Why are you here?

It's dark and loud. Hundreds of faces, hundreds of people. Everyone's jumping around and screaming. What about?
The lights shine brightly on a stage where the altar used to be. And beneath the lights is a guy, who's singing.
The song you hear sings about God. To God. But are you listening? Is anyone listening? It's telling beautiful truth. Are you excited about that? Or are you jumping to the tune of the electric guitarist, banging his head around. -"The music is loud, so that's cool. He can jump and play at the same time, and that's awesome…"- is that what you would say? Do you even know that the lyrics are true? Do you even care? Why are you here?
Your friend is happy, so you guess you should be too. They're all jumping and yelling. You're jumping too. So, is it about you? It can't be great or beautiful if it's all about you. Because any beauty you have, is from him.
There's a wooden statue, hanging right above you. His arms are outstretched, longing for you. Are you there for Him? Or are you there for you? Or for the drummer with the earrings? Or for the guitarist who jumps around flinging his hair? Why are you here?
The statue doesn't move. He's not singing or jumping. In fact, he's nailed and bound to wood. But his presence is stronger than the guy on stage, spitting out Bible verses that get lost and drown out in the noise of distraction. Who did the verses come from, anyway? And who gave flesh and blood to you? You’re cheering for some guys on stage who only give you some loud tunes, while there’s someone you ignore, right there, who gave you so much more. Are you centered?
He's at the center. You can find him there. And you can find him here. Because he is here, if you look for Him.
And do you praise him today, just to throw him away the very next day? Or do you even know how to praise? Do you even care to?
The statue doesn't move, but I swear its eyes are sad. You're singing "It's all about you Jesus, it's all about you," but you're dancing to a different tune. Do you know and mean what you say? Would you sing it if there were no stage? Would you sing it if no one asked you to? Would you sing even if no one ever knew? Would you sing it even if it were the hardest thing to do?
Do you think he doesn't know? His death spoke even louder than the music plays. And his life sings stronger than the man on stage. And he's there to show you. If you can't see him when he's right in front of you, then when will you ever see him? Whenever you feel like it? Whenever you choose?
So raise your hands and sing those words. But that's not worship. Do you want to worship God? That's what this is all for. You’ve misunderstood the reason for all of this.

It's bright and loud. It's dusty. Thousands of faces, thousands of people. Everyone's screaming. They're raising their hands and their voices. They're pushing and shoving one another to get closer. There's a man on a donkey, and he's riding through the crowds. Everyone's chanting his name. They're giving him praise. What is praise? Do they praise him today, just to throw him away? Do they even know how to praise? Do they mean what they say? Or do they say it, just for today. Their friends are doing it. Everyone's doing it. So why not? Is that what it's about?
His eyes are sad. They're so sad. He’s watching them.
Because he loved them first, and he'll love them last. And he loves them anyway, though their love didn't last.
They're proclaiming him king. Calling him wonderful things. Yeah, but what does it all mean?
So you can spit back out those words. Call God wonderful. But unless you mean it, it just hurts. Because He loves you.
You're just another person in that big crowd, in this big angry world. You're just another one, who doesn't understand. Don’t just be another person in that crowd, misunderstanding.
Because it's not about a bunch of crazy kids jumping around. And it's not about the performers. And it's not about the lights and the music. And it's not about being first, or being last. And it's not about some catchy tune, or the rapper's moves. And it's not about the fifteen bucks you paid to watch this guy, who it's not about, on some stage where the alter used to be.
Because nothing should be left of us, or of this world, to stand in the way of our worship. Our worship: a response to God with everything that we are or have or ever will be. Because when you sing to Him, and when you give your whole self in praise to him, you will have something you can take with you, past the music, past tonight. And your love can last

He loved you first. He'll love you last. Will your love last?