Entertain Me!

Entertain ME!
By: Rev. Joe Kramer

Yesterday’s article was about where evil comes from. In that article we discovered that evil is simply rebellion against God and his authority. Today we are looking at brokenness before a loving God.

    (16) For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

          You do not delight in burnt offering.

    (17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

          A broken and a contrite heart—

          These, O God, You will not despise.

-Psalm 51:16–17 (NKJV)

Ravi Zacharias says that Christianity today is becoming too commercialized. I would like to suggest that it is not becoming commercialized, it is commercialized. If you want to sell a book these days all you have to do is put on it “10 steps to ___” or some similar title. Now the problem with commercialization is that we forget the basic tenants of Christianity. Let me submit to you that most “Christians” wouldn’t last a month in a country that kills you for being a Christian.

No, Christians in other countries aren’t concerned about the building, the music, and the looks of the pastor.  No they want something genuine, they want true Christianity. Not a flash in the pan Christianity which fizzles out after a short period of time. Do you know what these Christians want? They want the freedom to worship without worrying if they will die when they gather. They want to draw close to God. They want nothing more than a personal Relationship with Jesus.

You know before the 1980s Christians, for the most part, knew what it was like to be broken before God. This produced a genuine walk and satisfaction with their lives. How do we regain this? Let us find out today in this scripture.

In verses sixteen and Seventeen David was not trying to abolish the sacrificial system. You see the sacrificial system, at the time, were the center of Israel’s spiritual life and were very important to them. No, the nature and heart of his sins was deeper than any action he could do to accomplish the work of God in his life.  Unfortunately, Christians today are so consumed about works and what they can do to make themselves feel better and see progress in their lives they have forgotten that it is all about grace and all about recognizing YOU can do nothing. No my friends the latest Christian book/gimmick won’t change your life! Only coming to God and saying, “God I am not broken enough, BREAK ME! Make me who you want me to be, and forgive my sin so that my life can change.” Until Christians really start to realize this again they will not see the change they desire.

So how does this relate to the commercialization of Christianity? If Christians would simply just want God and not some formula of faith, then the result would be a less corrupt Christianity. People wouldn’t be seeking power and control of others. They wouldn’t be concerned about building the mega-church or the summer programs of the church. No, they would be concerned about how they could get to church in worship, seeking God, and experiencing His presence.

I know that this topic could go on longer and deeper. The goal here is to get you to think and pray about brokenness. So what do you do? First let me ask you a question. When was the last time you went to church and EXPERIENCED God? Has it been that long? Well my friends, then perhaps you need to repent of buying into the commercialization of Christianity. Buying into the “entertain me” mentality and return, as David did, to the crying out of God in our lives with brokenness that is way down deep in you. Only then will you get the relationship you desire from a loving God.