My mind is still recovering from last week. I remember last year upon my return home from Catalyst Conference I just starting vomiting ideas, thoughts, phrases, creative elements…all kinds of stuff all over my wife, Crystal (not real vomit, just idea vomit). I was completely all over the board and incoherent. It’s like when you eat too much, but it tastes so good you just keep eating, which sometimes results in throwing up…content overload. I promised her I would do my best not to do the same thing again this year.
Not sure the above is my best “opener” to Part 2 of this little series thing I’ve gotten myself into, but I really don’t see myself going back and re-typing something more serious or profound. It is what it is.
Before Catalyst Labs I had only heard David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, preach via a short video clip online. I also read his book, Radical, back in May of this year. The book provided some strong starting points and tangible calls to commitment to loving all the way Jesus loves all, and completely living in abandonment to Him…and the reminder that being radical starts with small disciplines. The book struck chords in my heart much like what Shane Claiborne’s Jesus For President and Irresistable Revolution did. So I was excited to hear him share at the evening main session.
I was struck by his genuine humility and intense passion for the Church as he shared, with a strong sense of urgency, some key dangers he sees in the Church today. If I recounted all of my notes on this session, you’d stop reading by now so I’ll just comment on two issues he brought up that really hit home with me:
1. Using Exodus 32, Platt cautioned that “we’ve become leaders without conviction, giving sinful people what they want.” Consumer culture has invaded the Church. We try and try to be the best show in town and we run the risk of forfeiting our integrity and softening the offensiveness of the Gospel. Platt says, “We promise people everything and it costs them nothing,” and “God is more interested in the sanctity of His people than the success of your ministry.”
2. “If brokenness and humility does not have a place in our worship, God does not have a place in our worship.” As a worship leader responsible for contributing to creating a culture of worship, I’m reminded that my criteria for designing a service is way more than a catchy melody or my own musical preferences. I want lyrics of truth, brokenness and humility. I don’t want to just sing songs about God, I want to sing songs to God. I don’t want people singing songs that they don’t understand and don’t mean…because they’re way too dangerous to sing if the words coming off their lips are not coming off their hearts. It would do us immense good to take pause and just be in awe of a holy God who allows us to sing Him songs and listens like we’re the only ones singing.
Lead with transparency…lead with conviction…lead with humility.
THE WOODS 
Thanks Ben. Excellent insights. On the issue of consumerism in the church, I found “The Consuming Passion: Christianity and the Consumer Culture,” by Rodney Clapp an excellent work on the subject. Clapp is Roman Catholic but it really adds power to the idea of consuming or BEING CONSUMED (the Eucharist).
Enjoying your words, glad I found your blog (via facebook). David Platt convicted me as well with his books Radical and Radical Together. It is so easy to lose sight of the mission in our cultures.
Trying to remember the last time we saw each other. Maybe a 3 on 3 ball tourney with your brother? Decades ago?
Thanks for sharing.
I was just talking to our Bible study group tonight about your point #1…so true…in other countries, Jesus is so offensive that people are killed….in America, Jesus tends to go down smoother than a latte. It’s interesting to see how our culture’s importance in being politically correct has leaked into our churches…as well as our desire to be entertained in the same way as if we were going to see a movie. Thanks Benj!