You Have Permission to Praise!

A funny thing happened at church last Sunday. I usually go to two different churches each week. At the second church they had a new praise and worship leader. He was pretty good but during his leading he said something interesting. He invited everyone to feel free to worship in a manner that made us feel comfortable. If you wanted to raise your hands that was fine, he said. If you wanted to kneel silently that would be okay too. Kneeling is quite difficult in their setting as they are in a theatre building. But it was nice to hear it was okay. As strange as it was to hear it seemed even stranger to be given permission. It made me wonder – hum! – what has the Church (big “C”) done to people – to worshipers – to make it necessary to tell them they have permission to exhibit freedom of expression in worship. I must confess that as Anglicans who are overly @#*%@ (fill in whatever colorful anatomical term that I am loathe to write here) when it comes to doing things “in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) The King James Version states: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Either way, Paul must have been an Anglican! I imagine there are many other faith traditions that have placed limits on being expressive during worship. Worshiping “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) is interpreted to mean: in a manner acceptable and approved by us.

I suspect that “decently and in order” becomes more valuable and less negotiable the older we get. I am reminded of a scene from the movie “Courageous” when father Adam Mitchell (played by Alex Kendrick) is asked by his daughter Emily (Lauren Etchells) to dance in the bank parking lot. Dad refuses because of the exposure his dancing may generate in such a public setting. He says he was dancing with her in his heart. Later, after Emily is killed in a car accident, Adam is in tears and asks, “Why didn’t I dance with her?” I wonder if our failure to dance with God during church brings tears to his eyes?

When Jesus asked us to have the little children come to him it was because they were uninhibited. They have no adult neurosis, complex or baggage that keeps us adults from freely worshiping Jesus. Read Matthew’s gospel – also Mark and John – and you will read about extravagant worship. (Matthew 26:6-13) It was not only extravagant but it was also costly. Read the story of David dancing before the Ark of the Lord as it was being brought to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:13) When confronted by his wife Michal about his “distinguished” behavior, David replied: “I will become even more undignified than this.” (2 Samuel 6:22) David was not worried about what people thought of his display as long as his heart and body were actively engaged in praising God. Most football games at any level get more exuberant praise for a touchdown than God gets on Sunday mornings!

My first exposure to liturgical dance was at my first Easter service at my the new church I started attending when I moved to Florida. It was a small mission church located in a strip mall. The pews were unmatched and not consistent in length. I had only been attending for a couple of weeks. The bishop was present for this Easter celebration. The bishop was a former Baptist and a former Marine. Liturgical dance was a little out of his comfort zone to say the least! I still remember the mortified look on his face when the ladies performed. I do not remember a thing about their contribution so I cannot comment on it. But I do remember the bishop’s face. I am not sure he considered that “decently and in order.” While he watched, I am not sure he was impressed or moved. And I do not want to blame that on either the Baptist’s or the Marines.

There are many different ways to worship. Different things affect people in different ways. There are some who commune with God in quiet solitude. Others see his face as they are drawn higher through praise music. For some a good pipe organ is all they need. None is necessarily better, nor is any wrong. Many styles can be incorporated into the same worship service. I say this because I am “Unapologetically Anglican” and know that most Anglican worship services offer a variety of settings to foster engagement by the congregation. Join a typical Anglican service and see what I mean. You will encounter an assortment of experiences during any one service. Experience seems to be gaining popularity as many churches now use this term instead of worship or service. The questions is: What are we supposed to experience? Too many people miss the point of worship in the first place. Worship experiences should really be worship encounters. Can you really worship if God is not present? Is there such a thing as faux worship? Can you truly experience “worship” in a godless environment? The answer is emphatically NO! No matter what style floats your boat if you have not come into the presence of the risen Savior you have not worshiped. You may call it whatever you like – experience, worship, or service – but without coming face-to-face with Jesus it is just a waste of time. You could call it a lollapalooza if you want but please do not call it worship. Without God, the service would be like the earth before God spoke life into it. It is 

formless and empty. (Genesis 1:2)

You cannot fake real true worship. You cannot leave church unchanged after worshiping in spirit and in truth, if you have participated wholeheartedly. Loving the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark12:30) cannot be a passive activity. It centers on God – who he is and what he has done – and it requires us to move. We move literally and figuratively into God’s presence. If God seems far off, guess who has moved? We need to move back, to engage, to seek his face. I once observed a man with hands held high checking the time on his watch. I had to wonder if he was fully involved in worshiping God. His hands were up but his mind was elsewhere. And, before you chastise and attack me for knowing he was looking at his watch, I admit I probably was not as engaged as I should have been either.

Worship is our personal expression of our love and devotion to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is done in a public setting that should allow for free flowing moments of intimacy with Jesus. Inhibited worship is not what God requires or approves. Our freedom in Christ allows us to become more undignified in a childlike manner. Being in a congregation that stifles your expression of worship, of your being yourself in front of God, is not doing you any favors. I will offer one caveat here that there is a proper time and place for certain expressions. Liturgical dance would not always work during prayers and singing praises may be considered rude during the sermon. But please find a congregation that allows you the time and space to encounter, to experience, Jesus at some point during the worship service. Whatever fashion or style is valuable to you I give you my permission to demonstrate it. I know of at least two churches where this is possible and acceptable. As the old commercial said: “Try it, you’ll like it!” And God will too!