The Voice

~(music) This Is The Voice (cue more music)~~~~~~~~

My wife and I love a show on tv called "The Voice" that is broadcast on NBC networks. In case you've never seen it, it has 4 famous singers who are looking to coach unknown singers to stardom and hopefully to win the competition each season. All four "coaches" are in high backed chairs with their backs turned to the stage. One at a time, singers come out on the stage and give a 90 second performance. At any time during the performance the coach can hit a button in front of them and make their chair turn around towards the stage. This gives the singer an opportunity to pick a coach for the season (if there is more than one) or if only one, they will be automatically assigned to them. Unfortunately, some of the singers do not get a coach to turn around until they have completed their song, in which case all four coaches are turned around to the stage and they have a chance to give feedback to help the singer with their skills.

Growing up in the 60's and 70's, I loved what has come to be called "Classic Rock". Janis Joplin was one of my favorites, as something about her gravelly voice called out to me. This season there is another singer that has that kind of voice and a power house style of performance that I think will carry her far in the competition. Sarah Potenza is her name. Her wardrobe seems to try to mimic the styles of that era, and if many people judged her by looks, (at least by the way the current pop singers appear), she would not be very popular. But "The Voice" gives people a chance to initially prove themselves by their voice alone. As it progresses in the season, they will have to be able to show that they can perform for the audience as well.

Now, let's look at God and see if there is any comparison.
The Stage: Heaven
The Singer: God
The Song: Life
The Judges: Me and You

We start out in life facing away from the stage. We are born into sin and we have no connection with heaven. There is no "permalink" as the web likes to call connections made. We are looking out into the audience, many times gauging their reactions and motions as we go about listening to The Song. Just as I have seen the judges during the show be influenced by crowd reactions to the singer, we also are influenced by what goes on with the people who surround us.

Many times we want to be a part of the crowd, and we never really listen to what is happening on The Stage. We do this in life. We're too busy with everything going on around us to really listen to The Voice that is singing in our ear. Even at church we simply choose not to listen to the pastor and instead dwell on the things that we didn't get done this past week that we now have to add to our busy schedule. Or we are there simply for appearances and we have no sincere desire to make an actual attempt to be a part of The Voice.

Something in what they are singing, or the way that they are singing, just doesn't interest us. It may not be our style. In church, they may only sing one type of music, maybe just hymns, or praise & worship music, or maybe you don't like the instrumentation or speed of the music. Too fast, too slow, too guitary (hmmmm wonder if that is even a word. but you know what I mean). And yes, just because you go to church doesn't make you a Christian. (aw snap, that is a wake up call for many).

So we go through the performance with no contract, no guarantee and no commitment to be a part of what is happening on stage. WHY?

If these 4 coaches on this show never hit their button to turn around, nothing would ever get accomplished. But it wouldn't mean that they are not great singers and performers themselves. Each artist sells millions of albums, their names are a household name and millions of people flock to their concerts every year to watch and hear them perform. So, if they never turn around, it could never mean that they are not singers themselves. It just means that they didn't want to be a part of something else that may be bigger than themselves.

There are 2 ways to view this in our world.

(1)   You have people who simply refuse to be a part of what is happening on the stage behind them. They recognize the voice that they hear as telling them something that may or may not interest them a little bit, but not enough to be fully committed. These are the people who surround you that you call "good-hearted." A lot of times they don't attend church, you've never heard them give a witness about anything that God has done in their lives. Chances are they are not saved and have not given their life to Christ. It doesn't make them a bad person. Just like the coaches that never turn around for a singer are not bad singers themselves. These people who remain facing the audience just simply choose to not completely commit to someone else, in this case Jesus Christ. That connection is never made and there will be a price to pay for it. Just like the show where the coach can't win with that artist is they don't at least turn around and offer their commitment, these people will never have a chance to live with God in Heaven for the rest of eternity.

(2)   There are those who listen to the voice behind them and like what they hear and want to be a part of it. When a coach turns his/her chair on the show, they are offering their commitment to be a part of the singers life and hopefully make a better performer out of them. When we in life turn our chairs and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are offering ourselves to God to make our world a better place. Some do this for "fire insurance" (see a much earlier blog about this) so that they escape Hell, but they never really put their all into the mission. Some fully give themselves to help God further His mission, including becoming ministers, missionaries, or workers in a church and serving in capacities where needed. Just as a coach will reap more out of the effort that they put into an artist, we also reap more from what we truly give of ourselves to God.

 

Revelation 4:10-11  New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they were created

    and have their being.”

We will receive these crowns based on what we have done in Jesus' name, not ours. (more on that in a later blog I'm sure.)

So to wrap this up, I'm asking you, what Voice are you listening to? Each person has heard "the voice". Some turn their chairs, excited to be a part of something great, and others remain facing "the audience" or in life's case, the world and always keeping their back towards God.

Just as in the show when the coaches do not turn their chairs and the song ends, they have no way of going back and changing their mind to be a part of it. I've seen it happen many times where they try to hit the button after they are facing the stage, but it is all for naught. In life we too have a chance to listen to "the voice" and turn our chairs. Once the music and the singing stops, that choice will be over. We will only have the judgement and an eternity in Hell. You cannot get a "redo" and a chance to hit the button.

Revelation 20: 14-15

14   Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15   And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

So  your choice today is: Do I turn my chair while God is still singing, or do I remain facing away from Him which will condemn me to an eternity where I can never be a part of Him?

Please, turn your chair.

A "Smash" Hit for Evangelism

I was watching a show last night on NBC called "Smash." The premise of the show is to follow the characters who are involved in some form or fashion with the making of a Broadway Musical. Lots of singing and dancing and of course, drama.
I have a background in drama. I have written a play that has been performed over a dozen times (though not on Broadway just yet) and I have been fortunate to be producer, director and actor in many others. I love singing and I love acting, as sometimes the part allows me to be the real cut-up that I am. So naturally, this TV show has held my interest.
There are things that have happened so far this season that I do not like. There is a homosexual man who went on a date and they have been shown kissing and embracing, and lying in bed either covered or clothed. I'm not a homophobe, but in the bible God says it is wrong, so it is wrong. Period. see Leviticus 18:22
There have also been some other situations, such as one of the writers who is married having an affair with one of the actors who is married. Last night it was brought to an end, with both deciding that their marriages were worth more. I applaud the writers for showing how an affair can hurt relationships, and from the previews of next weeks episode, I think there is more fallout to come from this even though it is over.
Sooooo ... by now you're thinking, "Pastor, why do you watch such shows?"
Well, good question.
#1 ... I still love watching quality talent in singing and acting.
#2 ... Sometimes you can still learn something that can help you reach the world today.
Our world is so different today than it used to be. There are a lot more situations in the world that are dragging it downward. Internet porn, hatred against another man because of his religion, open homosexuality and sanctioning of their marriages among many others.
A lot of it I don't understand. But some of it I do.
I have a very colorful history in my past. I have been many places and done many things that I definitely am not proud of. But it has allowed me to understand what some people are going through in their lives.
I used to drink quite a bit, (though I was never a mean drunk, thank goodness), I had a love of drugs, especially "uppers" and marijuana. I also lived with two lesbians for quite some time and have several convictions on my record, both here and abroad. I've ridden with motorcycle gangs and the Buncombe county sheriff dept recognizes my name.
I'm not proud of this, but it has given me a perspective that many others simply don't have. People want to reach others who are not saved. But often times we try to reach them with the way that we would try to reach any other person who was brought up in church.
So many times you see the words, "Jesus Saves" written on churches, billboards and signs across our land. Yet this is probably the poorest excuse at an attempt of witnessing that can be done. People look at that and it means nothing. Jesus Saves. SO WHAT! I do when I shop at most larger chain stores, or at least that is what they tell me on the receipt. So to the world this is useless, Jesus saves, they save, their situation around them is no better. Big whoop.
When people see druggies, prostitutes and homosexuals they want to bash them. If you constantly get in someone's face and tell them how bad they are, the only thing they probably want to do is either walk away or bash your face in. And truthfully, I don't blame them. If anyone had gotten in my face like I've seen others do who are "witnessing", I probably would still be doing some really hard time.
Read the four gospels in the bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and watch how Jesus handled communicating with these people. He sat down and talked with them. Had meals with them. The only part of the confrontation in that situation was the religious "Do-Gooder's" who didn't get what Jesus was up to.
I'm not saying go out and whore yourself, shoot up some coke, or smoke a substance, but I am saying at least learn what makes these people tick. If you don't understand their way of thinking, read. Watch some shows that accurately portray that situation. Do more than just watch what is happening on the screen. Listen to what they are saying. Realize what makes them tick. Then you'll know what you can say to them to make them change their mind.
And if you've been there, go back. I walk up to some old buddies and something usually gets pulled out of their pocket and offered to me. Then I tell them about another high that I've found, that is everlasting and won't land them in jail. Some people say, "well, I could never go back around that crowd, the temptation would be too much." Okay, you're either a new Christian, which you do need to take some time to grow in your faith, or you've turned into a Sunday Christian and you have no solid substance to your beliefs that you espouse in your Sunday School class or Small Group study.
Grow Up! Grow Strong, then go back and share with the world how they can change their lives. Those people will remember you from back then, and hopefully see the change in you now, and they will want what you have. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
And if you don't know about that situation, but have a desire to reach out to them, not just bash them, then learn where they are coming from. Read, watch and observe. Sit and talk to them. Get to know them. Find out what lead them to the place where they are now. THEN you will have opportunities to witness to them.
Then you can reach people for Christ.
One World changed by reaching One Person at a time. That is how evangelism can be done every day.