iPod Oblivion = Gospel Oblivion?

I know, but this is still about Christians and music!

On Tuesday, I spent some time mowing the lawn. To make this unenviable task slightly more bearable, I took out my tiny (PRODUCT)RED iPod shuffle (social action at work here) that my lovely wife gave me as a graduation present, with our names laser-engraved on the back. I stuck the little white buds in my ears and I was in a happy place - shuffling through Velvet Revolver, Dido, Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Feist, Pearl Jam, Regina Spektor, The Fray...

I was in a state known commonly as iPod Oblivion. In New York City, legislation is under review that will make it illegal to use an iPod while crossing city streets. In 2007, two people were killed in Brooklyn and Manhattan after failing to notice cars bearing down on them as they crossed streets. In one instance, bystanders even screamed for the victim to "Watch out!", but she didn't hear.

But what if the little world I retreat into with my iPod wasn't just affecting my own safety, but that of others? As I mowed my lawn on that Tuesday, it drew nearer to 5 o' clock. I live in a complex, and that is just about the only time when you see people outside of their little boxes and on the streets and lawns of the complex. There are people getting out of the car to open the garage door, people taking the kids or the dogs for walks, people going on their after work run, people in their gardens spending some time in the green after working in the grey. What a wonderful opportunity to meet people and chat - and even try to have Gospel Conversations! Instead, the only contact I had really was the sight of some limply raised hands of greeting.

But here's the Christian with his loud lawn mower, bright white ear-buds firmly in his ears, and admittedly, not very approachable. It is probably quite an antisocial sight. But in this window of opportunity, I should be the one saying "Watch out!" to the unsuspecting victims of God's wrath. My iPod oblivion is nothing compared to their 'Christ Oblivion'.

As ambassadors for Christ, as those who have God's light in our hearts as treasures in jars of clay (2 Cor 4), as those whom God has chosen, we should be making the most of every opportunity. Whenever we are around other people, there is always the opportunity to chat and tell someone about Jesus.

When you are in the garden, out for a run, on the train or the bus or the taxi, at the gym, think twice about what opportunities you may have for the gospel, and don't put things in the way of that - because it really is the reason we're still here.

As for me, I'm going to mow the front lawn open-eared from now on, ready at every moment to switch off the motor and pass the time of day with my neighbours, get to know them and maybe even ask, "What church do you go to?"

Chillout Worship? Do you want fries with that?

This morning in my inbox I received an email about two "chillout worship" albums on sale. Now this got me thinking, "Why on earth do we need to chill out whilst we worship?

This actually follows on from a previous email I received about worship albums that are designed for runners and walkers - the songs are selected and/or remixed to match the approximate tempo of a walking or running cadence so you can stick it on your iPod and 'worship whilst you walk' - you'll never miss a step!

It's great for us to use music to encourage us spiritually in our everyday lives. God's gift of music allows us to call to mind spiritual truths and express ourselves emotionally as we respond to God in worship.

But I believe that there are two fundamental problems with the market for these types of CD's: firstly, it is a symptom of a consumer based culture amongst Christians, and secondly, it is a symptom of faith which holds music as the primary expression of worship. (Perhaps a third issue could be the money that we waste on such things, and even a fourth issue could be the Christian subculture created by such things, but those are perhaps for another post). Both of these are evidence that we have our Christian faith upside-down and inside-out.

In Ezekiel 36 (click here to read it, it's great!), God says to Ezekiel that he is going to deliver Israel from exile and renew and restore their faith and obedience to Him in spite of them and their inability to give him the worship and honour He commands. His reason for this is that 

he wants to glorify His name, and rightly so, because He is God. We must never, ever buy into the myth of the song, "He took the fall and thought of me above all." God's concern is for His holy name, and he shows that by saving people who cannot save themselves. Jesus went to the cross for God's glory, not for our happiness.

Firstly, we must be very careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that 'my Christianity revolves around me'. We should run screaming from anything that supposes to allow us to 'worship' whilst we go on serving ourselves as we chill out or exercise. Let me not be misunderstood, it is great to keep our minds focused on God and the truth of his Word at all times, and to continually praise God (Heb 13v15) - this is the Christian life; but that shouldn't ever fit around other things, other things should fit around our lives of worship.

Secondly, music is not the primary mode of worship. If I could worship God by having 'worship music' on my iPod 24/7 then I'd do it, because it's really easy. Biblical worship is hard. It's hearing God speak through His Word, and then responding appropriately. When God says, "Love one-another" our worship is to put those around us first and put ourselves to one side, with no promise of any return, but only for God's glory. But that has lasting value. It is building with costly materials that won't burn up (1 Cor 3v11-13) when it is tested. I have feeling that a 3min praise tune with the drum-loop at 132bpm will go 'woof' like a can of gasoline.

Listen to Christian music. Do whatever it takes to focus your mind on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Worship God by respond seriously to His Word. Just don't think it's all about you, 'kay?