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| Too Much Worship? |
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 Said to me after morning worship yesterday:
"Well...you certainly were getting into it up there this morning."
It is difficult to communicate tone in the written word, but trust me when I say this comment was not a compliment.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was definitely worshipping God to my utmost as I was helping to lead vocal worship. I am reading a bit of Tozer and couldn't help myself! Then, during Sunday school, we discussed the temptation of Christ in the desert and I was overwhelmed by God's provision for us. To put His son through 40 days of such difficulty at least in part so he'd know what we feel like when we're tempted...well, I just don't know how to respond to that except to worship. We started singing "Days of Elijah," "All Hail the Power," "We Fall Down," and "Here I am to Worship," and I couldn't sing to anyone but my LORD. Since I tend to talk with my hands, my hands were up, down and all around as I told Him I was there solely to worship and bow down to Him, to acknowledge His power and appreciate His provision for us.
Looking back, it may have been a little much for a conservative Baptist congregation to take. I may have to take the advice of a fellow Baptist worshipper who said to me once, "We have to choose our moments." Worshipping my Savior should not become a spectacle and a distraction to worship for others. After all, leading in worship is a different thing from private worship, isn't it? Striking a balance between authentic corporate worship and personal praise is definitely an art form. Plus, worship isn't only raising hands in praise, it is also bending our knees in humility and prayer. I am a work in progress. Thanks for your patience! |
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| To add a comment to "Too Much Worship?" |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Conservative Baptist congregation! lol! Soozanne, as I read I pictured a non-denominational, slightly charismatic church. No wonder you ran into resistance!
You wrote "Worshipping my Savior should not become a spectacle and a distraction to worship for others." Dear, this seems to me the absolute height of "in humility consider others better than yourselves." We are as Christ-like as can be when we achieve this rather than taking the attitude that we will worship however we feel led. (as long as other folks don't get too restrictive!) |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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I just want you to know that it is wonderful and refreshing to see someone truly worshipping on Sunday morning or any time. If we all could just focus on an audience of One!!!
Keep praying - we'll get there!!
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Soozanne, corporate worship is tough because you are suppose to lead the group to a deeper place of worship. It boils down to leadership and making sure they are following. Personal praise - do it how you want. I think I posted here several months ago about a time I was walking in the streets of Manhattan and felt the desire to praise and worship right there. It was late in the evening. I wasn't trying to lead anybody anywhere...just me and my God.
All that said, I am a firm believer that church isn't always about feeling comfortable. SometimesGod pushes us out of our comfort zones. I remember back in my Lutheran days when I taught a class on worship. I had everybody stand in a circle and raise their hands and look at each other. What was amazing was that after they got over that hurdle, more were willing to worship with raised hands in the service.
There is always a balance. I like it free. Worship on Sunday at our church was phenomenal, too. I didn't want it to end. We had people weeping at the alter, healing being done as we sang Healing Rain...healing rain is falling down, healing rain is falling down...I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid...wow...I get chills just thinking about it today. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Yeah, Mike. Go ahead and laugh out loud! My Dad, a conservative Baptist pastor, used to call himself a PentaBaptiCostal. It's in my blood, baby!
I appreciate your encouraging comments. And thank you for calling me "dear." I love that!
Kristine, thanks for that. It's nice to know that I didn't scare everyone off yesterday! |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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| Voice, "It boils down to leadership and making sure they are following" is definitely the crux of it. Having your class raise their hands and look at each other was a genius idea. Once people get over the "what will others think" thing, they can be more free to express themselves in worship the way God wants them to. For some, that's hands uplifted, maybe even swaying a bit; for others, it means eyes lifted to heaven that are filled with tears. I pray God will mature me to the place where any worship I offer during corporate worship honors Him and encourages others to offer their sacrifice of worship as well. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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As a fellow leader in vocal worship, my thoughts to you are this...we are not standing up there singing "to" the congregation. We are singing "to" God, in praise, in adoration, in awe. When we let ourselves be distracted by what people think, it takes away from our worship of God. There will be some in every church who do not understand the physical worship that some people show. That is their problem. You should not restrain your praise and worship just to make others feel comfortable. Remember how David worshipped the Lord... I know I have a hard time looking out at scowling faces in the congregation when we are singing. It is mostly the older members of the congregation who do not care for the "newer" songs. Every song has a message, if only people would get over the fact that it isn't an old hymn, they might actually enjoy the song...but that is another subject. My point is, that I had to learn to not concentrate on those scowls. I am singing to Jesus, and He is the one I am trying to make happy. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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| Isn't worship an one-on-one with the Lord whether it is in a corporate or private setting? It seems to me that's how God sees it. Those that worship MUST worship in spirit and truth..those worshippers are who He is seeking. How can we control who is in spirit? Only God, by His Spirit can draw us unto Himself. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Let it out, baby!
Why not?
We only get one shot at Earth, you might as well make it a fun, engaging, happy one!
Sing on! |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Yes Charlie, but I think we can control what we do while we are in the Spirit. After all, self control is a fruit of the Spirit.  |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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I agree Mike, that there is the matter of considering others, but sometimes in the presence of the Lord we just pour ourselves out to the Lord. Isn't that what David did and Michal resented him for it? |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Praise & Worship is one on one with our Lord. I have led in many places. The most critical was the children's prison. I found if I showed the young men in scripture where God says to lift holy hands unto Him and also about the wave offering in the old testament. It made sense to them and they knew at that point, their worship was all they could give to our Lord. I say raise holy hands unto the Lord.
Evangelist Shellie |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Not long ago I attended a community-wide prayer service that brought together people from several Christian churches, representing different worship styles. Since the worship team was from my church, where we are demonstrative in our worship, it would have been easy for me to worship as I usually do. I worshipped with all my heart but I tried to sense the consensus of the gathering and go with the flow of corporate worship coming forth. Others did not. Several uncomfortable people left out the back door. Later I talked to those who had given offense. They were convinced they had done the right thing, that they had pleased the Lord. But wouldn't unity among believers be more pleasing to Him? And shouldn't corporate be, well, corporate? Isn't that what Paul meant in Romans 14:15? 14:15 If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. The song on your profile says, "it's always better when we're together." I agree. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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"I was definitely worshipping God to my utmost as I was helping to lead vocal worship." I have a question. Did the comment come from someone in the pew or someone on the worship team?
If is coming from someone on the worship team, maybe I could understand the comment...... no, no I can't, to be honest, no I simply can't. Be it private or corporate, I worship Him as the Holy Spirit moves me. Sometime it is singing, clapping, crying with tears of joy, whatever. However, if you see me crying (and I do cry at the drop of a hat) and that makes you uncomfortable, that's on you. Everyone doesn't worship in the same way. We have to choose our moments comment is scary to me, really, what does it mean. Wasn't you participating in the worship part of the service?
Pastor Aminata |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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Wow. I run a few errands and come back to this! I can see this is a touchy issue with many. I certainly didn't bring this up with the intent of causing disunity. Forgive me.
I am considering 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
If I was a member of a local body of believers who were more demonstrative in their worship, I would worship with reckless abandon. I have, however, made a prayerful, conscious choice to be a part of a very conservative church. I love them and they are my family. Out of respect for them and a heartfelt desire to see them worship God even a little bit more freely, I will joyfully soften the outward manifestations of my inward worship during corporate vocal worship time.
My desire when leading worship is to encourage others to worship with me. Personal praise and worship is wonderful, but so is worshipping as a church family. We are all part of the same body. I can't drag a toe along by beating it. I have to encourage it to join me. If others see me as "too into it," it might limit their desire to worship with me. I don't want that.
Even if I turn my outward praise down a notch or two, my inward praise will never change. God sees the heart. For me, that is the important thing. I can go bananas outwardly in worship at women's conferences and at home. I am motivated by love for my church family.
If others see it differently, God Bless You. Worship as you choose. I truly believe God will bless me when I submit myself to Him and strive to seek not my own good, but the good of others.
Thank you so much for your comments! You have given me much to consider. |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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| JayKTX: AMEN, sister! |
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| September 10, 2007 |
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| Suzanne, I love seeing you worship God with so much enthusiasm. Try not to reign it in too much. You are an inspiration. |
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| September 11, 2007 |
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I fully agree with what others have said about the heart. We are making melody to the Lord with ALL OUR HEART! (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) Worship is/must be in spirit..which I take to mean the core (heart) issue of worship is inward toward God. That does not mean we do not or can not express that outwardly, but if we sit quietly in our pew with our hands folded or dance in the aisles, God sees and receives what comes from the heart for God looks upon the heart man (While man looks at the outward) I Sam. 16:7.
This is what I think is so wonderful about sharing with one another on such a forum as MyChurch. We can learn and be encouraged from/through/by one another. I'm changing my original statement. For the sake of others we should consider them and their comfort zone, especially on their turf. God sees the heart!
Esteeming and preferring others above ourselves is a living sacrifice which is also a form of worship and pleasing to the Lord. That word "service" can also be translated "worship." 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, `which is' your spiritual service.
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| September 11, 2007 |
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Lots of great thoughts here. Sooz, I would love to worship in a service led by your enthusiasm. We sing the same songs in my church fairly regular, and sometimes I want to just let go, but feel a little restrained. I guess I need voice's less on raising my hands.
Your heart is obviously seeking God in your worship and in your desire to lead in a way that does not cause your brother/sister to stumble. That is wonderful.
peace
glenn |
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| September 11, 2007 |
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Janine, thanks for that. You are sweet!
Charlie, I love our ability to learn from each other at MyChurch, too! It is always neet when something written here causes me (and others) to take a closer look at their walk with the Lord. |
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| September 11, 2007 |
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Soozanne,
I came back to see if you added some clarity for me and you did. When I first read this post, it was the title that caught my attention: To Much Worship? - for me this is to ask a question, as in; can there be? Next your opening statement: "It is difficult to communicate tone in the written word, but trust me when I say this comment was not a compliment."
I must hav4 misunderstood your post, and I ask for your forgiveness. It is never my intent to sow any seeds of discord. I do understand that when we gather together in fellowship, we seek to find a place (church or community) where we have things in common.
I teach that "worship is mostly seen as an event, i.e., worship service and intertwined with praise, when actually worship is a lifestyle as your picture above suggests, and everything that I do should be to bring God Glory. I understand your point.
God Bless you my sister,
Pastor Aminata
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| September 11, 2007 |
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I love this blog. Charlie, your comment made my day -- "Esteeming and preferring others above ourselves is a living sacrifice". Others above ourselves. That's beautiful! Worship, prayer, tongues, hands held high and waving, these are all wonderful things! But even when done for the Lord, can't they be done selfishly if we disregard the people around us? And a living sacrifice. Wow, that's awesome. Consideration for others really is a sacrifice to the Lord, acceptable and pleasing. Amen Charlie, and thank you. ~mike
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| September 11, 2007 |
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Pastor Aminata, I figured we were more in agreement than either of us articulated. Bless you back, my sister!
Soozanne |
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| September 11, 2007 |
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Your heart is in the right place and God will bless you for it, Soozanne. It can be difficult at times, though, when that same heart is brimming over with such praise and love for God that standing still is near impossible. Before going to our current church, we were in a pretty conservative Baptist congregation where raising hands while worshipping was only done by my family and a few others who were from "other places". They were very good clappers, however. Eventually, hand raising became a little more common, although still only done by a handful of people. It was a hard place to be for me, as I love to "give it up for God". We are now in a congregation that is much more compatible with our worship style. |
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| September 11, 2007 |
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| I sing right next to you, or really close to you during many services, and all I have to say is "put your hands up in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care!" Praise on sista! You bless me all the time and I pray that at some time in my walk I can freely worship like you. Haven't we had a conversation about everyone having unique qualities and purposes? Don't even consider changing based on the comment of one person because we all love you just as you are. |
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| September 12, 2007 |
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Nicky, you made me laugh! I'll be sure to continue to 'wave 'em like I just don't care' on a very regular basis, if for no other reason than I adore your rhyme! Thanks for throwing my past words in my face about honoring our uniqueness. You ROCK, sister-friend! I love you back!
Jen, I think we are kindred spirits. I look forward to praising with you in the heavenly choir. We'll be in the rowdy section!
Glenn, if you ever get to Bakersfield, you are invited to worship with me at church! |
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