For many of us, this is a very real question. We go to church, sing songs, listen to someone talk about it for longer than we’d like, and then we go home and watch TV. Sure, we continue to go to church, well, most of us do, I suppose, and we pray with our friends and family, or we pretend to, and we try to read our bibles, but for the most part, it’s rather boring, especially the Old Testament part. And although we’re told being a Christian is the best thing that could ever happen to us, it all seems somewhat disappointing.
I believe for the vast majority of Christians who echo a feeble “amen” to this, have either missed the path, fallen off the path or have been deceived into thinking that Christianity is just a big show. Indeed for many who have attended any one of the emotion charged services, that’s all it is – a big show. I admit, I too, was swept up emotionally when I first watched a number of Hillsong videos. One of my favourites is Hosanna written and sung by Brooke Fraser. Each time I listen to it, I get emotional. Yet I believe that’s really where the problem lies. We’ve mistakenly accepted emotionalism as the joy of the Holy Spirit.
The gullible and especially the young adults and teenagers flock to mega church services, like Hillsong Church, now expanding globally. Some have referred to this as a spiritual renewal. But if we look back in history and read descriptions of past revivals, we find that it’s not something planned and orchestrated by a group of professionals, but it’s a quiet, yet awe-inspiring move of the Holy Spirit. The outcome of a true Holy Spirit revival is evidenced in changed lives, a desire for holy living and the fruit of the Spirit. Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. I don’t recall hearing about these results after any of the hyper-emotional concerts dubbed as worship services. We hear the words, but the result is something different.
It’s sad to see men and women who started out well fall into this carnal feeding frenzy. Yes, the real motivation is rooted in the love of money. It’s big business and those in leadership roles are counting the profits after it’s all over. There’s a huge haul if it’s done right. A lot of organization and professionalism is needed to create the right ambience, the illusion of what the audience perceives as the Holy Spirit. But once the fans and devotees have exited, a new army of workers arrive to clean up the resultant mess, while the leaders and organizers clean up on the proceeds of their successful production, but not radiating the fruit of the Spirit, but with an inner demeanor of greed somewhat characteristic of Gollum and his “precious”. This show is over and the leaders are generously rewarded with the pay they expect to finance their lavish lifestyles. This is not the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst, but a well-tuned money machine.
Watch this video clip from A Current Affair, a television news program in Australia.
In contrast to a Hillsong production, I attended a simple Baptist church service in Northern Ontario a few months ago. There was only one pastor and the only instrument was a single piano situated near the front but off to one side. All the songs sung were from the hymn book located at the back of each pew. You may be thinking the church was most likely half empty with only senior citizens in attendance. In fact, the church was packed and with a healthy mix of all age groups. Seldom have I been in a church service where I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit as I did then.
Prior to the service, I sat in on a bible study dealing with Romans chapter six. I was definitely the oldest in the group as most were in their late twenties to early thirties. After the study, a young man who had recently come to the Lord, asked me what I thought was the greatest danger facing the Church today. Without hesitation I told him emotionalism is the most significant hindrance to our growing in Christ.
If we want to be sure something is of God, we must first go to Scripture. When I hold up many of today’s mega-churches and the performances of their worship teams, I find a misalignment with what I read in the Bible. Real joy cannot be confused with emotional hype. We can see the same level of excitement at any rock concert. And nowhere in scripture do I find this form of emotional inducement as being of the Spirit. In fact it is in the most unlikely of places we find the real joy of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Silas were singing praises in a dank jail in Philippi. Their ankles were shackled and they had been severely beaten. But there they were singing with the Joy of the Spirit. Here are a few other examples of Spiritual joy:
In 1 Sam 2:1, Hannah was filled with joy at her deliverance from her enemies.
In Acts 12:14, The servant girl was so overjoyed that God had rescued Peter from prison that she forgot to let Peter in the house.
Acts 18:8 The people of Samaria were joyful as they heard the gospel and saw God’s power in healing the sick.
We are most full of joy when we first give ourselves to God.
We rejoice when God sets someone free from spiritual bondage,
Gal 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
John 15:11: The fullness of joy comes to those who continue in the love of Christ and obey Him.
Now, with our spiritual eyes open, let’s get back to reading our Bible and ask God to reveal His truth to us. True Christianity is far from boring. Living in the way he leads us and staying on the path is also far from disappointing, but is the source of real life, real joy, real peace – a peace and joy that is beyond our understanding. May God bless you as you rediscover true Christianity.
Finding True Christianity 