An Endless Procession

Instead of a Show - By Jon Foreman

I hate all your show and pretense

the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show.
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your singing ‘em
I hate all your show.
Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show.

Your eyes are closed when you’re praying

you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands.
You turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands.
Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around.
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show.

This is a picture of the quintessence of musical genius. The hypocrisy, the conviction, and the hope that this song portrays, all in tastefully done acoustic artistry, must capture the attention of the church. This song was actually adapted from Amos chapter 5 (several various verses but mostly 21-24). It was Amos' job to be the voice of God in the darkness, to be a voice of warning and of hope. "You turned your back on the homeless and the ones that don't fit into your plans." That's the sentence that sinks deep into my soul.

"Instead let there be a flood of justice, an endless procession of righteous living, living." Ladies and Gentlemen, a life of discipleship is more than church and charities, it's more than checks and perfunctory chides. I love this song most especially because Foreman writes it straight from Amos who is speaking from God's mouth talking to his chosen people, Israel and saying that their offerings are a gross stench to his nostrils. True, we are not virgin Israel being seduced away from God, but the call to ardently seek God is just as tangible in our own lives today as it was to Israel. So how can we apply the words in this melody to our own lives?

Confession: I like the sound of my own voice... I'll admit it. But I know that if my heart is not wholly disposed to God with all I am during worship, I don't sing. I pray. I pray that God would transform my heart... so that I can sing in worship... and that my praise would not be detestable in his sight. I know that if I keep singing and my heart is not focused on the one to whom I'm singing, I'm just singing to hear myself... then I become the object of my worship therefore defaming something sacred and holy. When I am humble, my heart is changed and I sing in rejoicing and my eyes are re-focused. But sometimes, though, my heart is not in it and I continue to not sing, I continue to ask God for even the faintest desire to pray for a changed heart... and sometimes it takes a while.

But God is a merciful God. Even in our weakness he is strong and that's why he is worth singing for. That's why He is not an audience to some grand production, He's the king we worship with the best we have, with a heart that longs to please Him. God promised a return for our devotion, he promised his people in Amos chapter 5 that if they sought Him, they would live. If we seek Him, we will live.
(The picture, by the way, is a drawing of the prophet Amos. I thought it appropriately placed next to this song.)