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Let me say at the outset that I have
endeavored to write this devotional in a spirit of contemplation rather than one
of condemnation for only God knows the heart of the individual. Be that as it
may, you’ve heard this often concerning Jesus’ indictment of the spiritual
leaders of Israel in His day when quoting the ancient prophet Isaiah, “This
people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Mk 7:6). But this would include, “They worship Me with
their singing, but their heart is far from me” also!
One of the praise teams in a recent
worship service began singing “Lead me to the cross.” The music and the vocals
were wonderful, and the congregation joined in, but for some odd reason I
couldn’t get myself to sing that song though I liked it. A thought flashed in
my mind, “Did the people realize what they were asking God in song to do – ‘Lead
me to the cross?!’” All I could get out of my mouth was one monosyllable word, “Wow!”
I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit or not but another question appeared out of nowhere in my mind, “Would you still sing that song if you knew right after the service there was a cross in the parking lot waiting on you to be crucified upon? I have been burdened for months now concerning singing in the fear of the Lord, but these two questions came out of the blue. I was troubled in my spirit for myself and for the body of worshipers assembled though I was thankful for the worship service. How easy it is for us to sing songs like that making us appear to be so super spiritual, living in a country enjoying religious freedom, for now.
I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit or not but another question appeared out of nowhere in my mind, “Would you still sing that song if you knew right after the service there was a cross in the parking lot waiting on you to be crucified upon? I have been burdened for months now concerning singing in the fear of the Lord, but these two questions came out of the blue. I was troubled in my spirit for myself and for the body of worshipers assembled though I was thankful for the worship service. How easy it is for us to sing songs like that making us appear to be so super spiritual, living in a country enjoying religious freedom, for now.
The cross was a cruel but an effective
tool of psychological warfare utilized by the Roman Empire in conveying a
crystal clear message to all who challenged, interfered, or opposed its right
by might to reign and rule over conquered territories. Whether this mind-game strategy
was one piece or comprised of two pieces of wood, it was branded in the
consciousness of its citizens and conquered peoples as a symbol of suffering,
humiliation, pain, and death. No one in their right mind aspired to take the
path of the cross; it was without question a one way ticket to a shameful, horrific,
and agonizing death. No one survived crucifixion, but One … and He had to die
to do it!
Often the bodies of those crucified were
left on the cross as a reminder that violation of Roman peace doesn’t pay. It must
have been a gruesome sight. The visual effects of open wounds, the smell of
rotting corpses, the flies, the maggots, and a liberal amount of blood were a
ghastly sight. The sights and sounds and the smell of death burned vivid imageries
in the brain by the onlookers and those that passed by of the unimaginable inhumane
treatment of the crucified. The weather, birds, dogs, and wild beasts took its toll on the cadaver
over time. There upon every crucifixion was an invisible placard that said, “This
could be you! Keep the Pax Romana”
(Roman peace)!
But anyone who witnessed a crucifixion
and the disgusting wake vicariously saw themselves there and shuddered at the
thought of being in that victim’s place, citizen of Rome or not. Those citizens
worthy of death were usually beheaded or put in one of the bloody venues at the
Colosseum to die by the hand of a gladiator or wild beasts rather than being crucified
(cf. tradition of Paul’s death, a Roman citizen, being beheaded for the faith
under Nero).
Crucifixion sites were usually along
the roadways like premium billboard locations today to get its message across
to as many people as possible. The advertisement of the cross was powerful and
persuasive for the masses. Once Constantine the Great (circa 272 – 337 A.D.),
the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire, declared the cross the symbol
of Christianity, crucifixion was no longer a primary source of capital
punishment, and people started wearing cross jewelry openly, generally
speaking.
Again, this article is not meant to be
a criticism of singing songs to the Lord, its lyrics, its music, wearing cross jewelry,
or the cross being a symbol of our faith. This is a personal concern and a
flock concern of failing to sing songs in
the fear of the Lord (cf. Eph 5:19) with an appeal of reflection to other
believers. Often our songs to Him are superficial, without heart, without
meaning, going through the motions, and regarding the crowd (been there done
that and still struggling). Every thought, word (including songs sung), or deed
of all believers will inevitably and ultimately be evaluated at the judgment
seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10), known as the bema.
When Paul used the Greek word bema in Corinthians, he was using an
athletic analogy familiar to them of an elevated platform (bema) used for giving
victorious athletes their crowns. This is similar to the modern day Olympiad
where bronze, silver, and gold metals are presented to athletes on a raised
platform. The bema served a duel function, rewarding athletes or making legal
judgments (cf. Acts 18:12-16; Mt 27:19; Jn 19:13). The bema awaits every
Christian after this life (Rom 14:10). The bema has nothing to do with judgment
for sin for this was addressed at the cross once and for all (Eph 1:7), but it
involves the evaluation of faith attitudes and activities of believers
during their lifetime after salvation whether eternal (gold, silver, or precious stones),
surviving the fire, or temporal (wood, hay, and straw) in nature, consumed by
the fire (1 Cor 3:11-15).
Actually, this passage is primarily
for spiritual leaders (cf. 1 Cor 3:9-10) and secondarily to all believers. Paul
is referring to Christians as a building (1 Cor 3:9, 16) whose foundation is
Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:10-11), and the spiritual life is likened unto a building
process (1 Cor 3:12-15, hence, sanctification). The problem with the believers
at Corinth is that they were still immature and not growing in the faith or progressing
with their own building (1 Cor 3:1-2). They were still thumb-sucking Christians
wanting everything to be about them, just like a baby.
This created behavioral issues such as
envy, strife, and divisions among them, one siding with Paul and the other
Apollos (1 Cor 3:3-4). Both Paul and Apollos were both ministers (1 Cor 3:5);
Paul planted (laid the foundation) and Apollos watered (built upon it),1 Cor 3:6, and God approves and blesses this arrangement for "God gives the increase," not Paul or Apollos, but God (1 Cor 3:7). "Paul
also pointed out that both Paul and Apollos were one (1 Cor 3:8) and God’s fellow workers
(1 Cor 3:9). Each (Paul and Apollos) will receive his own reward according to
his labor (1 Cor 3:8): gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, and
stubble (1 Cor 3:12-15).
The warning to the builder is found in
1 Cor 3:10b, “But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” This is a word
of caution to all spiritual leaders and all believers building upon the only
foundation, Jesus Christ. The solemn warning is further seen, “If anyone
defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy,
which temple you are” (1 Cor 3:17).
What kind of edifice are we building for
Christ? Is it according to the Scriptures or is it under carnal construction? Are
we deceiving ourselves, honoring God with our lips but our heart is not in it when
we ask God in song to take us to a place most of us are not ready for, a cross
no less? Are we for real? Would we be willing to give up our life for Jesus
right now as we sing? If not we are singing a song to God without fear,
reverence, and awe. Most of us have difficulty living for Jesus in a religious
“tolerant” society, much less in a hostile one.
Do we understand what we are singing
when we sing in church to God anyway? Do we think we can sing whatever we want
to God whether we mean it or not; it doesn’t matter? Are we singing gold,
silver, and precious stones songs or wood, hay, and straw ones (those without
eternal value)? I shuddered to think as three services filled to capacity asked
God in song, “Lead me to the cross?” Ever heard the warning, “Be careful what
you ask for; you might just get it!” It probably won’t be an actual cross, but
something to help us build our house in compliance to God’s code!
Jesus said
to His disciples, “Whoever desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk 8:34).
The steps of Jesus were undeniably suffering steps (1 Pet 2:21). We are commanded to follow
Him. And Paul reminded Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). Wood, hay, and straw songs or
any spiritual song sung with the lips but the heart is distant is not on a crosswalk!
The Holy Spirit knows the blueprints
in the mind of God for our life. You could say that the Father is the Architect
and the Holy Spirit is the General Contractor living on site! So whenever we as
a builder cut corners, He is immediately aware of the deviation to the expected
standards. We need to follow His blueprints according to the Scriptures, not following our own carnal plans. One indication that we are not following the building
codes of Scripture is our singing is off the mark in “worship”; our lips and
heart are not in sync, only God knows this.
Whether singing, sawing, hammering, planting, watering, or whatever we do, it should all be in one accord with the Holy Spirit for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17, 23). We need to think before we sing for we will be judged by our singing, too, one day (Mt 12:34): singing songs from faith (gold, silver, and precious stones songs) or songs for the flames (wood, hay, and straw songs).
"Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation" (Psa 111:1).
"Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints" (Psa 149:1). <><
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Whether singing, sawing, hammering, planting, watering, or whatever we do, it should all be in one accord with the Holy Spirit for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17, 23). We need to think before we sing for we will be judged by our singing, too, one day (Mt 12:34): singing songs from faith (gold, silver, and precious stones songs) or songs for the flames (wood, hay, and straw songs).
"Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation" (Psa 111:1).
"Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints" (Psa 149:1). <><
