“Great innovation in products, services, or churches is: Deep, Intelligent, Complete, Elegant, and Emotive” – Guy Kawasaki
Note the last part there. Emotive. It’s not enough to make intelligent arguments.
Everyone knows that they should eat healthy and work out, for example. It’s not a lack of information causing the problem. It’s avoidance of pain or hunger, or fear of failure, or a strong desire for nachos.
The same is true of church services. There needs to be emotional impact for a message to “stick.” Otherwise, everything learned goes out the window as soon as the first temptations appear. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the dangers of overemotionalism in worship, particularly the self-focused kind. I’ve sat through worship songs or messages where the leader or speaker seemed to be exuding “let’s explore the deep personal inner recesses – of ME!”
That’s narcissism, and it doesn’t belong. What DOES belong is passion. When someone cares about something deeply, they are passionate about it. You can see in their eyes and hear in their voice that they are excited to tell you about something that has really made a difference in their lives.
How do we keep that passion burning brightly inside of us? Remembering. Remember WHO it is that we are singing or speaking about. Remember WHO it is that can take a life that’s spiraling out of control and turn it around. Remember WHO it is that is our one – and only – hope. Remember WHO it is that can ignite love in a world filled with hate. THEN let people know – with passion!
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