Do you know when and where the first Christian concert took place? And let me tell you, it was unhinged.
It is a tricky question because Matt Redman wasn’t there. Hillsong United wasn’t there. Michael W. Smith wasn’t even there. But all the elements that make our contemporary Christian rock concerts & worship services such grand events were all there — and just think, it took place over 2,000 years ago.
Leaders in pop-culture trends call this event “The Great Jerusalem Lollapalooza,” you and I know it as the “Triumphal Entry and Arrival of the King.” And let me assure you, it was just as loud, wild and exciting as a Newsboy’s concert. You can read all about it in Luke 19:28-44. If you don’t believe me, I have three proofs to offer:
1. The “Object of Worship” is the same.
We are all looking for a hero, someone to follow, admire and worship. In our “fame culture” there are many choices to pick from; Sports heroes from Tom Brady to Michael Jordan, celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Brad Pitt, and of course the top pop-musicians of the day including Beyoncé and Beiber. But comparatively speaking, there is one person who is just a little bit more worthy of worship than the elite list of heroes previously mentioned. His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. While the others may be very talented people, Jesus has just a few more impressive qualities to put on his resume. True, he doesn’t shoot a ball, act in movies, or sing smooth songs; but Jesus does rule the universe. For that reason alone a lot of people have chosen to give him the singular recognition of being the supreme hero.
Regardless if you were to live in the year 30 or 2016, people love to sing about Jesus. They just can’t get enough. He is the only God-man to touch this earth and it is right and proper to give him his just due. So when he came riding into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey there just was no holding his fanatical followers back. He was praised as a healer, miracle worker, and King. That is what the chorus of Hosannas meant, “Praise to the King.” And in the same way, today’s worship services around the world continue to crown Jesus as King with song, sermon and sometimes even high priced rock concerts. Complete with smoke, light shows, pimped out drum solos and beautiful people. After all, Jesus deserves our very best!
2. The Atmosphere of Excitement and the Mob Mentality are the same.
How can you not get carried away with praising Jesus? The triumphal entry of Christ must have been something to see: there was a giant crowd lining the way into the beautiful city of David while palm leaves were being waved. The noise had to be epic, the excitement contagious. Even the stuffy ole’ Pharisees told Jesus’ disciples to quiet down. Stoking the passion, Jesus replied, “if they don’t praise me the rocks will cry out.” Boy, I would love to see that!
You gotta love being part of a raucous party! However, there is a subtle danger of merely being caught up in the orchestrated energy and hype of it all. It is easy to let yourself be swept away by a moment; and if you are not careful, you could be just going through the motions by doing what other people are doing without really believing what you are saying. Insincere worship has a terrible tendency to self-deceive; just because you sing loud and cry a few tears does not make your worship true.
There has been an interesting study done on why people hand raise, speak in tongues, get slain in the spirit, or violently shake in some worship contexts? The answer is really not that surprising: each of those manifestations is learned behaviors. True spontaneity and free expression are rarely unique. For example, children who speak in tongues at a young age in most cases have watched their parents speak in tongues. “But I thought tongues is the spontaneous work of Holy Spirit?” Well…the truth is…to get a certain response you condition it. People learn to do what they see other people doing. It is even possible to elicit the exact emotion through manipulation and the pressure of the crowd. People don’t like to be left out, so they are more apt to join in when a large group is doing the same thing. A person may believe they have been uniquely touched by God’s Spirit when in many cases they have been subtly swayed by the emotions of the crowd. If you have ever been to a secular rock concert you know exactly what I am talking about.
Why would anyone in their right mind faint when they see Michael Jackson? The mesmerizing power of the stage with the lights, music and hypnotizing moon-walk add to the effect where many teenage girls swoon in the emotion of the moment. This isn’t a spiritual experience, it is nothing but crowd manipulation.
Even the music you like is usually learned from watching others enjoy it. It just is. Most people who like the song “I Come to the Garden Alone” either grew up with it or were taught it by someone who loved it first. Same with the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” Handel’s “Messiah,” and even the cool new song “Ocean.” Each of those songs are acquired tastes. Just ask Jared Doty how he feels about “Days of Elijah?”
3. The Long Term Results are the same.
Often after the concert is over, worship turns out to be nothing more than lip service from fickle people. Jesus knew the crowd outside of Jerusalem were going to change their tune. Sure they can wave palms and shout “Hosanna,” but how many of those same people cried “Crucify” a week later? My guess is more than a few.
Here is the ultimate danger of highly emotive concerts and worship services: What a person first comes for, they continue to stay for. And if they don’t get what they came for on a fairly regular basis, they are quick to leave. People who love altar calls, healing services, and highly emotive spectacles of song & show get hooked on the feelings they bring. Actual heart transformation may genuinely be hoped for; but let’s face it, it is the show that brings the crowd. People want to taste wonder – it is flattering to think you are participating in the direct work of God (see Colossians 2:18). Rarely does anyone ask, “is this genuine or conjured?” In fact, you really aren’t allowed to question people’s experience because experience is king; it takes precedence over doctrine. This is also true with being filled-up on a diet of high octane worship. People mistake the manufactured feelings with having a real walk with God.
So when God asks you to follow him without the pomp and circumstance, it is easy to become bored. And too often people mistake boredom for the absence of God. The truth is, boredom and silence are often exactly where God wants you to be so you will learn to listen. His voice hasn’t changed, it is still & small.
Real Religious Affections
So, should we just not sing? No, that is not the answer, but we do need to question and teach what is meant by genuine spirituality. Jonathan Edwards, the great American theologian, wrote a book on this back in the 1700s titled, “A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections.” He wanted to know, “How can you really tell if something is the genuine work of God?” To take it a step further he wondered, “How can I tell when Satan is deceiving us?” At the time of this writing, there was a controversial revival sweeping the New England Colonies where people were manifesting all kind of outward expressions claiming it was the work of God.
After considering all the arguments and evaluating all the crazy practices of that time he came up with two major conclusions:
(1) “Persons being disposed to abound and to be zealously engaged in the external exercises of religion, and to spend much time in them, is no sure evidence of grace; because such a disposition is found in many who have no grace.” In common jargon, the U2 concert where I screamed my lungs out was just raw emotion, it had nothing to do with God because I didn’t know God. So when I scream my lungs out at church it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the Holy Spirit working through me.
(2) “True sincerity of affection causes a man to love the Lord and hate evil.” Hating evil, that is the real test of a love for God. If you go to church or a Christian concert, sing your lungs out but end up living like the world once it is over, something is not right. More than likely it may be a clear indication worship for you is a game. Nothing more and nothing less.
Has anyone ever worshiped Jesus right? Well, there is another triumphal entry found in Luke 2:21-39. It includes the child Jesus coming to Jerusalem and he is met by two old fogies named Simeon and Anna. They waited their whole life just to see him. That was enough, and that is all it really says.
Waiting to see Jesus, that was enough. No show, no lights, no smoke machines, no palms, no songs, no crowd, no crying, and no free coffee. They were satisfied simply with Jesus, that is true worship. Is that enough for you?
