Monday, March 25, 2013

Easter: Does Worship Embarrass You?

There’s been a rash of worship going on at our church lately, and I for one am loving it. It inspires me. One man occasionally makes a lap around the pews as we sing; he just can’t stand still in his love for God. Another woman sways with raised hands, sometimes kneeling in place, lost in exultant praise. There’s an occasional “Woo!” here and there in the congregation and shouts of “Yes!” or “Go God!”

Not long ago I caught a smirk on his face as a man turned away from one such worshiper. I could easily picture him at a football game with his buddies, whooping and hollering for their team. Why is it that it’s perfectly normal in our society for someone to paint their body blue, wear outrageous outfits, or wave a giant finger to show team spirit, yet be embarrassed by the moving of the Spirit of the Lord?

I thought about King David’s wife Michal. She despised him for joining with the commoners in praising God as they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city. But his response was, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:22). He didn’t care what anybody thought of him, his worship was for God alone.

I know I’ve been guilty of letting the world dictate to me what is and is not “politically correct” to get excited about. But why be self-conscious in my exuberance for what I know in my heart to be true and eternal? And why would I ever get embarrassed in front of other believers? Yet I have.

Years ago, my husband came home at a time I wasn’t expecting him. Praise music swelled through the house. In the middle of my cleaning spree I’d gotten so blessed that I simply lay on the floor with arms open wide to revel in the moment. That’s where my husband found me, with joyful tears streaming down my face. And it embarrassed me. The spell was broken and I quickly got up, wiped the tears from my eyes, and mumbled about getting carried away with an apologetic smile.

Another time in church I was lost in reverie - eyes closed, hands raised, when my daughter tugged at my sleeve. “What are you doing, Mommy? Why are you raising your hands?” I whispered that I was praising God and rather than introduce her to this joyous rapture, I let it squelch my praise.

photo by Selaphotography
By myself I’m uninhibited – shouting, dancing, singing, kneeling, occasionally on my face before God. Over the years I’ve become more open at expressing praise at church too, and braver about mentioning God in public. Especially this week as we approach our biggest Christian holiday.

I don’t want the world to water down this holiday with baby chicks, lambs, bunnies, spring flowers and new clothes. As much as I love all that. Jesus is the reason for the glory of this season. The empty tomb is why we celebrate new life. And our worship of Christ is not embarrassing, but a natural outflow of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Death has been conquered – Halleluia!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes… I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death…So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me…If anyone is ashamed of [Jesus] and [His] words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Romans 1:16; Philippians 1:20; 2 Timothy 1:8; Mark 8:38).

9 comments:

  1. AMEN to this!! "I don’t want the world to water down this holiday with baby chicks, lambs, bunnies, spring flowers and new clothes. As much as I love all that. Jesus is the reason for the glory of this season. The empty tomb is why we celebrate new life. And our worship of Christ is not embarrassing, but a natural outflow of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Death has been conquered – Halleluia!"

    I must admit though I get a little 'off base' when people start running around the church! It somehow un-nerves me. But I love to watch others raise their hands in worhsip. Or when people gather around at the altar for prayer... very moving. You can feel GOD's presence.
    Trish

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  2. I know what you mean. It's always surprising when people start doing the unexpected, but beautiful too, as long as it's not disruptive to the worship of all.

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  3. Yay, God! Sound's so beautiful!
    Ona

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  4. Yes! I for one love to worship! AND I can't be very still in my praise to the Lord either...now that is just fine! Love our church services so much!
    Mary

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  5. Thanks for your honesty. I, for one, am sick of peeps and chocolate bunnies that have absolutely nothing to do with celebrating the resurrection. Worship should be an expression of the heart, whatever that means to each of us.
    Blessings,
    Marion

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  6. So true, Marion. Some of us are more expressive than others, but whether standing, sitting, arms raised, or quietly worshiping, it should emmanate from a heart full of love for God.

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  7. I love this, Beth! I love worshipping Jesus and this makes me want to do it right NOW. :)

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  8. What some people call a moving of the holy spirit when they Run, Holler, Lay on the Floor in church etc. is not always the holy spirit, but many times it's just a learned behavior -- One person starts, and others follow and the holy may be having nothing to do with it.

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  9. Good point, my friend. That can be an example of people pleasing from the other end of the spectrum. On one end is the fear of expression, on the other, frenzied behavior. Jesus said "true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks" (John 4:23). The question to ask ourselves is: am I doing this to please or impress others, or out of a heart full of love for God?

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