Instead of a Show...

Jon Foreman - Instead of a Show

I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you’re singing ‘em
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
Your eyes are closed when you’re praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There’s blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don’t fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There’s blood on your hands
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show
Let’s argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let’s argue this out
You’ll be one of the clouds
Let’s argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

This is one of those songs that's pretty intense. Does it offend? It can. It can also remind us of the errors we make when trying to live the life of a Christ-follower. We have to remember that God wants more than a "show" from us. Our hearts...not our hollow prayers or external lives. When it comes down to it...Love God...Love Your Neighbor. The simplicity...profundity is amazing.

Many of us have lost our focus...people who are Christ-followers. The church...people...can get caught up in all of this "show"...neglecting our responsibilities, with the focus falling on things that God doesn't want, things he despises...meetings about things...the looks of things...appearance of buildings...appearances of unity where it's just a facade...and like the passage from Isaiah says below..."tearing people apart."

Real change can only be put into action if people choose to pursue justice...help those that can't help themselves...take care of the needs immediately around us. Christ-followers uniting under God...loving God...loving people...is where the focus should be.

I touched on this in my last post a little. We stand at a point in history where people are looking for change...and as a result the people of this country have elected a president who promises change. It's going to take more than a change of office to affect change in the United States...the world...our communities...the lives of people around us. It's going to take all of us working for change...to learn to do right...pursue justice...help each other. Only then can change truly occur. Love God and love your neighbor....

"Why this frenzy of sacrifices?"
God's asking.
"Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices,
rams and plump grain-fed calves?
Don't you think I've had my fill
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
When you come before me,
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?

"Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.

Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
Isaiah 1:11-17 (Message)