Question:
Hey all. I'm not sure if it belongs in this forum, but I'm the worship leader for my youth group so i just wanted to get your opinions on this.
I've heard countless times people say that everyone worships in their own way, and that nobody except GOD alone can judge them. Whether it's singing softly with your eyes closed, standing and meditating on the worship, or jumping around with your hands lifted up, singing loudly and confidently, many Christians say that everyone worships in different styles.
However, I was thinking and you know the Bible verse that talks about being undignified and rejoicing without any restraint? If it IS true that we should not let anything hold us back and just give absolutely all we have to GOD in worship, then shouldn't the ideal worshiper be like the third person i described previously? The type of person who bounces up and down with their fists pumping and joyfully singing out? Shouldn't that be the way that everyone SHOULD worship, since we are all called to hold nothing back when we praise?
I understand that going nuts during worship doesn't necessarily mean (and often doesn't) that true worship is being given to GOD. But I'm a little confused about this point. Anyone have any answers?
Answer:
Originally Posted by robOy Hey all. I'm not sure if it belongs in this forum, but I'm the worship leader for my youth group so i just wanted to get your opinions on this.
I've heard countless times people say that everyone worships in their own way, and that nobody except GOD alone can judge them. Whether it's singing softly with your eyes closed, standing and meditating on the worship, or jumping around with your hands lifted up, singing loudly and confidently, many Christians say that everyone worships in different styles.
However, I was thinking and you know the Bible verse that talks about being undignified and rejoicing without any restraint? If it IS true that we should not let anything hold us back and just give absolutely all we have to GOD in worship, then shouldn't the ideal worshiper be like the third person i described previously? The type of person who bounces up and down with their fists pumping and joyfully singing out? Shouldn't that be the way that everyone SHOULD worship, since we are all called to hold nothing back when we praise?
I understand that going nuts during worship doesn't necessarily mean (and often doesn't) that true worship is being given to GOD. But I'm a little confused about this point. Anyone have any answers?
Good question.
Answer:
A better phrase would be that everyone expresses their emotions in their own individualized way, and, to the extent that said emotions are a part of their spiritual act of worship, thus "worship" in their own individualized way.
I am the sort of person who rarely looks happy, yet is also rarely truly upset. I do not express my joy or my happiness in the same way many of my extroverted friends do; that doesn't mean that I am not joyful, however.
You can certainly say that we are to worship joyfully ("Make a joyful noise to the Lord", etc), but what exactly that means in practice will differ from person to person (and, I might mention, from generation to generation... believe it or not, people didn't always consider "bouncing up and down" to be dancing, for instance).
Answer:
"Never let your public passion exceed your private passion" -Beth Moore
Parable
I see it as this. Worship is the unbridaled adoration and enjoyment of a wonderful God. It doesnt matter to me if it is quietly standing there or dancing. My thing is it is ok too worship however you want as long as you are not drawing attention to yourself or distracting others from their worship.
Answer:
It would probably behoove most of us to focus more on what worship is than what it looks like.
Answer:
Also consider that the Hebrews used more than one word for worship. Granted, every word they use for worship is demonstrative, but that does not necessitate dancing and shouting. Several times the Bible uses the Greek word "proskuneo," meaning a kissing of the hand of God like a dog would his master. It means to cower/kneel in reverence/homage. "Shachah" means to bow down or fall down. "Cegid" just means to prostrate onself.
The Bible doesn't command us to dance foolishly and unrestrainedly at all times.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate It would probably behoove most of us to focus more on what worship is than what it looks like.
I agree fully.
"Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship." John Piper
"We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God." A.W. Tozer
Answer:
Paul took great care to stress the corporate responsibility of orderly worship in 1 Corinthians.
Answer:
Originally Posted by robOy The type of person who bounces up and down with their fists pumping and joyfully singing out? Shouldn't that be the way that everyone SHOULD worship, since we are all called to hold nothing back when we praise?
....Anyone have any answers? Yes.
Bowing to worship:
Genesis 24:52
And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
Rising to worship:
Exodus 33:10
All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.
Sacrificing to worship:
2 Kings 17:36
but the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.
Offering to worship:
1 Chronicles 16:29
Give to the LORD the glory due His name;Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Singing to worship:
2 Chronicles 29:28
So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
Worship takes many forms.
Answer:
Corporate worship is a slightly different entity then personal worship.
The point I see why we come together to worship is to offer God an act of worship that symbolizes the heart of his church. His body is multi facetted and thus so should be our response.
It's not a matter of everyone clapping in time and singing on key together that brings unity. I beleive it's the state of the heart that brings unity. So if you have some people Bopping, dancing, shouting, reflecting, bowing, clapping. God is thus honoured by the totality of his church comming together for one purpose. Dancers should not look down on the quite, and the quite should not loathe the extrovert, elsewise their focus is not on God.
As far as I can tell God likes diversity.
(do you think if you shout God will hear you better? hmmm...)
But the Lord does want us to shout from time to time.
Answer:
Originally Posted by robOy Hey all. I'm not sure if it belongs in this forum, but I'm the worship leader for my youth group so i just wanted to get your opinions on this.
I've heard countless times people say that everyone worships in their own way, and that nobody except GOD alone can judge them. Whether it's singing softly with your eyes closed, standing and meditating on the worship, or jumping around with your hands lifted up, singing loudly and confidently, many Christians say that everyone worships in different styles.
However, I was thinking and you know the Bible verse that talks about being undignified and rejoicing without any restraint? If it IS true that we should not let anything hold us back and just give absolutely all we have to GOD in worship, then shouldn't the ideal worshiper be like the third person i described previously? The type of person who bounces up and down with their fists pumping and joyfully singing out? Shouldn't that be the way that everyone SHOULD worship, since we are all called to hold nothing back when we praise?
I understand that going nuts during worship doesn't necessarily mean (and often doesn't) that true worship is being given to GOD. But I'm a little confused about this point. Anyone have any answers? I think you are refering to 2 Samuel 6:22 (only verse that mentions being undignified and most qouted by people who look down on those who don't dance and shout)
"I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."
If that's what you are refering to then the story behind the verse should be explained. David was bringing the arc of the covananent back to the "city of David". As he brought it back he began to rejoice and "dance before the lord with all his might". His wife saw him dancing (in only his underwear) and looked down upon him and told him that he looked like a fool and was not acting like a king. Then david did his undignified speach.
Worship in Israel always included dance as part of their worship, so to say that that wouldn't happen in temple would most likely be false.
The key fact is this was in a time of rejoicing for David. Tradition in Israel included times to morn, times to praise, times to worship, times to rejoice. In north america we tend to clump everything into the category of worship which causes us to lose certain "acts of worship" that are necessary. What is happening now is that people take this verse and begin to say you need to be loud and exuberant to properly worship God. (A complete twist from years ago when you had to be refined...just in case the queen came)
Your worship should always be with the same passion, but the act will never be the same from situation to situation let alone person to person.
Answer:
I think you should just sing to where you feel like you ARE giving your all, It feels really good to just go crazy, but sometimes all god wants is for you just to close your eyes and worship.
Dont worry about how other people are worshiping, do what you need to do.
(its really not that complicated guys)