Kids Say the Truest Things...

Out as dinner last night, during a house showing. (BTW, that was really quick - third day on the market! Hopefully that is a good sign.) We went to one of our favorite Deli's, called Isaac's. My daughter Elana, and my son, who is also named Isaac, were with us. And no, they don't give a discount if you are named Isaac. Bummer...

Anyway, Elana randomly asks this question about why some people don't go to church, even if they are Christians. Very astute question for a 6 year old. My wife fielded that one very gracefully, explaining that some people just don't understand that it is important to go to church, and so they just don't make an effort to be there regularly. That's when my son Isaac (who is 3 years old) pipes up and says, "Yeah, and that makes Jesus mad!"

Along with the pride I felt, I had my Mark Driscoll moment. I thought to myself, "Dude, my 3 year old has a better grasp of church than most church members I know. Maybe he should be our first deacon!" Anyway, listen to Isaac - go to church. You can be a Christian without it, but you can't be a very good one...

Identification

One topic that is usually the first to come up with people you meet it to identify them with something. Usually it is their job - the "What do you do?" question. In the life of a Christian there are a few moments of identification, and I have been mulling their signficance. I am just going to throw out some ideas and see what sticks.

Baptism = Identification with Christ
Church Membership = Identification with the Body of Christ

Let's discuss...

Shout To The American Idol

In the last few days, I have had several church members e-mail me a link to an American Idol video. Apparently, at the end of the "Idol Gives Back" show, the remaining contestants sang a slightly altered version of Shout to the Lord (The name Jesus was replaced with the less offensive and more inclusive "shepherd"). My reaction to this is not nearly as excited as my Idol-addicted friends. It is a little more muddled. Specifically, I have three reactions:

(1) I am just not that excited about a bunch of people singing "Shout To The Lord" when I know they don't believe it, practice it, or even care. Is there and spiritual validity to that? Is it a sign that people are open to Jesus and Christianity, or was it a hook to go with the benefit proceeds? I don't know, but Jesus was removed form the song - so strike one.

(2) On the other hand, it was a song about worshipping God and, even though the singers may not have been God worshippers, at least part of the gospel was sung (nothing compares to the promise I have in You). OF course, with Jesus removed, it is an incomplete gospel - but is ti a redeemable moment? yeah...

(3) I was struck by the incredible irony of the song. 8 Idol contestants who, by definition are seeking to be their own idol, singing Shout to The Lord. It's interesting because the Bible says that they will sing that song at least once more. In the presence of Jesus Christ at the end of days, everyone will sing at least the first half of the chorus...

"Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name."

Only then, they'll really mean it. Me, Idol contestants, Satan Himself, will all make this declaration of the utter sovereignty of God.