One of the notable memories I have from my childhood church adventures is the "Fifth Sunday Singing". When a month contained 5 Sundays, all the local churches would gather at one church on the evening of the fifth Sunday and singers from each church would sing special songs.
As church folks often do, we grew accustomed to repeating the same phrases when we got together. Knowing we were all from different denominations and backgrounds, a staple of every Fifth Sunday Singing was this phrase:
Just worship your own way.
It always seemed conventional; after all, the Methodists didn't worship like the Pentecostals, who didn't worship like the Baptists. I grew up believing worship was supposed to be a function of our comfort level. Boy, was that wrong.
I never asked the adults why they did it that way. Maybe they tried worshiping in unity and it just didn't work...maybe they settled on "worship your own way" after futile attempts to worship in one accord. I guess I'll never know.
In my neck of the woods, there are still some very different answers when you ask various Christians "what is an appropriate way to worship?" The reserved folks think the passionate folks are just emotional; the passionate folks think the reserved folks are spiritually dead. Three years ago I would've said this: "It's okay for everyone to worship in whatever way they feel is appropriate". But a funny thing happened when I was awakened from complacency two years ago. I read the bible.
You know what I found in the word of God? Very specific instructions about worship. Consider these verses:
Psalm 134:1 – Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
Psalm 84:1-2 – How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 150: Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands all ye people and shout unto God with a voice of triumph
All of this instruction from a man, David, who danced all over the city when the departed Glory of the Lord had returned to his nation. So much, in fact, that he embarrassed his wife. I can relate to that very well.
Picture the scene of angels, elders, and creatures around the throne of God. Isaiah so beautifully described what he saw in a vision of heaven (Isaiah 6). He said the angels were crying "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!". Their cries were so passionate, in fact, that the doorposts were shaking from their praise.
John described in the book of Revelation (chapter 4) a beautiful scene where those worshiping around the throne cried out to God day and night, without ceasing. Sounds a little more radical than what we give God in worship here on earth, no?
Compare the visions of Isaiah and John with our interpretation and application of worship. I've met many people who only stand and give reverence to God when they like the musical style the band is playing. I've met many people who only acknowledge God in ways they are comfortable. Some stop at standing while others stop at clapping. Some will sing loudly, but never approach a shout. Some will lift hands when they are moved by something, but only when God touches them (as if He isn't worthy of a lifted hand unless He is in the process of blessing them...).
And then there's the dance. Many will tell you dancing in church comes from Satan himself. Let me ask you this: if Ecclesiastes declares there is a time to dance, tell me what deserves a bold expression of joy more than the God of our salvation?
The southern gospel group "Gold City" released a very popular song in the 90's titled "When I Get Carried Away". I mean, top-of-the-charts popular. Check out these lyrics:
I don't know why I become a little shy when I get around a whole lot of people
I can't figure out why I never can shout about the love that floods my soul
I must confess I can't express the feelings deep inside me
But things I know and cannot show one day will overflow.
I'm gonna let the glory roll when the roll is called in glory
I'm gonna get beside of my self when I get beside the king that day
I'm gonna have the time of my life when the time of my life is over
I'm gonna get carried away when I get carried away.
Cute? Maybe. Catchy? Definitely. Heresy? Bingo! It says a lot about the American church that such a song was so popular, one whose central theme is "I'm too shy to boldly worship God on earth; But just wait until I get to heaven!" To worship one way in front of your friends and a different way in front of the throne of God doesn't a fun song make - it makes one a hypocrite. If God is worthy then, He's worthy now!
I've found worship to very much mirror my walk with God. It seems the more my spirit wants to move forward, the more my flesh wants to hold back. I can personally attest to this: the presence of God became heavier, sweeter, and more intimate in my life when I began to give God my best, not just what I was comfortable giving.
For those of us in Christ, we are members of a kingdom. In a kingdom, your way doesn't matter. In a kingdom, the king gets what the king wants. The commands of His word seem to discourage restrained passion, calm displays of affection, and physical maneuvers tailored so as to not embarrass one in front of others. His word calls for passion and physical expression.
So, sing, stand, shout, dance, rejoice with excessive joy, clap, bow, kneel, and cry aloud to the God of your salvation. Don't hold back. Honor the King by being obedient. A sacrifice of praise - key word "sacrifice" - should cost you something. Don't give Him a cheap sacrifice. Show some emotion, even if you have to sacrifice some "cool" points.
Don't worship your own way; worship the way He wants it. It'll be uncomfortable at first, but you'll learn to love the freedom your passionate worship can bring. I know I certainly have.
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