What we are not giving them.

A song by Casting Crowns entitled "What this world needs" brings about a very interesting question in my mind. What indeed does this world need? What do they need from us as followers of Christ who should love them and embrace them no matter who they are and where they come from. Here are the lyrics to that song.


"What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society

What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit

CHORUS:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs

What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before
He changes her shirt
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free"
~"What This World Needs." by Casting Crowns



The words in blue brought about some thoughts in my mind. The first verse states "Another prophet in an Armani suit". This brought to my mind the thought that the world doesn't need what the local church keeps producing. They don't need mega churches who are places upon a pedestal for all church to look upon as though they are not doing enough because they don't have the numbers, budgets, and facilities that "mega churches" have. The world doesn't need our "superstar" preachers that spend more time on Larry King Live and CNN then they do in their streets of their communities reaching out to the "least of these". I am not sure what the church (in general) is doing wrong, but it's happening. We are doing something wrong, and it's time for us to find the problem and fix it.

I believe the second verse brings up questions about ourselves. What are we doing to show a difference in our lives. The world doesn't need our hypocrisy. The world needs US being real in our lives and for US to see them as human beings. We need to truly find value in our relationship with the Lord as we say that we need. We need to value it more than we value college football, money, high school basketball, and whatever else stands our way to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ.

The song ends with a dialogue that is very appropriate. The dialogue goes like this:

"People aren't confused by the Gospel.
They are confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God,
but we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn't need my tith, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible.
They just need Jesus.
We can be passions about what we believe,
but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel, because we are slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do is to just get out of the way."


May we need be the cause of the Gospel slowing down.

So, what does this world need?
The answer is simple. What we are not giving them.




love God. love people.