Let the Child Sing!

“Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.”
— Psalm 149:2-4

Wendy and I were in church on Sunday just going through the motions. I won’t speak for Wendy, but I was. We were standing and singing along. I was counting the songs till we got to the message. Wendy loves the worship music. I treasure the message more.

I noticed a young boy in front of us looking to the side and singing out with no care in the world. I was impressed that he knew all the words. Then, I realized that he couldn’t see over the people in front of him. He was looking to the side to read the screen at the back of the church that the musicians use. It was the only screen he could see. So, he was almost facing us, reading the words and singing his little heart out.

As the service moved from song to song, his singing became louder and louder. People all around the area began turning to see where the voice was coming from. Everyone I saw that looked at the boy smiled and then turned back to the stage. The looks increased in direct correlation with the increase in his volume. Eventually, his parents began looking at each other with knowing gestures. His mom finally bent over and told him to tone it down. That he should try and sing at the same level with the people around him.

I have no idea what happened on the stage that day. I couldn’t take my eyes off the boy. He quietened down for the last few slides of the song. My wife leaned over and whispered with a hurt expression on her face, “That’s so sad!” She was referring to him being told to quieten down.

As the song came to an end, everyone began to sit down. I walked a couple steps over right behind the boy. I leaned over and touched his shoulder. He and his mom looked at me surprised. I leaned in close and didn’t even try to whisper. I looked him in the eye and said, “You sing as loud as you want to! You sing as loud as you want, because you inspired me today!”

Let the child sing!

There was no problem with him. The problem was with the rest of us. We were the ones conforming to expectations. We were the ones trying to fit in and sound good! He was completely oblivious to everyone else in the room and was just singing his little heart out. It inspired me to see that total disregard for the opinion of others in pursuit of something pure and good. Oh, if I could just be such a person.

To be overwhelmed with a desire for worship that took into account nothing save the presence of my King. To cast off my image, as David cast off his garments to dance with all his might before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14). To break my most prized possessions in sacrifice to the Savior, as the woman broke the expensive flask of fragrant oil to wash the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:37-38). To offer up everything I have to Him, like the woman who gave her last two coins, her whole livelihood (Mark 12:42).

I think we often fail to understand Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:3 when He states, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” It is not just about being born again. But about humility. About becoming like this little boy and letting go of the world.

Stop trying to fit in. Let the little child in you sing! For if we do not, God will still be praised, but we will miss the blessing in it. For if the entire world was silent, the rocks would cry out in praise! But, oh, let not the rocks cry out. Let it be me! Let the child sing!

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

Holy Hypocrite!

“No, the church isn’t full of hypocrites; we always have room for more. — Rich Mullins

The accusation of hypocrisy is among the top reasons Christians today resist joining God in the work He is doing. How can we? We are overwhelmed by our past mistakes, current shortcomings and the fear of failures down the road. What right do we have to join God in the work He is doing? We will only be parading ourselves as hypocrites!

I, personally, have wallowed in this lie far too often. I started out as a youth minister, missionary in Pakistan, and ran various ministries funded through public speaking for years…until, 2008 the economy tanks. No one hired professional speakers and I had to get a “real” job. What I didn’t expect was the blowback from other Christians. Never anything blatant. Just subtle comments about “leaving the ministry” and “not trusting in Christ.” It weighed on me. I was a failure. I was a hypocrite.

For too long, I wallowed in the mire I thought was a road to a new way of living. Really it was just a mire that robbed me from the life God called me to live. It wasn’t the job. It wasn’t my friends. It wasn’t the theology. It was me that was wrong!

I had lost focus. I had thought, at one point, God needed me. And now that I “wasn’t doing what God needed,” I was sure He didn’t need me or want me.

What arrogance to believe that God needed me! That is the mark of a true hypocrite. It is completely at odds with the theological truth of the Bible: “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” (Acts 17:25)

God never needed me! I needed Him.
God never needed my work! I needed to join Him in His work.
God never said I could do it! He said He would do it.
God never depended on me! I depended on Him…until I didn’t.
God never gave up on me! What will my response be?

Every Christian is a hypocrite. By definition the term means “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs” (The Britannica Dictionary). How can any Christian be anything other than a hypocrite? We profess the truth of the Bible. Yet, there has only been one person who ever lived the Christian life and that is Jesus. Period. Full stop. No exceptions.

So, where does this leave us? In humility.

No matter your job. No matter your position. No matter what is going on in your life today (for good or ill), God doesn’t need you! The focus should never be on you. The outcome shouldn’t be dependent on you. God doesn’t need you! BUT HE EARNESTLY DESIRES YOU! And you and I most definitely need Him.

Paul ends Hebrews (13:20-21) with this encouragement, “Now may God…make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Emphasis added)

It is all about Him. It is all His work and He will complete it. And when we join Him, it is still His work that He is completing… but what a blessing He is willing to complete it through us if we are willing.

A true hypocrite is someone (me, many times) who believes that God needs them and they are able to do something for God.

A Holy Hypocrite is simply someone who the world sees as being unable to live the Christian life…and they are right. But that someone doesn’t let the accusation stop them. They readily admit they can’t live the Christian life they profess, but they know the One who can. They actively open themselves up to join God in the work He is doing, not because God needs them, but because they need God.

A Holy Hypocrite understands that if you look at me, all you’re going to see is just a hypocrite. I can’t live up to God’s standard of perfection. But, they do everything they can to focus people on Christ.

We all get lost along the way at times. I certainly have. However, I’m reminded of Rich Mullins words on hypocrisy, ‘“No, the church isn’t full of hypocrites; we always have room for more.”

I’m tired of living amidst gloom and doom cast beneath the cloud of hypocrisy. I just want to join God in the work he is doing. Not because He needs me, but because I need Him. What about you? Want to join me? I’ve got nothing to offer, but I know where we can look!

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” — John 6:28-29

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

I'm Running for President

“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13

Today, I announce my candidacy for the office of President of the United States of America!

You might find that humorous, but I’m completely serious. I was brought up in such a way that every citizen of the US is obligated to serve their country. Therefore, it naturally follows that every citizen is obligated to run for President (and all public offices). Luckily, for all reading this, we live in a democratic republic. That obligation only carries to the extent where I find another individual I’m willing to place my vote and voice behind as a better representative of my interests.

There is no historical doubt that the founding of America was based in large degree on Judeo-Christian beliefs and principles. A democratic republic means every citizen has a voice and a vote. They are to utilize both to support representatives to carry forth their values and positions. If no representative exists, then they should step forward themselves.

While the country looked to Judeo-Christian principles in its founding (a net positive in my opinion), unfortunately today, the church now looks to the country for principles to apply in the church; i.e. a representative.

You cannot relinquish your calling to a representative. Just because a representative exists, they do not release you from your calling. We do not serve God in a democratic republic, it is a kingdom and the King has called you.

You cannot choose a minister to read the Bible for you and provide understanding.

You cannot choose a ministry to care for the needs in the community on your behalf.

You cannot choose a missionary to take the gospel out into the world for you.

You cannot choose an author to explain your beliefs to someone else.

You cannot choose a youth minister to lead your children in the ways of the Lord.

All of these might be beneficial, but none of them release us from the service we were called to fulfill. This is not some legalistic message about doing things to make God happy. Quite to the contrary, Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” It is about being who God called you to be!

You have freedom in Christ! However, Paul encourages us in Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

It is about being who God created you to be. Understanding the greatness of His creation that is you! You will never fully understand that if you pass the opportunity to another representative. When you looked in the mirror this morning did you see “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness in to His marvelous light…”? (1 Peter 2:9)

Serving others is not about pleasing God. It is the vehicle He utilizes to grow you into the fullness of who He created you to be.

I’m not saying we all need to quit our jobs and go into the mission field in a distant country. I’m just saying no one can grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ for you! So, whatever you do today, “…do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

There is more in you than you know! You are greater than you know! You are smarter than you know! You are an amazing creation in Christ! But you will only find the truth by allowing Christ to work through you.

So, I’ll put my vote and my voice behind another for President (unless another cannot be found), but I, and I alone, am running the race to fully discover who God called me to be. There is no representative who can discover that for me. Today, I announce my campaign to serve as God’s chosen, royal priest and special person that only I can be in Him. Will you join me and announce your campaign today?

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

Don't Be a Chalkboard!

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling..." — Ephesians 1:17,18

Recently, I was at a graduation ceremony. The salutatorian’s speech revolved around the importance of a good education. In the course of the speech, he quoted another author (unfortunately, I did not get the author’s name). Part of the quote read, “The things we learn, we will forget, but our education remains.” This statement totally caught me off guard. How is that possible?

However, when you look at our current society, the statement is accurate. Many college students are in school for the degree – not the learning. Many graduates value their diploma over a wealth of know-ledge. Our school systems continue to move in the direction of providing an education rather than providing an environment where students are encouraged to think on their own and to learn. We spoon feed students the “right” answers so they will think like us. We should be asking them the tough questions in the hope they will learn to be better than we are.

The same is true – maybe even more so – when it comes to Christianity. Many Christians have ceased to think. We listen to our pastor and accept everything as truth. We read a Christian book and accept it as truth. In fact, many Christians are of the opinion that they are incapable of understanding the Bible, so they don’t even try. They listen to what others have to say and accept it as truth.

Many Christians have become walking chalk-boards. Others have written the information on their minds and they display it as truth. Yes, they may display a wealth of information. So does a chalkboard, but it does not own the information. The information belongs to the person who wrote it.

Why does the truth not impact more lives? The answer is simple. You can write the greatest mathematical formula on a chalk-board. The formula may change the world forever, but it doesn’t change the chalkboard. As long as believers depend upon others to provide them with truths, believers will not grow.

Imagine if the apostle Paul came to your church. How would you accept his teachings? I would be tempted to accept every word he said as absolute, unquestionable truth. Yet, look what Acts says about the people at Berea when Paul went to speak to them. “These [the people of Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

I believe we need more noble Christians in the world. Christians who are ready to receive the word of God. Christians who are willing to search out the Scriptures and seek the Truth.

Don’t be a chalkboard! Search out the Scriptures. Know that Truth is not understood by those with a high I.Q. Truth comes through revelation. As Paul prayed for the Ephesians, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, . . .” (Ephesians 1:17:18)

Today, open your bible and ask Jesus to reveal His Truth to you. 

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

Walking Among Tulips

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
— Matthew 13:44

In the Dutch 1600s, Tulipmania created what would be the legendary first market bubble and bust of note. A single tulip bulb, which you could buy today for less than a dollar, could easily be sold on contract for $50,000-$150,000. Some of the more rare bulbs sold on contract for as much as it would cost to buy a mansion. All for a plant that bloomed once a year and, at the time, for approximately one week. When the market went bust in 1637, several wealthy Dutch merchants found themselves bankrupt and destitute when the contracts came due. The market and mania wilted away, much like the flower, in very short duration.

Tulipmania has been taught and exaggerated for centuries as a cautionary tale about speculation in markets. However, while the history might have been exaggerated, the real problem is as true today as it has been since mankind began assigning value to things. The tulip did what a tulip does. The problem was the value mankind assigned to it.

We continue to do the same today. We assign value to everything: currency, time, gold, precious metals, rare earth minerals, etc. We even assign value to a dollar bill (which by the way is not a dollar; as of the moment I’m writing this it is 99.783 USD). However, as Tulipmania and other bubbles have shown, we are often not very reliable in seeing values correctly.

Let me put it to you another way: what do you worship? I hope your answer is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But have you ever thought about what it means to truly worship Christ?

The word worship comes from the Middle English and is the combination of “worth” + “-ship.” It literally means “the state of showing worth.” However, I like to think of it more like an actual ship. We all have many ships (states of being) in our life. I’m a husband, father, employee, speaker, minister, artist, writer and many more. I’m also a follower of Christ.

Imagine each of those “states of being” actually being a ship. Sometimes sailing in a flotilla towards a common destination, and sometimes floating aimlessly or even at odds with each other. Whatever the case, into which ship do you put most of your worth (money, time, energy, effort, love, etc.)? That is what you truly worship.

Worship is not the three songs you sing before the sermon. We worship that to which we assign the most worth.

Today, we look at Tulipmania and wonder what in the world were those people thinking? Why would you risk everything for a flower that wilted in a week? Yet, are we any better today?

What would you risk for fortune? What about pride or reputation? Respect? Acclaim? Praise? Affection? And the list goes on.

Truly we all still walk among the tulips. We overvalue the worth of the things of this earth that will fade just as surely as a tulip.

Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with many of the things we value. What we often get wrong is the worth we assign to them. We are called to worship Christ. We are called to give Him more worth than we give anything else. When we do, all else is seen in its proper perspective. When we worship our Lord we do not give up our relationships, time, money, possessions and all those other things, but they are placed in Christ and under His direction. They are put in His ship to be sailed at His pleasure.

There is only one ship which merits our worth and that is Christ. All is to be placed in His hold. All is to be captained by His Word. That is why worship is not an act we perform. It is a state of being or it is nothing at all. I am not writing to you today. I am being challenged myself. But we must all personally answer the same question in the end:

What, or rather, whom do I worship?

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.