Are You a Worthy Christian?

It came to my attention recently (This is not new news. I’m a bit behind on some things contemporary church-ish.) that a worship song was offered at a megachurch in the Dallas, Texas, area containing the following lyrics in a song about racial insensitivity and racism in the Church:

Broken mirrors give us all a false perception

Broken systems teaches us all false lessons

And the evil one so crafty in all of his deception

To keep us divided is to keep all of his lies protected

So you can’t see that your treated as superior

While I’m left fighting off the lie that I’m inferior

We’re the precious children born into this world where lies are taught as truth

Father, we need our minds to be renewed by You

Cause it’s a daily fight to remind myself that I am worthy

When microaggressions lie behind every other corner lurking

We been hurting for a long time, weary souls

Why’s it seem like my brothers in Christ can’t understand it though?

(I don’t know)¹

I do not, never have, and never will disagree with the necessity for people of all races to be treated equally as Christian brothers and sisters. I speak as someone who has taught, mentored, and lived among Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and Papua New Guineans and loved them as deeply, if not more deeply, than my Caucasian brothers and sisters. It is clear to me and I should think to all believers, as the song indicates (The complete lyrics are available on the link at the bottom of this article), that’s the Lord’s intention for all people, and tribes, and languages:

And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’ (Revelation 5:9–10).²

(By the way, for those who are obsessed with being “empowered” on this rebellious sphere, please note in the above passage that all the Christians who will be gathered before the Lord will “reign upon the earth” one day. Your quest for empowerment in this life is a biblically misguided, impoverished, and worldly endeavor.)

What I don’t get from the song quoted in the beginning of this article is that people who have been mistreated should fight to remind themselves that they are worthy. I don’t get it because none of us are “worthy” in His sight. Here’s my personal experience with this unbiblical notion, from the book, Deeper: A Call to Discipleship:³

One night, about a year and a half after I resigned as pastor, Laurie and I were worshiping with the people at the commune. Another single woman, Linda, asked if everyone would pray for her. Linda was someone that I considered my elder sister, especially since I was going through this difficult time and the commune had taken us under its wing.

As we began to pray, the Lord spoke to my heart. He said, ‘Go tell her that just as I raised Lazarus from the dead, I will raise her from the dead.’ Well, I hadn’t had a particularly sparkling day walking with Jesus. And worship that night? I could have phoned it in. I said, ‘Lord, you know about my day and my worship tonight. I’m not worthy to give this word to Linda, my elder sister.’ He answered back quickly, ‘You will never be worthy enough to speak My words.’²

There is only One who is worthy, and it ain’t you:

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped (Revelation 5:11–14).

I suggest that readers scan the New Testament and discover who is worthy, concerning God’s view of things. I think you will find, as I did, that most of them have to do with how we walk with the Lord. Here is one to chew on:

Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— (2 Thessalonians 1:4–5) (emphasis added).

Please, Christians, please megachurch in Dallas, do not be swayed by the powerful but anti-biblical voice of the culture of the United States. Seek the truth of God.

 

¹https://www.tvcresources.net/resource-library/music-videos/walk-with-you

²All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

³Deeper: A Call to Discipleship. Jim Thomson (2011).