they beat and crucified Jesus, we are not better than our Master. If someone makes fun of me for my faith, it's between them and God, not between them and me. I am who I am in Christ...a new creation!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Let us not forget what Christ said, "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." So, if one is being ridiculed for Christ's sake, they're more than likely doing something right!
ReplyDeleteKL
You can never do too much of imitating Chist. You will always fall short of it. Nevertherless, it should be the goal and life of every born again believer. "And if I'm called to sacrifice, it will be worthy of my Christ. I will not offer anything that costs me nothing." -Steven Curtis Chapman
ReplyDeleteRN