If you’ve ever been to a movie theater or play, you sit in the audience as one of many. If you’ve ever attended a sports event, you sit in the stands as one of many. If you sit in the privacy of your own home, watching television, you’re still one of many. We sit as spectators, observing.
After we finish watching, we formulate thoughts, assessments, reviews and opinions about what we just watched and observed. “That was good!” “That was a waste of my time.” “I wouldn’t mind seeing that again!” “It was too long.” “I hope they have a part two.”
Truth is, as we go through life, we have opinions, assessments and reviews pretty much about everything. And if we’re not careful, we’ll start believing that our personal opinions about everybody and everything has to be known.
Every now and then, we get a rude awakening that what we think about people and things really don’t matter as much to others as it does to us or as much as we’d like for it to. Sometimes our opinions and assessments get lost in the crowd, right along with what everyone else thinks. Nevertheless, we still continue to have and share our opinions.
Nevertheless, there are people that are building notoriety, careers and followings simply by sharing what they think. Whether it’s based on facts or feelings, people’s opinions get attention.
Truth is, too often, we position ourselves in houses of worship with this same approach – ready to give our opinion, our review. We become spectators, observers, watchers, and critics, seated comfortably on our pews as part of a perceived audience. Some have even become the praise and worship police. Critical of how others express themselves in their own wisdom to God.”
That was good!” “That wasn’t good.” “That went too long.” “It doesn’t take all that.”
The preacher preaches. The singer sings. The usher serves. The greeter greets. The members fellowship. No one and nothing is exempt from being observed and given a personal assessment.
The applause, the affirmations and the recognition of a job well done, become our gauge for how well we serve and worship. The “Amen” from the audience voices our agreement. But as we seek to voice our opinionated assessments, “Amen” becomes our way of voicing our approval.
In the House of God, being in the audience, or even on the stage, has deceived many of us into believing that our opinions matter. We’re blinded to the fact that we are the ones on the stage when we assemble in the presence of the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the pulpit or sitting in the pews. We’re all being observed by an audience of One. And the only assessment, opinion, thought or review that matters of us, is God’s.
In the book of Leviticus, God makes it clear that He determines what should be offered up to Him as worship and He determines if what we offer is acceptable or not. God doesn’t consult the opinions of others or listen to see if the majority thinks the way He does, when He decides to accept our offerings of worship or not. God doesn’t observe the crowd to see who else is liking what we do or how we do it. Neither is He consulting us for our thoughts before He accepts the worship of another.
God is literally the only one in the audience. He’s not just watching what we do. He’s assessing and discerning our hearts. He knows when our “Amen” is sincere and intelligent. And He knows when our “Amen” is to agree with His Word or just to approve of His servant. He knows when we sing songs and are more concerned about sounding good than we are concerned about connecting to the significance of the lyrics. He knows when we’re clapping, shouting or standing just because everyone else is and we want to be seen as engaged as everyone else. He knows when we sit still and composed if we’re connected to His presence. He knows that as the Word is being preached, if our minds are focused on Him or something or someone else. He knows when we’re scrolling through Facebook on our phones and not the scripture. He knows when we’re having a conversation via text messages with someone else when He’s trying to have a conversation with us through the preached Word.
God knows and He’s not impressed just because we showed up. He’s not impressed just because we dressed up. He’s not impressed because we received lots of amen’s as we preached or taught His Word. He’s not impressed because people stood up as we sang that song. He’s not impressed how long you’ve been committed to that work or service at church. He’s not impressed.
As an audience of One, God’s opinion about us is the only one that ultimately matters. He’s not looking at the quality of our performance. He’s looking at the posture of our hearts. He decides if what we’ve offered up to Him as worship is acceptable or not.
God is assessing our lives and about to give us His final review. As our show comes to an end; as the final buzzer sounds; as the credits of our lives start to roll across the screen, God will give us His final assessment of our lives. He will either say “Well done!” or “Depart from Me!” The Audience of One has spoken.
*Tressa Jo
BeyondSeeLevel 