Ezekiel 33:30-32
30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
I am always amazed at how many pop songs we as Americans can create about the romantic relationship. From the comical country of "She Thinks My Tractors Sexy," to the sick and twisted, "I Kissed A Girl and I Liked It," that sadly topped charts this summer, we are enamored with love songs.
So, where is this going? What if our preaching is entertaining to the masses, like the love songs that really mean nothing to us? Just another artful way to say the same old thing about love, sex and desire. The words don't mean anything anymore, it is just the way the sounds and music make us feel. What if our preaching is only intended to get people in the door and make them feel a certain way so that they might go to a Small Group where they will really hear the message and hopefully experience life change?
Ezekiel dealt with this. Many people stopped to hear his message, but it was only entertainment, and intellectual stimulation to the listeners. They had no intention of life change. God help me and help those that hear me speak! Allow my words to be from you, life changing words. Allow those who hear me to really hear you.
"We played the flute for you and you did not dance, we sang a dirge and you did not cry."
Jesus of Nazareth
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