Last month we concluded Part 3 with two questions: 1) how did we get to this point? And 2) how do we change it? We will begin by using another example of a young man, (real accounts) in the same setting of a Christian environment, yet without a personal intimacy with God. We will then look at one of the ways the church promotes religion without intimacy. Next month we will look at the potential ways to change the status quo.

This also is an excerpt from our latest work in the "Power" series to be released early next year titled "The Power of Worship; Developing Intimacy with God."

From Religion to Relationship

John (not his real name) was a typical high school student. Played football, liked girls, and basically enjoyed life. His classmates knew he was a "Christian", but in his words, "didn't push the envelope." His parents were well-known Christian musicians and singers, traveling across the US ministering in Word and song. John had played drums since age 2 and now, as a teenager, played drums with his parents on the road.

In the mid-90's their ministry team became the worship leaders for a very well known and powerfully anointed evangelist. For over five years they traveled night after night in crusades across the US and around the world, leading people into deep realms of worship and praise. (I personally was in many of those meetings. )

John's world was more than just "church" everyday; it was living in the Presence of God everyday. He witnessed firsthand as thousands were being changed by the power of God. Everyone around him was being touched, transformed by the fire of God. Everyone, that is, but him.

It can be quite a challenge to be a teenager seeing the world, playing before thousands of people on a daily basis. Doing all the right things, for all the right reasons. After a year or so, John also came to the realization, Christianity without the power and relationship, was no different than just "having religion."

Realizing that intimacy with God was a necessity he couldn't afford to live without, he began to cry out to God. Faith is a cry of desperation that the Father always answers. It isn't a "generic" cry for revival to touch the nations. It has to become a "personal" cry for revival.

"Touch me. Change me."

There is no disappointment in God. There is only disappointment in our understanding of Him.

In His timing, on His schedule, when John was "ready to receive", he had his encounter with God. It was in a service, just like hundreds of others he had been in before, only now he wasn't a spectator, he was the participant.

John described his encounter like volts of electricity. "Like being plugged into an outlet." The fire of God consumed him. Changed him. He's never been the same since. Now some ten years later he serves as a youth pastor in a church that his parents founded in Texas. Still serving God. Only now it is on a personal, and intimate level.

Intimacy Should be the "Norm" not the Exception

Intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit should be a part of every born again believer's life, regardless of age, or generation. Unfortunately, that just isn't the case.

Is it any wonder that there are so many "good" people that go to church all their lives and never have a personal relationship with Jesus? For the most part, many don't know they can. They are unaware that God wants to personally speak with them. Show them His will for their lives. Reveal His ways to walk in. To prosper them, bless them, and give them peace and rest. Yet, others simply have no desire to pursue a relationship with Him.

Recently a man, who is a musician on the praise team at his local church, told me, "I love Jesus, and all that, but I don't have the time or the hunger to pursue a relationship." This, from someone whose ministry gift is to help facilitate an atmosphere for the Spirit of God to move in.

Another time a pastor of a church told me that he personally really wasn't hungry for God. You cannot take someone to a place you haven't been; or at least have the earnest desire to go there.

What Are We Communicating Between the Pulpit and the Pew?

We are not just in our assumption that those in the pew are getting everything they need from an average 35-minute sermon, once a week. In fact, since the great awakening in the early 1700's, from Jonathan Edwards to John Wesley, Whitefield, Charles Finney in the 1800's, and later D.L. Moody, on to the 1900's with Billy Graham, etc. And, considering all the unknown ministers that were influenced and raised up across this nation from these ministries until today with satellite, cable, live Internet streaming from multitudes of ministry. It should be clear to us, that if sermons alone could change lives and bring intimacy with God, we would be the most awesome spiritual nation since King Solomon's reign.

Professional Christianity vs. Possess ional Christianity

It seems to be an obvious conclusion that in the majority of churches across America, including traditional, Pentecostal, independent, denominational, charismatic, etc that the balance between worship (intimacy) and sermons (information) are grossly out of sync.

Of course there are exceptions in every case, in every place. Nor are we diminishing the effects of preaching with the power of the written Word and Spirit. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:5) We are emphasizing the concept we are receiving when all the prominence is placed on "hearing" a sermon rather than embracing intimacy with the Savior.

Without sounding judgmental or critical, we have created professionally polished pulpiteer's whose job assignments are to keep everyone happy, entertained, and coming back for more. The audience has hopefully made it through the "singing" without losing interest to reach the "main part" of the service...The Sermon. (It seems only fitting that we should add for emphasis here, "Praise God, Hallelujah")

The professional pastor steps onto the stage with his well-rehearsed remarks that will reflect his hard work and training. The opening comments will either sound like a Shakespearian one-man-play or the opening monologue from the David Letterman show. From there it will digress to a story (sometimes even a Bible story) that will have a good moral conclusion, and will end in grandiose Paul Harvey "now-you-know-the-rest-of-the-story" fashion.

By the time people reach the parking lots the only thing left on their minds, are their stomachs. ("Feed me, Seymore, feed me")

Again, this isn't always the case. If you are in touch with a church who's emphasis is to take everyone into the Presence of God with genuine, heart felt, praise and worship, that subsequently has prepared your spirit to receive a personal message from the Bread of Life, you are most blessed.

The end result is, nowhere in all of our religious rituals has there been the "draw close to God and God will draw close to you." James 4:8 New Living Translation. Either in word or action, the laity has said to the clergy, "You are my personal high priest between God and me." It goes all the way back to the time of Moses.

Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." Exodus 20:19 New King James version.

Clergy has gratefully endorsed that arrangement and furthered the gap either for prestige, prominence, or position. I.e. job security.

We, supposedly, are reproducing spiritual offspring without a personal relationship with their Father. There is no substitute for intimacy with God. Not sermons, not going to church, not taking communion, not occasionally reading your Bible. These may all be elements that contribute to the whole, but they alone cannot replace intimate spiritual union.

To be continued...