Waiting

I am not a fan of waiting. In fact, I don't know anyone who is. I know people who are patient. I don't know anyone who seeks long lines, heavy traffic, fast-food that takes 40 minutes. Often, I perceive "waiting" as "doing nothing" until I can do the thing I want to do, whatever that may be. But Saturday night while I was catching up on Lost, a line came from the movie caused me to begin to think about waiting. One character said, "There is a difference between doing nothing and waiting." This started the gears turning in my mind.

Immediately I began to think about the "lessons" God wants us to learn through waiting. I can easily see patience; perhaps wisdom; maybe even humility. But I wondered why God would choose such a poor tool. Honestly, am I supposed to develop patience through my grocery store line or glean wisdom from gridlock traffic or learn humility by waiting on my sub sandwich?

Then my pastor's sermon on Sunday morning brought it all together. You see, God is not leading us to a place, but to himself. God does not lead us to waiting unless he is there. Am I saying God leads us to traffic to meet with him, I think its possible. After all, it is a great time to pray and prayer beats screaming at other drivers and offering single finger waves.

But I think God leads us to places of waiting in our lives as well because he is there. That place where we are waiting on our new job or we are waiting on healing — God leads us there to because he is there. God never brings us to a place where he is not. If God has brought to a place of waiting, he is waiting there for you.

But what is the purpose of waiting! Why can't he be at the next destination. Why can't we be moving while we are together.

Put simply, "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Worship?

Recently a friend sent me an article from Relevant Magazine about Sigur Ros. (Before I go any further, I would like to state that I am a fan of Relevant Magazine and thank them for the iPad they are sending me.) In the article titled "The Spiritual Side of Sigur Ros Jonsi," some compared the Icelandic bands music to "the sound of heaven or the music of God." From their a Christian leader began to speak of how he views Sigur Ros's music as worship.

Along with the article came a request from my friend for my thoughts on the article and music of Sigur Ros. As my mind wondered through the article and my own relationship with the bands music, there was a collision between "The Spiritual Side of Sigur Ros Jonsi," and the truest definition of worship.

As far as the musical style, I enjoy Sigur Ros. I agree with those who say that the music is beautiful and I find it quite soothing and at times emotional. For me, I like it because it is "interesting" and it often evokes creativity when I need it the most.

However, I cannot translate it to worship. Those who make such declarations that the music is some how worship or even heavenly must make these declarations apart from the New Testament. I point first to John 4:23-24 where Jesus tells us that true worship must be "in Spirit and in Truth." While music can be a vehicle for worship, it is not worship. Music is neither Spirit or Truth, and we need both.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (Emphasis mine)

Or as another translation reads, "This is truly the way to worship him."

Worship has to start with our submission to God. From what I understand the gentlemen of Sigur Ros have not submitted their lives to God. We must be careful not identify "styles" of music which we connect with as worship which connects us to God. Worship is altogether separate from our external circumstances and internal stirrings. It is dangerous to mistake emotional movement for spiritual experience.

Even now as I am listening to Sigur Ros, I am enjoying it. But the music cannot connect me to God.

As far the truth part of worship I point to two sources, Jesus and Scripture. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life... (emphasis mine) So the truth of worship is found in acknowledging Jesus as Savior, King, Lord, and God. The Bible points us to the truth of Christ. Without the truth of Christ, there is no worship.

When it's all said and done, I think we must remember that the experience of art — whether music, painting, writing, or any other form — does not constitute an experience with God. We can be moved apart from the Spirit of God. Beauty does not equate to Godly and emotion does not equate the Spirits moving, stirring, or leading. Let us not get so caught up in the vehicle of worship that we forget the one worship is focused upon — Jesus Christ.