Religion or Relationship?

Religion or Relationship?   

It is one thing to be involved in a religion that believes in and is centered on God, but it is another to have a relationship with God.  It is one thing to say prayers to God, but it is another to commune with God.  It is one thing to believe in God, but it is another to believe God.  Being associated with a religion that recognizes God as one to whom one can say prayers is not the same as having a real relationship with God the father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  

            Second Timothy 3:5 talks of the spiritual condition of “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.  Certainly it is possible for a musician to go through all the formalities of worshiping god and at the same time not really believing what god has said in His Word.  So, we are brought directly to the question, are you, as a church musician involved in a religion or a relationship? 

It is possible for a Christian musician to become so busy doing good things that he or she neglects being good.  2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  Malachi 3:2-3 asks and answeres the question “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”  A musician’s musical offerings will not be accepted by the LORD unless they are given “in righteousness”.  

            The Hebrew word tsadaqah (6666) translated here as righteousness means with moral virtue.  So, a Christian musician is not truly a righteous person his or her musical offerings and ministry may be considered to be wood, hay, and stubble in the sight of God.  1Cointhians 3:3 explains that, “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”