I'm coming back to the heart of worship
and it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
when it's all about you
it's all about you, Jesus

Now, I've heard (and sung) that song many times before. But it hard me hard yesterday for a reason -- the church I was sitting in at the moment the worship leader sang out those words was the second church I visited yesterday, and the reason I was at church #2  was because I had left church #1 just ten minutes into the "worship" service.

I'm not sure that I've ever done that before -- left a worship service in frustration because I just couldn't bear to be there a moment longer. Now, I've been to a lot of worship services where I've not enjoyed the style. And I've been to a fair number of services where the preaching has been mediocre, or the preacher has said something that's a little off kilter. I haven't always agreed with what I've heard taught or sung in worship, and that's OK. I don't expect to agree with everything at every service. But I also don't expect a service of idol worship.

Idol worship!? Strong words, I know. Church #1 didn't feature a golden calf surrounded by liturgical dancers; there was no Asherah pole or Baal statue on the platform. No, this idol was far more subtle. Idol worship here was far more discreet. My guess is that most of the people there weren't even aware that they were worshipping an idol.

You see, yesterday was July 4th, and church #1 was celebrating with a patriotic musical.The service began with the worship leader announcing, "We're here to celebrate and remember America today." As I scanned down the list of songs for the morning, my heart sank. Every single song, with one exception, could have just as easily been sung at the local elementary school or the American Legion hall. All were patriotic. None were explicitly Christian, with the possible exception of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." My only hope was the communion meditation and prayer way down at the bottom of the page, after a long list of songs about country and flag.

Now, I have nothing against patriotism. I've spent decades in the Boy Scouts, first learning to respect the USA as a boy, and now teaching other boys and young men to do the same. I've studied, practiced, and taught flag etiquette. And the only flag I've ever burned was during a very moving flag retirement ceremony with my Cub Scouts.

And I have a confession to make -- one I've never shared publicly before. Years ago when I was in seminary I spotted an American flag flying atop the flagpole of a local cemetery late at night, in the dark, with no light shining on it -- a big no-no. So I took down that flag, folded it carefully, and set it at the base of the flagpole with a note on flag etiquette. (I even signed the note "Captain America," after the comic-book hero of my childhood.)

But I also recognize that Christianity is not an American religion, it's a global one. In fact, there are far more Jesus-followers living outside of our country than inside of it. And America, as good as she may be, is not the city on the Hill. That role belongs to the followers of Jesus, and to the followers of Jesus alone. There is a "holy nation" referred to in the pages of the Bible, but it's not a reference to the United States of America.

But the clear stream of Scripture was muddied by the dirt of syncretism that morning in church #1. As the service continued, I tried my best to be good. But two songs in, when the narrator began to list the dates that all 50 states entered the Union, I couldn't take it anymore. I had come to church hungry that morning -- hungry with a deep desire to worship Christ, not country. I wanted to praise my Father, not my flag. I love my country, but I couldn't stomach an entire service of worship to an American idol.

And so, two songs in, I bolted. My heart was crying out with a need to worship Jesus, and I knew it wasn't going to happen here. So I got up, left the service, jumped into the car, and drove around until I found church #2. I got there late, more than halfway through the pastor's sermon, but enough to know that he was encouraging the congregation to celebrate the communion together as a foretaste of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And then the worship leader got up to sing, and when he opened his mouth, out came these words:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
and it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
when it's all about you
it's all about you, Jesus

My eyes filled with tears and my heart filled with grateful joy as my mouth was filled with those words of confession to my God and King. Because, far too often, I am, like church #1, guilty of the sin of idolatry. I confuse the things of this world with the things of heaven; the treasures of an earthly kingdom with the riches of a Heavenly one. I may not confuse Country and Christ, Flag and Father, but quite often I confuse good things and God-things.

And for that, Lord, I am sorry. I'm sorry that I often forget the heart of worship. I'm sorry for the thing I've made it. Because it is, indeed, all about you, Jesus.

Amen