CBC Worship Ministries: Devotional Blog

Does the name Sid Vicious ring a bell? Yes, I know, it's before your time. Some of you were just a gleam in your parent's eye when he died. For those of you that are not enlightened as to the history of punk rock music, Sid Vicious was the bass guitar player for the Sex Pistols, a punk rock group that rose, crested and crashed in the late '70's. Sid was the epitome of the stoned out, drug-addicted rebel that seemed to be in vogue during the later days of that decade. The other day I saw a clip where he was interviewed shortly before his death by heroin overdose. He was asked by a reporter what he felt was his purpose in life. Sid's response: "To have fun." Fun? The life of Sid Vicious was anything but fun. The milestones of his brief life were marked by family dysfunction, violence, crime, murder, drugs, and prison. Although born two years after yours truly, his life ended pathetically and tragically almost 30 years ago.

To say that this was a life wasted would be an understatement. So now you're probably wondering, what does this have to do with me? Let's just say I wanted to bring home a couple of important points. While the life of Sid Vicious was anything but saintly, imagine that prior to his death, he sought out a relationship to Christ. Would God have lovingly welcomed him into the gates of heaven? You know the answer to that already. There are probably a number of "Sid Vicious" types in our congregation. Don't act so shocked. Just because they don't look "punk" doesn't mean that they are pure and undefiled. As we minister to the congregation each Sunday, we could easily be communicating with some whose goal in life is to simply "have fun", but in the process have shipwrecked their lives before the boat has even launched. These are people who need the love of Christ. . . and as worship leaders, we are in a strategic position to be able to help them discover that love. As we lead worship each week, let's make sure to take the focus off of ourselves and place it where it belongs, on the person of Jesus Christ. It is when we do that with enthusiasm, conviction and emotion that those who need to discover Christ will most likely do so.

Secondly, I thank God that serving Him is "fun". No, my job is not always fun, that's true; but serving God, having what I do count for eternity - now that's fun! I love being able to be a part of something that is so much greater than I, something that has eternal value. And you should enjoy it as well. If it's not "fun" for you, you're probably in the wrong ministry. Most people that I have served with in the area of worship have the same attitude - it's not only a ministry, it's actually fun. Yes, even working with a grumpy old worship pastor can have its enjoyable moments!!

So, are you having fun? Is there anything that is stopping you from enjoying your service to God through worship? If so, let's find out what it is so that you can truly enjoy the riches of serving God in this ministry.

P.S. Pray for Nate and I as we travel today. . . pray that we don't drive each other crazy, two A.D.D. people on a plane for 13 hours. . . on second thought, you might be better off praying for the rest of the passengers!