Simultaneous worship events were held in downtown Springfield on Saturday night. The first was at Hammons Field where some 5,000 cheered for a Cardinal victory. Much has been written about sport being religion in America; a place where people can exhaust their emotions and worship gladiator-like heros doing battle in a modern colosseum complete with beer on tap and pizza by the slice.

The other larger service of worship was held in the JQH Arena, where thousands gathered for a service presided over by the Right Reverend Sir Elton John. It was this service I attended along with my wife.

You might ask why I call it a worship event. Understand I mean nothing pejorative toward Elton John. He’s a consummate showman and pounds the heck out of every one of those 88 keys on a Steinway. I call it worship, because that’s what I saw. People were definitely engaged. Arms were lifted high. Eyes were closed as they sang along. There was dancing in the aisles. I even saw people with their hands clasped together in front of their chests, eyes closed as they engaged. It looked a lot like prayer.

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck………….

I really wasn’t engaged in the concert. Frankly, it was too loud for my ears and I couldn’t understand most of the words. So for me, it was about watching people, and there was much to see! Over and over I kept coming back to the notion that what I was seeing was indeed worship. And of course, it didn’t take long for me to ponder why ten thousand would gather, pay $100 a seat (on average), and give their all emotionally to worship Elton John, but not Jesus Christ…….you know the one……this Friday we’ll commemorate his voluntary death on the cross to pay for your sins and mine. Anyway, what is it about an Elton John concert that engenders worship in such a larger degree than a regularly scheduled service of worship for Jesus Christ?

I’ve come to this conclusion: the difference is LIFE. Elton John is offering people life. We can debate the merits of the kind of life he offers, but just accept at face value for a moment that—-for those worshippers—-Elton John is serving up a form of life. It’s fun. It stirs the emotions, and we are emotional beings. It’s celebrative and we are wired with a need to celebrate. It’s reflective……he sings of love dreamed of, found, and lost. Who can’t relate to that? It’s promising; though I couldn’t understand the lyrics, inside all of us have some form of dream of being Rocket Man! An Elton John concert is an event that is full of a form of life that is very attractive to human beings.

Contrast that with what we do at church. I won’t bother to take you through the experience, but just go there in your own mind. Whatever church means to you, ask this question: does it give life?

I was afraid you’d say that.

Until you and I wrap our minds and hearts around the fact that Jesus primary purpose wasn’t to save people from sin (that’s just a step in the process), but was “…that they might have life and have it more abundantly” and until we start following Him, learning Him, and doing church in a way that unpacks that abundant life thing…….well, people will continue to choose Elton John. And honestly, can we blame them?

I think the #1 question—-at least one of the top questions if not #1—-that church leaders need to ask themselves repeatedly is: does it give life? The kind of life that you know to be abundant? Life from Jesus?

If the answer is “no.” Then……….I think that’s a big clue that we’re headed in the wrong direction. Don’t give me alot of double talk about all the things that we “have” to do. That’s mostly baloney, but legalism and the traditions of men will cause you to think it’s vital.

We who are the Church, have got to get into the life delivery business. That’s really our only purpose for being. Unless we’re doing that, we’re just having church——puhleeze……..can’t I just have a root canal instead?

“The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. But I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” –Jesus