The Mindless Drone

Do you have one of those "mindless" jobs? Doing the same thing over and over and over?

Mowing the lawn is one of those mindless kinds of work for me. After you figure out how to start the lawn mower you pretty much just push it and watch it cut grass.

Have you done the same thing for so many years that it becomes dull, boring and mundane? I have driven 45 minutes to work each morning for 30 years. There have been times when I don't remember going past towns because I pass them every day and the same boring trip just numbs my brain.

How is your faith these days? Does going to church numb YOUR brain? Has your faith become so . . . routine . . . that you have forgotten the reason you were going to church in the first place? I think that describes a lot of people in the present-day church.

Do you remember the episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Captain Picard got assimilated in The Borg? He became one of thousands of mindless drones, methodically serving "the collective" without thought or reason. Is that who we have become as church goers? Just mindlessly going through the routine? Without meaning or emotion? I hope not. We are called to worship "in spirit and truth."

"23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24

Is that how we worship? It that how we live our daily lives? Do we look like "boring Christians" as we walk through, and become assimilated into, this world? Or do we stand out in a crowd as we live out our faith? God does not desire mindless worshipers, but He does seek worshipers who lose themselves in worship. There is a distinction there. God has told us how we must worship. The question is, are we obeying His command?

When Captain Picard got "plugged in" with the wrong group of people his individuality and uniqueness were lost. We Christians are supposed to be holy - "set apart". Are we? Or are we simply part of the collective, going through the same mindless routine Sunday after Sunday?

There is a fine line between losing "self" in worship and an unfeeling, mindless worship. We must be cautious of not falling into the trap of sameness and boring repetitions.

Right before Jesus taught us how to pray (The Lord's Prayer) He offered these words of warning.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." - Matthew 6:7-13

You and I have been set apart by our faith in Jesus. We SHOULD stand out in a crowd. Jesus did. As believers we are called to be light in a dark world . . . to be like Jesus. Are we shining brightly? Today, let us stand out. Let us DO as Jesus taught us, not simply exist . . but get to work. Let us make a difference for God and His kingdom . . as long as it is called "today."

We Are The Borg

Worshiping You - Deluge