Before God could bring me to this place He has broken me a thousand times.
- Smith Wigglesworth
Modern life presents an often unrecognized array of challenges to Biblical Christianity yet few seemed troubled enough to invest serious time and energy "contending for the faith once delivered to the saints."
A leading reason for apathy among believers is the lack of understanding of and appreciation for the critical role "a broken and a contrite heart" is designed to play in a Christians life. Far more than a one time event, if even that these days, humility and compassion are meant to produce the aroma of Christ in the quantity and quality of our prayers and every day lives.
With fewer citizens of First World Nations as members, modern churches are emptier than they used to be. Even Europe, with it's rich heritage and religious history, is nearly a Christian graveyard of faith. Ancient, ornate and empty cathedrals glisten like monolithic gravestones, marking an obvious and unfortunate trend throughout the modern world.
Although 76% or 195 million Americans have identify themselves as Christians, church attendance, genuine Bible study and prayer are all in sharp decline. While nearly 40% of American's surveyed intend to attend church regularly, in actuality only about 25% do so on a weekly basis. Furthermore, even among the faithful, the average modern believer can quote fewer than 10 scriptures in a row and stops for prayer 10 minutes a day or less.
While the percentages of Bible "believing and obeying" Christians is in free fall, the attendance of individual American mega churches and others world wide are on the rise. Globally, six of the world's largest Christian churches average 200,000 members with a combined total exceeding 1,000,000.
Lakewood Church, America's largest, is far smaller yet boast over 45,000 weekly attenders. Seating nearly 17,000, the non-denominational conservative church would appear for all intents and purposes to be a God fearing, Bible believing epicenter for Christianity throughout greater Huston Texas and beyond. Yet such amazing successes like these during a spiritual recession if not depression begs a few questions. These include:
- What impact is the faith of First World Christians having on society?
- Are the values of modern Christians influencing their world or vice versa?
- Based on scripture and lifestyle evidence, is Churchianity the same as Biblical Christianity?
- What key ingredients of genuine faith may be missing in our modern lives?
The “sexual freedom" of the 1960's has incrementally devastated and enslaved not only society but much of the household of faith. Promiscuity, sexually transmitted disease, HIV/AIDs, pornography, drug abuse, cohabitation, abortion, divorce, broken homes and child support, child abuse, domestic abuse, gang activity and violent crime are on the rise across the board. Preoccupation with wealth and personal gain, emotional difficulties and prescription drug use for mental health are at all time highs. As our court and prison systems overflow, corporate, economic and political corruption threatens the welfare of this and coming generations. There seems little doubt that the true price tag for unrestrained self centeredness as individuals and a society is coming due outside and inside the walls of the church.
Technology and the lifestyle it affords has raised Meism to an art form and that now enjoys the status of religion. Technically dubbed, "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" or MTD, it's tenants go something like:
- A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth.
- God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
- The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
- God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.
- Good people go to heaven when they die.
Many factors contribute to Christians feeling isolated or even disconnected from the challenges faith faces in modern society. Rather than face difficult questions and ultimate concerns, most are distracted by daily cares. In addition to work and family life, pleasant diversions of every kind are just a click away. Even those claiming to deal with spiritual realities often exaggerate tiny victories at a time when most our battles are being lost.
Amazingly, in the face of such obstacles and obvious warning signs, believers seem little concerned about learning and living, much less "contending for the faith once delivered to the saints." Rather, judging from the content of our sermons and tenor of often inappropriate worship, it would seem we have little to fear but fear itself. Monitoring our prayers and activities, or the lack of them, one gets the distinct impression that Christ is pleased and all is well.
A principal reason for sins of apathy and worse is a growing spiritual insensitivity accompanied by an alarming inability to discern the difference between presumption and living faith. With temptation and deception ubiquitous, fewer and fewer today genuinely concern themselves with Scripture teaches we must do to be saved much less taking authentic steps in following Jesus.
On the opposite side of the coin, another concern is information overload. As the communist dictator and butcher Joseph Stalin noted, "one death's a tragedy, a million's a statistic." Even with the world covered in misery, most feel if we're not experiencing personal tragedy at the moment, it doesn't concern us. Yet, one way or another someday it will. When a fraction of what developed nations spend on alcohol, not to mention illegal drugs, could end global poverty who can deny we're the villain in Christ's ominous story of Rich Man and Lazarus?
Event or Lifestyle?
While today's doctrine may leave a modest place for teachings on humility and compassion, modern life leaves little room for much of either. Reflecting this trend and in keeping with the times, Churchianity's replaced such archaic constructs with declarations of being heirs to the "righteousness of Christ" while singing the most intimate worship in history. While such professions appear a reasonable response to genuine faith, upon inspection they seem unsuitable for the most entitled and immoral generation to ever walk the earth. Particularly when the bad habits and lifestyles of Christians rival those of unbelievers. An honest observer can't help but notice the erie similarity between us and the ancient Church of Laodicea whom the resurrected and glorified Jesus used His final words to the churches to threatened:
- "Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says: I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see. The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors! Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."' Revelation 3:14-22 MSG
- “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." Revelation 3:1-6
A question with many answers, a leading contender would have to be brokenness. Often emphasized in scripture, this godly state is comprised of equal parts faith and compassion, humility and meekness, obedience and the fear of God. As a valuable condition in the event and process of repentance, brokenness takes many forms and intensities. In fact, it might be said that the level of one's willingness and even ability to repent may largely be influenced the willingness of an individual or society to be brokenhearted over their condition and sin. As Jesus warned God's people in His day:
- "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes' Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Matthew 21:42-44
- "The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time." Psalm 34:17-19
- "You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God." Psalm 51:16-17
- "God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles. He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and assigns each a name. Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does. God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch." Psalm 147:2-6 MSG
- "The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory." Isaiah 61:1-7 MSG
- "'God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!' He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, 'You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."' Luke 4:18-20 MSG
- "Then the Lord thundered, 'Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!' Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case. He said to him, 'Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.'” Ezekiel 9:1-4
- "I listened as he went on to address the executioners: 'Follow him through the city and kill. Feel sorry for no one. Show no compassion. Kill old men and women, young men and women, mothers and children. But don't lay a hand on anyone with the mark. Start at my Temple.' They started with the leaders in front of the Temple. He told the executioners, 'Desecrate the Temple. Fill it with corpses. Then go out and continue the killing.' So they went out and struck the city. While the massacre went forward, I was left alone. I fell on my face in prayer: 'Oh, oh, God, my Master! Are you going to kill everyone left in Israel in this pouring out of your anger on Jerusalem?' He said, 'The guilt of Israel and Judah is enormous. The land is swollen with murder. The city is bloated with injustice. They all say, 'God has forsaken the country. He doesn't see anything we do.' Well, I do see, and I'm not feeling sorry for any of them. They're going to pay for what they've done.' Ezekiel 9:5-10 MSG
New Testament Brokenness
Far from being a virtue relegated to the Old Testament, Christ and His disciples continue the theme throughout the New Testament as well. From the gospels to Revelation, brokenness is revealed as pivotal to both the event and process of salvation:
- "Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3-10 NIV
- "But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:18-21
- "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." Galatians 5:22-25
- "Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like." James 1:22-24 MSG
- "Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way. You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble." James 4:1-6 MSG
- ”So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." James 4:7-10
Peter also stresses the importance of such a mindset in both his 2nd great confession and later his additions to faith. He presses home the need for Christians to develop the habit of broken hearted repentance, not only over their own sin, but for those of their society as well:
- "God decreed destruction for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. A mound of ashes was all that was left—grim warning to anyone bent on an ungodly life. But that good man Lot, driven nearly out of his mind by the sexual filth and perversity, was rescued. Surrounded by moral rot day after day after day, that righteous man was in constant torment. So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day." 2 Peter 2:6-9 MSG
- "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! It's judgment time for God's own family. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad?" 1 Peter 4:12-19 MSG
Another outstanding proponent of brokenness was Charles Finney. Arguably the most spiritually powerful man to walk the earth since the apostles, he was holed famous as a key player in America’s 2nd Great Awakening. Continually addressing the need for brokenness, an excerpt from his sermon regarding “Poverty of Spirit” in a singular work:
- “These seasons of spiritual poverty are indispensable to holding on to Christ. See a young convert--young converts know little of themselves or of Christ. They run well for a time, but they must be taught more of Christ, and this they can learn only by learning more of themselves. Well, Christ begins the work in a soul. The convert was all joy, but his countenance falls. Poor child! do not scold him. He is sad; he dares hardly indulge a hope. What is the matter? He desponds. You encourage him to trust in Christ and rejoice in him. But no, that will not serve the turn, that does not remove the load. Christ has undertaken a work with him--has set about revealing him to himself, and the work will cost the poor soul many prayers, and tears, and groans, and searchings and loathings of heart. He prayed before for sanctification and he is astonished out of measure. He receives any thing in the world but sanctification. He prayed for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and he verily expected some beatific sight. He thought he should see the heavens opened as Stephen did. But instead of this, what a state! He seems given over to the tender mercies of sin. Every appetite and lust is clamorous as a fiend; his passions get the mastery; he frets, and grieves, and vexes himself, and repents and sins again; he is shocked, ashamed of himself, afraid to look up, is ashamed and confounded. Poor thing! he prayed to be sanctified, and he expected Christ would smile right through the darkness, and light up his soul with unutterable joy. But no! it is all confusion and darkness. He is stumbling, and sliding, and floundering, and plunging headlong into the mire, till his own clothes abhor him, and he is brought to cry--"Lord, O Lord, have mercy on me!" He expected--O what a fairy land! and he finds--what a desert--barren, dark, full of traps, and gins, and pitfalls; as it were the very earth conspiring with all things else, to ruin him. Child, be not disheartened; Christ is answering your prayer. Cold professors may discourage you, but be not discouraged; you may weep and groan, but you are going through a necessary process. To know Christ, you must know yourself; to have Christ come in, you must be emptied of yourself. How will he do this for you? If you would but let go of self--if you would but believe all that God says of you, and renounce yourself at first and at once, you might be spared many a fall; but you will not, you will believe only upon experience, and hence that experience Christ makes sure that you shall have to the full. And now, mark: whoever expects to be sanctified without a full and clear and heart-sickening revelation of his own loathsomeness, without being first shown how much he needs it, is very much mistaken. Till you have learned that, nothing you can do can avail aught; you are not prepared to receive Christ as he is offered in the gospel.”
Given Christ’s harsher sayings and His judgments of His church, it can be a costly and even eternal mistake to simply assume salvation. For those endeavoring to know God’s will, discerning between faith and presumption is essential. Particularly when genuine faith by definition requires some level of expectation. The answer to the puzzle is this: presuming is not presumptuous to the degree we exchange our all for God’s. Yet be warned. while gifts of God like faith and grace are generally viewed as an encouraging forces for good nevertheless Scripture directly and indirectly repeatedly warns that God is not mocked. Many well meaning believers have at times willfully or even inadvertently moved beyond presumption to profanity (treating the holy as common). A serious and sometimes deadly mistake. For this and a myriad of reasons, it’s best to approach God with brokenness and contrition, repentance and reverent fear. Honesty, what God desires most from mankind, is always the best policy. Frequently confessing that Omnity is the great I AM, and I am nothing great is good start. As is creating and memorizing a strategic daily prayer that respectfully yet purposefully weaves back and forth in ever increasing levels of repentance to intercession. For examples see Rob’s Daily Prayer and Acceptable Worship.
Practice Makes Perfect
While fast becoming a lost art, there are still those who understand the critical role humility of mind and soul play in the Kingdom of God. As John the Baptist eloquently pointed out, "I must decrease that He might increase." The example of John's life and teachings reveal what is so easily forgotten, that you cannot fill what is already full. Calling God's people to repentance, the Baptist prepared the way for the broken to receive the fullness Christ and the Spirit He would send. Mary too, as a pregnant virgin, prophesied at her enunciation that God's gift of His son was how "He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty-handed."
History has left humanity with two choices and examples. That of the great Satan and greater Savior. Lucifer, filled with the original sin of entitlement, already granted the privileged position as the most glorious of God's creations responded:
- "You said to yourself, 'I'll climb to heaven. I'll set my throne over the stars of God. I'll run the assembly of angels that meets on sacred Mount Zaphon. I'll climb to the top of the clouds. I'll take over as King of the Universe!" Isaiah 14:13-14 MSG
- "Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion." Philippians 2:5-8 MSG
- "Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 MSG
- "God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun." Romans 8:29-30 MSG
1. Prayer: Like breathing, prayer is the appropriate and essential response to being "born again." Often neglected, serious and lengthly daily personal prayer and frequent corporate prayer meetings are a basic requirement for all genuine Christians.
2. Bible Study: No ordinary book, as the authentic and thereby authoritative word of God, the Bible is required study for those who hope to please God and approach Him acceptably.
3. Ministry: Responding to the grace and truth of the gospel is as much an indicator of living faith as movement is to our physical bodies..
4. Repentance: Brokenness begins and ends in repentance. Penetrating and lasting godly sorrow is the natural state of genuine Christians seeking to be the church, rather than merely attend one. Prophetic Christians also understand the need for pre-revival repentance if our generation's to have any hope of experiencing it's own global Pentecost.
5. Acts of Service: Having met our needs, Christ requires, "freely you have received, freely give." "Two thirds of "God' is 'Go.'" For the Body of Christ, good deeds and social action are as crucial as physical exercise and work is to normal life.
6. Art of Intercession: St. Augustine noted, "Without God man cannot. Without man God will not." While it may be true that anyone can pray and therefore intercede, the real question remains who can pray so God will hear? Who has the honesty, hope and humility to deal with the reality of unanswered prayer and the sobering issues of the silence and distance of God? How few are trained in the art of intercession, willing to wait on and even wrestle with God.
7. Fasting: Those seeking to know the will and realize the kingdom's full potential in this life understand the importance of restoring the power of God to the modern church. Jesus makes it clear that the miraculous hinges on faith, and that faith grows best in a soil rich with prayer and triple fasting. The broken hearted believe "God said what He meant and means what He said" when it come to the restoration of the "children's bread" of deliverance, healing of the sick and gifts of the Spirit.
8. Activism: In the Book of Isaiah God reveals His chosen fast is to give oneself to the plight of the needy. In return the Lord promises a full measure of His presence and power, provision and protection in this life and the life to come.
9. Sanctification: Scripture warns, "without holiness no one will see the Lord." Sanctification reflects our willingness to continue as works in progress. When judging His churches in the Book of Revelation Jesus makes it clear that not only is the positional righteousness of receiving Christ necessary but the practical righteousness of godly living is a must for the redeemed.
10. Wisdom: The Kingdom and the world each have their wisdom. Only the continually penitent have the resource to carefully discern the sometimes subtle yet deadly differences.
11. Thankfulness: If brokenness is godly armor against the original sin of entitlement then thankfulness is a broadsword. Having already received so many of the answers to the prayers of all past generations, continually taking God and His gifts for granted is a herculean mistake He dare not bless.
12. Encouragement: Like Christ, in a lessor way all Christians are called to experience the sorrow and grief inherent in reconciling fallen and unbelieving men and women to God. Those doing so learn the importance of "fanning into flame" the embers of faith within themselves and others.
13. Hope: From cover to cover, the promise of hope is a continual theme of throughout the Bible. Paul, particularly taken with this fruit of the Spirit, reminds that only "faith, hope and love" will remain for eternity. He also prayed great prayers including, "that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
14. Spiritual Insight: A soldier without understanding or skill is a P.O.W or casualty waiting to happen. So too, believers failing to believe the Bible's account of the cosmic drama being played out across three heavens are ill prepared for current and coming spiritual battles raging about them.
15. Worship: Deep brokenness in modern worship is in short supply. Nonetheless, is can sometimes be found in some unlikely places. From the lament and complaint of psalmists and prophets to the songs of contemporary lyrics and music of secular artist, those with "ears to hear" discern humanity's heartbreak over it's alienation from God.
Speaking of worship, I’ve come to so love and respect the Sons of Korah rendition of Psalm 51, I’ve adopted it as my theme song. Put to the right music, the word’s of David’s response to his murder of Uriah and heinous betrayal of the family of Ahithophel his greatest spiritual advisor by committing adultery with his granddaughter Bathsheba, are perfect for our situation. That, Psalm 121 and 13 by Brian Doerksen.
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from all my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth; Surely I was sinful at birth.
Surely you desire truth in the inward parts;
And you teach me wisdom, wisdom in the innermost place.
With hyssop make me clean, wash me whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, O LORD and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors you ways and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from the guilt upon me, LORD who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness O LORD the God who saves me.
Open up my lips and I will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifices, or surely I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in offerings, O LORD
but the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
The LORD will never despise a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 121
I lift my eyes up to the mountains,
where does my help come from?
My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven,
Creator of the earth.
O how I need You Lord, You are my only hope;
You're my only prayer.
So I will wait for You to come and rescue me,
Come and give me life
Psalm 13
How long O Lord will You forget me
How long O Lord will You look the other way
How long O Lord must I wrestle with my thoughts
And every day have such sorrow in my heart
Look on me and answer, O God my Father
Bring light to my darkness before they see me fall
But I trust in Your unfailing love
Yes my heart will rejoice
Still I sing of Your unfailing love
You have been good, You will be good to me
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