I’ve been ruminating on some thoughts about worship. Things that have been on my heart for many years, but I still find them so frustrating and stifling. All these thoughts resurfaced as I had a couple of memories…these 2 memories reflect two sides of one issue…
A couple of years ago I attended a worship night being held the night before a wedding. The night was to gather their friends and family and turn our hearts toward heaven before the great day. I came to the event and was in a season of feeling unusually heavy in life and needed a time of true and authentic worship. A time when I could release my heart’s cry with abandon. I entered the room and was immediately grabbed by a group and prayed over. The pain and turmoil of the recent years burst out of me in a deep and guttural cry. A release I needed. An opportunity to surrender the tears. Then I went to sit on the floor and began to worship quietly. After a time, the weight lifted, and I felt like screaming worship because I was so grateful. I stood and began to sing along with the worship leader. She happened to be leading several of my favorite songs. I stood in the back and extended my hands and began to sing. Harmonizing with her lead and feeling so free. Except I noticed at some point that my worship was being found offensive by some. I just brushed it off because I was there to worship God, not be worried about perception. Then the next leader of the night took the stage and immediately said, “We’re gonna do things a bit different.” As he looked at me, I knew he felt he was putting me in my place. He went on to lead songs that I’m not familiar with, which was good because I felt shut down in my most sacred place of worshiping the King. I’d come for healing in my spirit and just when that began to occur, I was attacked again.
Why is it that worship leaders feel threatened when the body sings loudly in accompaniment with them? It makes no sense at all. In order to check in, I approached the worship leader that I’d sung so heartily with and told her how much I enjoyed her leading and I was sorry if I had sung to loudly during it, but that it was such a welcome release for me. She assured me that she thought nothing negative at all. She was grateful.
Another time, I was leading a worship time the night before a dear friend’s wedding. Family and friends gathered, and we began. There was another lady there who is also a worship leader. I was so grateful when she joined in the singing. She harmonized with me, and I saw it as an “Amen” …a time when two or more gathered in worshiping our King. It felt like an elevation. An encouragement.
Upon reflecting on these two very different scenarios I have wondered what is going on?
If we are worshipping Jesus, how can we throttle people simply because we want to be the loudest…or because of our vanity? If we are feeling threatened, then I propose we aren’t worshiping God…we are showcasing ourselves. God is immense and has more than enough room for all.
These things make it difficult for the true worshipers who attend church services.
We are called to worship in spirit and truth, not in fear of threatening someone’s ego.
I know most people reading this aren’t worship leaders, but still, I hope this encourages you to re-focus your heart and mind when you’re in a church or worship setting. We worship God. Anything else is idol worship. I won’t have any part of that. It’s ok to worship with abandon, no matter what others think.
Be a David. Be bold and unapologetic. Give God the honor due His name. We were each made to worship. I simply refuse to hold back for someone else’s comfort every again. We only have a short time on this earth to worship…so I will do it completely.
Won’t you join me?
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24
365 Days in the Presence 