This has been a subject that I’ve pondered for years now, but has really been on my heart lately.? I started writing this post almost a year ago but let it set as a draft because I haven’t felt lead to post it until today.
For many years I’ve listened to and loved Southern Gospel music, but during the early years (circa. 1999), this love of Southern Gospel music blinded my eyes to my spiritual needs.? I kept flooding my ears with the sweet harmonies of gospel music, but my heart wasn’t full at all.? In fact, there was an emptiness that I couldn’t seem to explain.
During this time I was extremely faithful to church, traveled part-time with a group singing and playing this music, and lived my life as a Christian was supposed to.? This was part of the problem.? Being raised in church, I knew how to play the part of a Christian.? I knew what to say and how to dress, and so often times I thought that the emptiness in my life might be attributed to my lack of prayer, study, or time alone with God.? I was so blinded by the Devil and absolutely convinced that since I listened to ‘Gospel’ music all of the time, I must be a Christian.? I would tell myself that since I sang in a group and listened to SG all of the time, that surely everything was OK between me & God.
One of the scariest, but most treasured moments in my life came in 2000 when my heart was humbled by realizing that I had never asked Christ to come into my life.? I was 23 years old when I finally realized that being a Christian was more than listening to and singing Gospel music and I asked Jesus to come into my heart and take control.? It took more than a head-knowledge of Christ to truly be born again; it took a heart-knowledge.? Oftentimes since that day I have been scared of what could have happened should my life have ended before I came to this realization.? Today I can stand and sing with a full heart and know who I am singing about.
I can’t help but wonder how many people traveling and singing Gospel music today are in the same condition that I was in?? How many people, fans and artists alike, are so wrapped up in the music, that they are blinded to their spiritual needs?? How many are true believers and how many are just great actors?? I am not writing this to? point fingers at anyone or any group because I can’t see what is in their hearts.? I say this because I want all who read this to ask yourself this question… “Am I truly born again or am I just a pretender?”
I still love SG music as much today as I did when I first fell for it.? I think it is the greatest music in the world.? But can you point to a place where you humbled your heart and asked Christ to take control of your life or are you just playing the part of a believer?? Has there ever been a time in your life that you humbled yourself before God?
….or are you so in love with the music, whether you just listen or you perform it, that you are blinded by it?? What is your heart’s condition?
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