A few years ago, I was at a worship ministry conference with some friends. The speakers were great. The breakouts were informative. The worship music was amazing. But I was conflicted in my thoughts, in my heart, and in my spirit. I found the picture above, taken during that conference. That’s me, front and center, in the midst of a thousand worshipers, with my hands in my pockets and my head down.
I think my introspection during that conference happened when I attended a post session gathering at a nearby hotel. I met one of the breakout speakers and spoke some about the topic on which he would be sharing. Then, he asked the question that I haven’t been able to forget.
He asked me, “Hey, what’s your vibe?”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “What?”
“What’s your church vibe?” he asked.
“I’m not sure I understand your question,” I replied.
He chuckled and said, “I mean, do you have a Hillsongs vibe, a Bethel vibe, an old Willow type vibe, a Vous Church vibe, or someone else? I mean, who are you trying to be like?”
Now, I don’t live in the dark ages. I know and admire all of those churches, but I’m not trying to be “like” any of them.
I guess I drifted off in thought some so he asked once again, “Come on, man. Who are you trying to be like?”
I smiled nervously and answered, “Jesus.”
He chuckled and quickly moved on to someone else with a different vibe.
As I write this, I’m at another conference. Once again, I’m conflicted and distant. Not because of the conference. It’s great and I’m learning a lot. But I can’t stop thinking about that conference a few years ago. I can’t help but wonder if I’m living up to my answer.
My prayer today is, “Lord, help me to always strive to be like You. Forgive me if I’ve ever reduced You or Your church to a vibe, a musical style, or a brand. You are my Lord. Help me die to myself daily, take up my cross, and follow You.”
JohnJFrady.com 
Preach it John!! We are to become more and more like JESUS! Love this post. Shirley (If you even remember who I am, hahaha)
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Greetings!
I can totally understand your predicament, I’ve been there and did that. I’ve come out from all you mentioned within this article.
However I would like to point out, that when you stated ““Lord, help me to always strive to be like You” I’ve been there and did that. I would like to share that “our personal self-effort striving will never cause us to be like Jesus”, because our striving is meant to fail. The Lord through the Holy Spirit, desires to make us see, that we have nothing within us, meaning the flesh, that can be what the Lord will cause us to be.
The dying to self, can only be accomplished by the working Power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord through His Spirit, will cause us to die to our “own idea’s”, our likes, man made traditions, religiousness our idolatries, the music we listen to, the way we “desire” to serve Him, our methodologies in studying more, praying more, shall all be done away with.
Our Lord desire’s us to Know Him, and Him alone, so HE shall do the work within you, as you learn how He kills the self-life.
When we have no understanding what He is doing, that is when we learn how to Trust Him, and Him alone, and not upon another person.
Dying to self reliance is painful and meant to be, because the Lord said “without me you can do NOTHING” and He will prove it…….
The Lord bless you…