Spoiled rotten.

We have one of the best worship bands that I've ever heard.
And I've been to alot of churches, so thats not just me saying that.
But tonight, things were a little different for me.
Normally, I pray for the distractions to go away and I press into God...
Not tonight.
I had this nagging thought in my head about the music, the technology, and the people.
I couldnt let it go; the thought pestered me the whole service.
Dont get me wrong, the first thing I wrote was about how we have an amazing band...

But sometimes I feel like the music is just a distraction.

I've noticed that people dont really get it...
The Spirit of the Lord isnt just in a room; the Holy Spirit is in YOU.
Yes, the slow music is a nice way to get into worship, but its not necessary.

I believe we've been spoiled.
Spoiled rotten.

A majority of the churches that I've ever attended all have some pretty nice things to get us into the mood to worship, so to speak.
They have the fancy lights, they have the overhead projectors with the nice backgrounds, they've got nice equipment, but its so overdone.
Think about it: Did Jesus have to be in a room that had pretty lights to worship his Father? No.
Did the disciples worry about what playlist they would put on to coax them to give thanks? No.
They worshiped the Lord with no worries about any of that.
And, quite frankly, I think they had the right idea.
We spend so much time worrying about making everything perfect that we miss out on valuable time with the Lord.

I like to think of it as raw worship.
People gathering and uplifting His name.
People shouting praises to the Heavens.
People on their face.
People sobbing while the most unconditional love is poured on them.
People talking to God, and not caring who is around them.
People singing at the top of their lungs, without the worship leader prompting them to do so.
Thats raw worship.






There is just something extraordinary about being in a room full of people who unashamedly worship the Lord God Almighty.
I love the rush that I get when I'm surrounded by people who want to do the same thing I do.

I believe that worship has become too much of a routine.
Too much of just going through the motions.
Its time for us to step out of our comfort zone
Its time for us to press into God, regardless of our surroundings.
We dont need a song to get us to worship our Father.
All we need is already supplied.

So I ask you, will you start worshiping in the raw?
Or will you just continue to walk through worship, as instructed?
I challenge you to be different.
Because when you do, you'll be blessed like never before.

-A.