May 13

Written by: tim
5/13/2009 12:49 PM 

 

Do you ever wonder why people do the things they do when they're singing songs at church?  Some people remain visibly staid while others appear as free and open as if they were in the privacy of their own living room with the curtains drawn.  It can be an interesting thing, the way we express worship and praise to God, and potentially it can be an opportunity for division and even labeling.

Some might look at the really expressive folks and declare to themselves or perhaps to some like minded friends that "they" are always drawing attention to themselves or showing off.  Perhaps even robbing God of His glory by distracting the attention of people.

Some might look at the more staid and conservative bunch and conclude that they are spiritually detached or even unspiritual.

I admit that I have struggled with these kinds of thoughts and questions in the past but as I write this little note I realize that I haven't considered the question for a long time.  The main reason for this is that God really grabbed my attention concerning worship and reminded me of the obvious, it is all about Him!

"So I shouldn't concern myself with wondering what someone else is thinking or doing?"

"No.  Focus on me."

Directing all of my energy towards the Lord in an act of worship has led me to two practical-live-it-out kind of conclusions:

1) It is impossible for me to overstate the beauty, majesty, grace, love, compassion, life, mercy, sacrifice and kindness of Jesus.  The concept of hyperbole does not exist when ascribing praise to the King of Kings.  Consider the second verse from "Love of God".

"Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made,
Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill and ev'ry man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky"

Pretty poetic stuff don't you think?  In the context of a love song we would appreciate the creative expression of the writer but we would understand it to be how the writer feels and not a factual statement about the intended recipient of the song.  With a song like this written to the Lord, however, we can not only be amazed by the lyrics' poetry but by their accuracy as well. 

If the above lyrics aren't an overstatement of God's love then what is?  If David danced before the Lord without restraint and the Lord was pleased with him then what can I possibly do that would exagerate the attributes of God?

2) I must foster, nurture and in other ways allow my personal expression of worship towards God to be an honest reflection of who I am as well.

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles."  Psalm 34,4-6 (NIV)

I cannot enter into genuine worship without acknowledging how amazing he is and how much I need him.  Freedom in Christ comes through a repentence from sin (yes, even as a believer) and towards righteousness through Jesus + nothing else.  Any attempt to "fake it" or "go through the motions" is useless and insults Him.  I can't skip the process and neither can you.

So... all that said, I will tell you why I do the things I do when we worship together. 

With all my heart I desire that my posture of praise will reflect the magnificence of God and my real and sobering position before him.

Blessings friends!

Tim