IGB – my opinion

I’ve been chewing on the whole IGB Shout to the Lord thing throughout the day. I don’t know why it matters so much but I’ve felt a need to have an opinion on the whole thing for some reason. And I think Travis Cottrell (worship leader for Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministries) said what I’ve been thinking…

Anyway, I am not a theologian. And I certainly want to respect everyone’s opinions and feelings. But personally I was so glad and excited to see the name of the Lord spoken and revered on that show. I mean, really. Why in the world would they choose that song, unless the Holy Spirit was doing a work? Of all the inspirational songs in the world…they choose “Shout to the Lord.” Wow. And – yes – they left out the word ‘Jesus.’ I was bummed about that. But these people are LOST. They are lost. They are not found. They don’t get it. I am not going to hold them responsible for knowing what to do with a moment like that.

It’s an observation I’ve made with us as the body of Christ: we tend to want to expect lost people to know how to act saved. It’s sort of like being mad at a blind person for running into a chair in a room when he is all by himself.

Do I wish they would have said ‘Jesus?’ Yes. Am I glad that by the providential hand of the Lord they sang “Shout to the Lord?” Heck yes!

And I pray in Jesus’ name that the Holy Spirit will do a mighty work in our nation…that those words that were sung – “Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name! I sing for joy at the work of Your hands! Forever I’ll love You! Forever I’ll stand! Nothing compares to the promise I have in You!” – will permeate every heart that’s longing for something more in this life…aching for a love that will not let them go. Do a mighty work, MIGHTY LORD.

Our lesson at youth group last night was about expectations and disappointments and he pointed out the same thing..why do we expect people that are lost act like they’re saved?  I believe I’ll count it as a miracle that they sang the song at all. And if you ask me, when you watch the video, I believe many of the contestants ARE Christians and were singing it as a praise song as it was meant to be.