Embarrassed By Praise and Worship

Have you ever been to church, any church, and there was always at least one man or woman who seemed to be really wrapped up in praise and worship? Like, they were stomping, hollering, waving their hands and just acting like a nut for the LORD? Well, I have. When the Spirit hits my mother, she'll be yelling 'Hallelujah!' for days, rocking side to side, and sometimes she kind of has to just stomp her feet a few times. Growing up and witnessing this quite often, I used to be embarrassed and ashamed to have my mother behaving like this in church front of so many people, people who I often heard snickering, or saw shaking their heads or just showing a look of disapproval, irritation or scorn.

As time went on, however -- specifically after I accepted the LORD Jesus as my Saviour and began to grow in my faith -- I soon stopped caring about what others thought about my mother's display of affection for GOD. After all, isn't that what we were in church to do -- praise the LORD? Not everyone worships the same way and there is no instruction in the Holy Bible on how to exactly express yourself to the LORD when in worship. Some people clap their hands. Some people stomp their feet. Some people waive their hands. Some say 'Hallelujah!' Some do all of these...and some don't do any of these at all. Some folks don't even open their mouths to whisper 'Amen' or seem to can even lift a hand half-way into the air. I know because that's how I used to be. Not only was I embarrassed by my mother's public display of affection for the LORD, but I was super self-conscious about opening my own mouth or even lifting my hands in church for fear of looking, I don't know, foolish? to others. That doesn't even make sense, does it? But that's how I behaved and that's what I thought. But no more, of course.

The Spirit moves all of us in different ways...some of us more than others, and He should since we are worshiping the LORD in spirit. At various instances in the Holy Bible we are encouraged to praise GOD, to exhort his name continually. So why do some people seem to look down on those who praise so freely? Why is it offensive to you that someone wants to jump up and down for the LORD? Now, note that I'm not talking about those taken over by demons or evil spirits who make an open mockery of the LORD and themselves with undignified behavior (I'm referring to those involved with the Toronto Blessing mess...GOD wouldn't have you rolling around on the floor like a dog or barking...show me that in the Bible). Instead of condemning someone for hooping and hollering for the LORD, why not rejoice that there is one who seems to love the LORD so deeply? I mean, who should believers be concerned about impressing or offending?

Think of King David... who danced like a madman in front of the LORD as the Arc of the Covenant was lead back to Jerusalem. His own wife essentially spit on him for behaving like that in public. But what did David care? -- King or not, he was in love with the LORD and he'd praise him however the Spirit moved him.

2 Samuel 6 (New KJV): 12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Note: Image taken from TextWeek.com


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The Importance of Going to Church

I grew up in the church since my parents are dedicated Christians and for them, attending church just goes without saying. I, on the other hand, abruptly stopped attending church right around the time when I started college (big surprise, huh?). That was about 10 years ago. I didn't go to church for a decade, but tried to remain faithful to the Word by reading the Holy Bible often, praying daily and living a righteous life. Needless to say, I wasn't 'walking' as well as I should have during that time. Yes, I was a good person and did as I was supposed to. But I also developed a few lax attitudes and habits...which I believe would never have come about if I had been attending church.

For some reason, I thought it was OK to drink alcohol/ beer once in a while, to smoke marijuana, to use cuss words and to even fornicate (I was in a monogamous, committed relationship after all). I seriously didn't see how these habits conflicted with my faith and loyalty to GOD. I had become an unsaved sinner all over again -- I just rationalized that GOD knows my heart, the stuff I'm doing isn't a big deal. Boy was I blind. Having only myself to really turn to in terms of checking myself, I was pretty much lost and really didn't realize it.

I started attending a church just less than a month ago, and therefore, have only attended a handful of times. Barely into the praise part of the worship, I instantly regretted all those years I wasted veering off of GOD's path for me. I thought, 'Wow, I've really been missing out.' That's how much joy and peace and comfort I felt just by being in the sanctuary surrounded by other like-minded folks praising GOD. It was also great hearing a man of GOD share a message from the Bible. I had been missing out on all of these things for a decade! I thanked him repeatedly for opening my eyes, my heart and my mind.

Going to church and being surrounded by individuals of the same mind with one purpose and heart gives encouragement and strength. It keeps you on your toes to live as you should so when you go back into the world you can fight temptation and stay dedicated to GOD.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New King James Version): 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

And I know how hard it can be to find a good church with people who actually believe on the Word and puts it into practice. No doubt the numerous false teachers/preachers/prophets who seem more interested in getting your monetary 'seed' and selling you prayer cloths, oils and even miracle water are a bit discouraging. But there are so many places of worship (Trust me, I know. There are at least 6 within a 2 mile radius from my home), that it can be a bit confusing about which to choose and how to choose. You know very well, though, that if you seek GOD he will guide you...in ALL things. If you find yourself in a place where you should not be the HOLY SPIRIT will definitely let you know! And as the Bible says, try the spirit. What kind of fruits does this church seem to be producing?

There is no acceptable excuse to not attend church, and I believe GOD wants all of us to gather and praise him regularly. Am I saying you should go to church every Sunday? I definitely am not. That's between you and GOD. Besides, not everyone worships on Sunday. Some folks even gather every day to worship. Again, that's between you and GOD. The point is, is that you do it. GOD always has a place and plan for you.

For further reading, try this post at All Experts.

Do you attend church? If so, how often and when? If you don't, what's keeping you from doing so?

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