I want to begin this blog with a very sincere apology. I all but disappeared in writing my blog and I have no one to blame but myself. Several folks out there were actually reading my pitiful efforts to inform, uplift, challenge, and, on occasion, incite a giggle or a smile. You were kind, gracious, and supportive. Your responses were more than I could have ever hoped or dreamed. I truly regret stepping away from my keyboard. I won’t go into detail about what caused such a delay. But I want you to know how sorry I am and that I intend to start posting blogs again…hopefully one every couple of weeks. I am hoping and praying you’ll give me a second chance to make things right.

Having said that…let’s begin…again!

When my good friend and dear brother Robert Spradlin came up to me after a church service a few months ago and handed me a Bible commentary on the Old Testament book of Amos, I have to confess I was a tad cautious. I was not cautious of my buddy…I was cautious of the book. I can be rather picky about the books I read and use…especially when it comes to sermon preparation. I had started a sermon series through Amos and quickly discovered how thin my personal library was on the obscure little book. As soon as Robert handed me the book that evening, I quickly flipped it over so I could see the “spine” to find the title, author, and publisher. (Yes, that’s a Mark thing) I quickly identified the publisher as Broadman and the author as Jimmy Draper. Both of which were in my “good” column, and both were about as Southern Baptist as they could possibly be. I knew right then and there I would at least be giving the book a shot as I worked my way through Amos.

Turns out, the little yellow commentary has been nothing but a blessing. I cannot help but feel indebted to Robert Spradlin as his preaching tool, on loan to yours truly, has been a great help and benefit to me. Published in 1983, Dr. Draper does an amazing job of pointing out the practical impact and importance of Amos in our day. I wish I could make a list of the many challenging thoughts he’s placed before me as I’ve tried to get my mind and heart around the many messages of Amos. But we all know that is nearly an impossible task. All good commentaries have many good things to say. The points Amos sheds light on do not merely “step on toes”…they drive you to your knees.

I would like to share a very interesting point Dr. Draper made about the eighth chapter of Amos that stopped me dead in my tracks. I have not stopped thinking about it since I read it. My prayer is that you will find it helpful, challenging, and thought-provoking as I have.

In Amos chapter 8 many of Israel’s sins are on display. The chapter, with its 14 verses, is almost hard to read because things are such a mess. With regards to worship, Amos 8:4-5a says, “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, when will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain?” Amos 8:5b-6 continues with, “And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?” In short, while the nation was continuing to practice what they would have considered worship, their thoughts were on making money and oppressing the poor. They were anxiously waiting for the New Moons and the Sabbaths (references to corporate worship) to be over so they could get back to business…a cruel and corrupt business at that. One does not have to be a Hebrew scholar to see the things that were on their minds in the midst of their so-called worship services. With this being the case, it’s not hard to figure out why God’s judgement described in this book is severe and well-deserved.

Enter Brother Spradlin’s precious commentary on this ugly scene as Dr. Draper shoots straight on the worship of Israel and then turns his attention on worship in the American church. To do that, he presents a perspective I’m not sure I’ve ever heard or read before. If you’re reading this as a Christian, then chances are pretty good that you’ve heard worship defined as declaring the “worth-ship” of God. He is truly worthy of our worship. Like many of you, I have heard that explanation or definition for most of my life. Dr. Draper certainly doesn’t discredit that definition. However, he takes it a step further. On page 164 of his commentary, he says if you study the etymology of the word worship, or how the word came about, you will find that one of its parent words from which the word we know as worship originates means to “stop what you are doing.”

Take a brief moment and let that sink in. To rightfully and sincerely worship God in the corporate setting requires us to stop what we are doing and give Him our undivided attention. Ouch. Undivided attention does not come easy. It’s not that we are not capable of it…it’s just that we are often quite selective in what realm of attention we wish to go undivided. Distractions and wandering thoughts bombard most of us the moment we enter the church building. Draper argues that the etymology of the word bleeds into the finished product. In other words, the notion of “stop what you’re doing” is woven into the definition of worship itself. It goes right alongside the more familiar declaring the “worth-ship” of God. In Amos 8, many folks were attending and doing…but verses 4-6 tell us what they were thinking. They had not stopped what they were doing. New Moons and Sabbaths were getting in the way of what they truly loved. It is very likely at least some of the Israelites in the north felt they were in good shape simply because they had made the trip to offer and sacrifice or to participate in something they considered religious. The result was an ugly mess.

Draper followed that up with a soul-searching question, “Are we any better?” How many of us go to church with our minds focused on things after the church service…or perhaps things coming up at work tomorrow or later in the week? How many go to church, only to shop and play games on their cellphones during the service…a now common occurrence in many churches. When we meet together for worship, do we really make the effort to “stop” with the other things competing for our attention and so we can give God “ourselves?” Draper basically said he was very doubtful that even a few give it a thought anymore…and he was writing in 1983. I have to believe things have only worsened since then. Like the Israelites before us, going through the motions can often be more than enough to make us feel we’ve done our part.

In closing, I want to leave you with a thought to consider. Let’s look at this as though God wanted Robert Spradlin to give me the commentary because He knew I would eventually come to page 164 and get a fresh perspective and an expanded definition of the word worship. If God is as big as we believe He is, then He knew that would catch my attention in a powerful way. He knew I would make notes about it and preach it from the pulpit. He also knew I would write about it…in say a blog…a blog like this one. If that’s true, then He must have known YOU would read it. So perhaps God knew we all needed to think a bit differently about worship. Maybe He knew we were all getting used to coming to church and “doing what we do.” Thanks to Bro. Robert Spradlin and Dr. Jimmy Draper’s little yellow commentary released in 1983…we all now have not a only a fresh perspective…but a fresh prayer request: “Lord, when I gather with my brothers and sisters at church to worship you, please help me to stop what I’m doing so I really can give you my undivided attention as we sing your praises and as the pastor preaches from your Word. I can deal with those other things when the church service is over. I want my worship of You to be real and sincere. I’m asking you to help me with this.” Before I go…I feel I should let you know…I’m praying for the same thing for myself.

Love you all. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Another one will be out soon. Thanks for the second chance.

Bro. Mark