Today, we’re passionate for a lot of things, unfortunately just not for God. We are passionate about sporting events, movies, and movie stars; about the clothes we or someone else is wearing, different kinds of vehicles, and even different kinds of food.
In America we’re passionate about a lot of stuff. Just take some time in a book store and you’ll see books for those passionate about birds, dogs, cats, horses, and fish. There are also books on the passion of fishing, flying, gardening, golf, hunting, and needlepoint. And let’s not forget the various passions for foods like sushi, pastas, barbeque, and chocolate.
We’re a nation of great passion, just not for God. This is obvious in how we’ve legalized what God calls sin, like abortion and homosexuality. We’ve removed God from every semblance of national life, from our schools to the halls of government.
Today, we live in a culture that says it’s okay to be passionate about anything and everything, as long as it’s not God. It’s like we can be a fan of everything else, but if we’re a fan of God we’re called fanatic.
The church’s problem is that we’ve bought into this philosophy, and our passion for God has waned.
This is seen in our Sunday morning worship. We walk in the door, usually right before or after the worship has begun, and then leave once service is over. It’s become the same old mundane thing.
Where is the passion to meet with God and with God’s people?
God calls us to be a passionate people, a people in love with Him, and not with all the stuff of the world.
The Apostle John said, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)
And so let’s start being a fan of God and start falling passionately in love with Him all over again (Revelation 2:4). Dennis Lee is the Senior Pastor of Living Waters Fellowship located at 211 West 1st South, suite C-E, behind ACE Hardware. Service Times are Sunday 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Well I went to the Catholic Church and I thought that I had the plague or something.
I am surprised this morning, Pastor Lee. I never expected to read a “Poor God” essay from you. I am not a Christian, although I do hold dear many of the same ideals. But, I’m not writing about me. I think you missed the mark about America’s passion for God waning. It took no more than listening to the eulogies during the celebration of life for Maryland Representative Elijah Cummings yesterday (Friday, Oct. 25). Former Presidents Obama and Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Speaker Pelosi, Cummings’ wife, and others spoke from the heart and were unabashed about connecting the recently gone congressman to his namesake, Prophet Elijah. Cummings’ good works were shouted to the rooftops and directly connected to Cummings’ and each speakers’ own belief and the joy found in their God. As I stated, I’m not a believer, but I can appreciate and hold dear the passion with which these wonderful leaders not only spoke of their friend and colleague, but of the relevance of God in their lives. God still has strong, quality people speaking His praises.