FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Everybody,

Today is “Blog Action Day” – an annual event where bloggers from all over the world come together to discuss a specific topic to bring awareness about it.  For 2008, the topic is POVERTY.

As someone involved in full-time ministry, specifically in the area of corporate worship, I’d like to discuss how I believe that “worship” and “poverty” collide.

Far too often we associate “worship” with things such as music, singing, gathering to hear a sermon, or giving praise and adoration.  “Worship” has become something that we judge and rate … “wow, worship was great today”.  Now we have a huge culture of “worship music”, “worship artists”, “worship record labels”, etc.  The word “worship” seems to more of an adjective or noun that an active verb.  This grieves many of us.

In Romans 12:1, the NIV translation actually uses the word “worship” where other translations have used the word “service”.  See here:

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1, NIV, YouVersion.Com)

This verse really broadens my definition of worship.  By offering ourselves as a sacrifice, and living life in such a way that is transformed with a renewed mind, instead of conformed to the selfish ways of the world (as it goes on to discuss in v2), I’m offering up a spiritual act of service that is called “worship”.

Another passage of Scripture that I love to meditate on is from Isaiah.  He has just had a vision where he’s seen the throneroom of God.  Around the throne is worship.  His response is one of humlity, fear, and ultimately, service.  (who will go, send me).

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5, NIV, YouVersion.Com)

Ultimately, I don’t think that it’s possible to have a genuine worship encounter with Almighty God without having a strong sense of action – to change, to serve, to become “less”.  This is the natural response to a revelation of God’s greatness.

This takes me to our crisis of poverty.  I’ll not write a long blog with statistics that demonstrate how much poverty is in the world.  I’ll not post pictures of all the starving children, poor homes, and contrasting mansions and fancy cars so many of us enjoy as luxuries.  I believe this is all made obvious to us every day, though we often refuse to see it.

What I will do is challenge you.  The overwhelming majority of people who read this blog are “Christians”.  You are involved in ministry, leading, or attending a place of faith and worship.  You “worship” once a week corporately, and hopefully you are celebrating the discipline of worship personally in your daily walk.

How has this changed you?   How can you encounter God, His love, His grace, His mercy, and not do something about the social injustic of poverty all around?

I’ll be even more bold.  If you, as a Christian, are not intentionally doing something (either financially or practically) to bless the poor and those in poverty on a consistent basis, I’d say that you’re in direct disobedience to God’s commandments, to His will, and you’re missing out on a huge blessing.  (yes, that’s strong).

Want an easy way to start?  Sponsor a child through Compassion International.  This is a decision that we made a while back as a family.  Our first child is Kelvin, and he’s in Tanzania.  This has been an incredible and practical way for us to do even a “small something”.  It’s been an enormous teaching opportunity for our children as well.  My children are quickly snapped back into reality when they get ungrateful about the things they have and we can remind them about our “adopted brother” in Tanzania and what he does NOT have.

Give food and clothing to your local food bank.  Whatever it is – make sure it actually COSTS YOU SOMETHING.  How special is the gift if you don’t have to sacrifice a little bit to make it happen?

This is a clarion call to fellow Christ-followers.  We are called to be Christ in this fallen world.  Poverty is real.  So is our faith.  So is His provision.  But He would rather use us … his church, rather than supernaturally raining “manna” from the sky.

Discussion Time.  Be honest.  Are you lacking in this area?  Share your convictions.  Are you making progress in this area?  Share your thoughts.