Something’s Missing.

I recently started reading the book "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan, and it rang true with me right from the introduction. The book is about how we as an American culture, seem to have "forgotten" God. Not necessarily God, or Jesus, but in the aspect of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the driving force behind the Apostles, the One who lit a fire for spreading the Word of God to all cultures. Have we, as a modern American culture, forgotten the Holy Spirit?

I've noticed that something's been missing in the church for a long time. I attend the worship sessions, services, and volunteer in the elementary program. Yet, I feel like there's an element that's missing. I went on my first mission trip with the high school youth group to New Orleans in 2013, and there I did a lot of things that I never thought I would do. I walked the pier, talking to the people that were out on it that hot night and giving them refreshing water. I helped run a vacation Bible school for children to learn more about Jesus. I experienced one of the most powerful worship experiences of my life, with a room of 80 high school students and adults singing at the top of their lungs to God, crying out to Him. I had never felt such a fire before burn in me. We came back from the trip, and the same old day-to-day life resumed. I went on church retreats, and regularly attended Wednesday youth group, but I never felt as close to God or as passionate to serve him as I did on the mission trip. I've been feeling that the worship sessions on a weekly basis aren't as heartfelt or genuine as they could or should be. It feels more like "let's pick 2-4 songs, and play them well," not "let's help these students grow closer to God and have an incredible worshipful experience."

The Christian music industry has been missing something as well. Musicians are focusing more on hitting it big, rather than truly worshipping Christ with their music. I know only God knows their hearts truly, but their passion for Him doesn't seem to shine through their music. In my own opinion, there are only a few popular artists that have truly devoted their hearts to God, instead of caring how many fans they get or how many people buy their music. I've been to many Christian music festivals in my youth, and the older I get, the more I realize how little the mindset is focused on worshipping God instead of rocking out. Some artists, such as Tenth Avenue North, I believe are incredible examples of how other musicians should act while in the spotlight. Mike Donehey, TAN's lead singer, is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. Whenever he performs, he brings jokes and great vocals, but he also brings an incredible passion for God. You can feel it through the songs he sings, such as the song Worn:

Let me see redemption win,
Let me know the struggle ends,
that you can mend a heart,
that's frail and torn.
I wanna know a song can rise,
from the ashes of a broken life,
and all that's dead inside can be reborn.
Cause I'm worn.

I admit it, I am nowhere near as good at reading the Bible as I should be. I usually serve all of the services on the weekend for church, and I concentrate more on the guitar playing and how well I can sing during worship than worshipping God. Though I may not be the best person to talk about this subject, it's been on my mind for a while and I feel like it's something that needs to be said. I believe we need to focus more on how to grow closer with God, giving him everything of ourselves, than of all the worldly things around us. We need to tap into the fire that God gave us, and use it to reach others and help them grow in their faith as well.