This song gave me goose-bumps, not in a bad way, but because this song really made me open my eyes and mind and really think. My favorite part is at the end, where it says give Love to the Love-less, Hope to those who have no Hope.
That is our true mission as christians and Followers of christ, and some have forgotten that, and I think thats what this song is all about… I like this song!!! It made me think, twice about what all is going on around me: Politics, Schools, Home lives. Thank you for posting this!

After listening to the song I had to pull out my bible and to check on the reference to scripture. I believe this may be true for some church’s but I also believe that it really depends on the heart of the individual worshipping at that church. It is the people that make the church and not the organization. If you are worshipping God with your heart in the right spot that is what is important. I would find it hard to believe that God hates this. The song is pretty harsh but at the same time it gets a person to thinking about where their heart is at.

This song is a thinker- for sure. It’s a little condemning too. The interesting thing to me in this, is that I am in seminary right now- I am also the children’s pastor at our church and am taking a church leadership course. We are discussing the church growth movement, and a lot of what we are discussing relates in many ways to this song. Who is the one we are doing for? Are we praising God truly (Like Jesus said- He wants us to worship in Spirit and in truth) or are we doing it to try to get people in the door, or be relevant? Worship really means to humble oneself before God. It is timely this song falls on Ash Wednesday too. I will share this link with the others in my course. Thanks for sharing it too!

This song has two sides. Positively, it points out were some institutions and individuals are too fixated on the emotions, the experience, the entertainment value they find in modern worship services. It points towards the heart of God and his desire for His children to be His hands and His feet, being agents of change by reaching out to the loveless, the homeless, the hurting and vulnerable.
However, in the process of making a point, it negates that there are many individuals, churches, and Christian organizations that do focus on being the hands of feet of God and that how that is true worship, but whom also corporately engage together in praise. I think it is important for outreach to include many of these “show” type of aspects in modern worship, primarily when trying to attract youth. The services are agents to attract those who may be vulnerable and hurting, that may not otherwise be reached. It provides opportunities to connect and then meet needs.

I hate all the show too. Why is it that the Word, the Truth and simply being alive in Christ isn’t enough? Will putting on a “show,” as the world does, create lasting – contributing – maturing members of the Church? People want more – individuals CRAVE more. They want the truth – the world is one big lie. They want the Living water, the Bread of Life – church doesn’t have to be so complicated, so expensive and so outragously filled with distractions. Let’s draw the lost and broken to the cross and Christ through love not entertainment. Why compete with the world at it’s game? We’ve got something that’s real and lasting!
Secondly, I don’t feel this song is only speaking about all the actual “showy” parts of some churches but of the individuals that take part in any church – us – who come to church on Sunday, or Wednesdays, or everyday and fail to actually “show” up – we’re not really there – our hearts are elsewhere, our minds are blank and we’re just doing church rather than being the Church God has designed us to be. Looks like stopping to take a good assessment of the way church is done would be good for us all. If those of us inside the church family see it – it’s flashing lights to those who visit. Stop the show and start living the Life – that’s what I got out of the song.

I think that worship is important, sort of like sex in marriage. But it seems a relationship that is just based on sex isn’t a healthy relationship. Thank you KTIS for continually seeking Truth.

thanks for listing that. I like switchfoot and was surprised at how John expressed this. It was actually refreshing. didn’t take as a condemnation more in the spirit of Hos.6:6 where it says “I delight in mercy and not sacrifice and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”. Obviously God initiated the sacrifice and offerings but they had become a replacement for the weightier matters as Christ also mentioned justice,mercy and the ways of God.

I agree completely! I have always had a hard time sitting through worship services. I watch people texting with one hand up in the air; people looking around watching other people; people all lift their hands like robots to worship lyrics when it calls people to “lift up their hands”; people who will pour their hearts out when they are at a Third Day concert but then sit their motionless when the same song is sung at church. I know people have the best of intentions but I really feel that if you are not lifting your hands, falling on your knees, and dancing before the Lord in the privacy of your own home then do it when your being seen by people, its all a show. Like the pharisees Jesus warned about.

A second thought is: if people knew the God they were worshipping they would never be content with standing there singing words someone else wrote, to music someone else is playing, putting their hands up because everyone else is doing it, etc. If we knew the power and love of the God of Abraham we would take worship to a whole new level; a sincere, heart-felt worship; worship that God could actually accept.

Thanks John Foreman!

I agree with all of the above– let us be who we are called to be!

WOW!!!! The truth at last. I hate the show as well. I would not be ashamed to play that song at ant church. If it offends you maybe you should seek God more than the worldly possessions. I see people at my own church who flaut way beyond there means to keep up with the ‘(jones)’. I am not judging them in anyway, I PRAY that eyes will soon be open. Because mine were with that powerful song. May God shake the foundations and the Glory be poured out.
God Bless

I think this song is calling us to be authentic, not only in our worship, but how we live our lives. God sees our hearts and knows our thoughts and motives. We forget to fear Him! He is a jealous God and wants us to surrender to Him in every way. Easier said than done with all the distractions of this world but with the help of the Holy Spirit, He will help us and be glorified.

After i had listenend to this song many times, i heard much of what others who wrote about Jons song did. My opinion has changed since studying Isaiah chapter 1. I see this song to be about leaders of a place meant to be a house of worship as chameleons. They know what has to be done to hook their followers into seeing them as a man/women as a Godly person. They are now what they were after, they are now who are who is worshiped. The blood is now on their hands. I am not trying to say any one else is wrong or that i am right. It is my onll my opinion.