What if We Were Real

Yesterday I went to the Memphis Music Festival downtown. Apparently it rains every Music Fest, thus the weekend is also dubbed "Mud Fest." I went tromping through the brown slosh in my boots, the smells of cigarette smoke, corn dogs, weed, alcohol, and BBQ all hitting my nose at the same time. People's love for food was apparent, as well as others love for drugs and drinking. I can honestly say that I've never seen such a variety of people in one place! The diversity of styles, personalities, and interests was pretty outstanding. From preps to hippies, everyone was there. I didn't know that some hair colors were possible until yesterday!

Making my way through the crowd towards the huge outside stage, I ate some kind of strange gyro that dripped its sauce all over my scarf, shirt, and jacket. As I waited for one of the most currently popular bands to come out on the stage, I heard loud and perverse conversation behind me, a group's love for Canada to my left, quiet conversation to my right, and a crowd of people in front of me all absorbed with the excitement of the moment. Thousands of people were gathering together to hear from their favorite band. I watched, so impressed by all the complete transparency of everyone around me. As the first member walked out on stage, a roar from the front of the crowd made its way back until everyone was cheering. The lights came on, and the band began to play. The music was incredible. I could feel the bass beating in my chest. The voices were perfect. The Crowd Went Wild.

As I tiptoed to peer over the heads of the crowd, I saw the band displaying a marvelous performance. The singer was mesmerizing, the guitar players were all over the place, the keyboard player completely absorbed, and the drummer made me think his head was about to fall off. They genuinely loved every single note they played. When my toes couldn't handle being the only support for my body anymore, I began to observe the crowd again. There were two guys in front of me jumping up and down in incredible excitement. They were obvious fans. Several people had one or both hands lifted up towards the stage. Many people around me were closing their eyes- some were high, others were simply enjoying the sound. Others showed passivity or dislike.

In that moment, amidst a crowd of people who were not afraid to show who they really were, I asked myself the question-

"What If we were Real?"

The band was incredible because they lived what they sang, and they genuinely loved what they did- they believed in their music. What if worship leaders did the same? The crowd was worshipping (I mean, the Bible says "Clap your hands and praise the Lord." And we lift our hands in worship. They were doing the same, praising the band for their music and exalting their talent. I would call that worshipping) the artists unashamedly. What if we did the same on Sunday morning at church? What if we felt the same way about Jesus while we sang? People were outspoken- throwing beer cans up and across the crowd, and speaking their minds about what they thought. No one was trying to hide their what we could call problems. What if we were like that? What if we took off the mask of perfection we like to put on and started to talk about our struggles? What if we stopped judging people and started to be honest that we are just like those we point fingers at?

In that moment I thought- What if this was the church? What if one day, this passion and unashamed craziness would be directed towards the most Creative Artist? Hope filled my heart as I looked around at my mission field. See the fields- they are ready to be harvested! We just need more laborers. We need more people willing to step outside of the church and start being the church. This world needs us to be real! Pop the bubble you are living in and listen to the harvest! They need people to identify with. I can tell you one thing- every Christian out there has struggled with something. Stealing, lying, pornography, fornication, insecurity, suicidal thoughts, adultery, fear, financial problems - all are things that someone in the world can relate to! I'm not ashamed to say that I am not perfect- AT ALL. But I am loved. I'm accepted. I can be myself, knowing that I am forgiven. I am living with a joy and life inside of me given from God that makes me complete and whole. So many others need to hear that they can be accepted and forgiven too. All have sinned and fallen short! I encourage you, go find someone who has or is walking through something that you can relate to- tear down those walls, and be real. That's what being the church is all about.