How often do you really think about what it is that God sees when you worship? I think especially of worship songs, where (it seems to me) it is so easy to simply get caught up in the moment, in the emotion of the music. I reflect back those chapel services and wonder if
sometimes there weren’t some of us who were trying to outdo everyone else with the purity and passion of our worship. There were worship times when it all felt so rehearsed, so… scripted. It kept me constantly aware of my own intentions, of my own heart, constantly analyzing and checking to make sure that my heart was true, that what I was singing and feeling was genuine adoration for this God of mine. I fear that, at times, I failed, and yet I can’t help but think that God accepted what I gave Him nonetheless.
I continue to be wary of my own intent in worship, to the point now where I often will not even sing if I feel I can’t be honest, if I can’t sing (or say) the words and really mean them. I still
wonder if the worship in our churches isn’t a little bit false, but there is really nothing I can do if it is — nothing except keep my heart and my motives pure and in so doing cause others to take notice of Christ in me. I think that is the beginning of fellowship – showing Christ in such a way as to cause others to be even more sensitive to Him.
Great points here Schnauffoo. I’ve often wondered the same sorts of things. It is all too easy to sing a song and not think about what we are singing. But that also goes for talking, writing and other things we’ve become so accustomed to doing. Thanks for the reminder.
Man I agree. I like what Jason Holdridge said at camp this summer. “When it comes to what we believe about God it’s good to be conservative. But when it comes to how passionately we worship our Savior, it’s good to be liberal and not hold anything back” Another thing he said was, “I find myself sometimes where I don’t feel like worshiping, but I find that if I force myself to worship that God will work in me and change my perspective.” I have found this second point to be largely true with me. The first point I agree with to the extent that our worship is part to glorify God and part to edify the body around us, which in turn glorifies God. (I learned that from Aaron Cook). I struggle with this notion. First of all, when I have a desire to raise my hands or whatnot during singing, I often times have to ask myself why. Why am I doing it? So I can be seen? The other problem is that I often wonder if doing so would call attention to myself and thus distract someone around me. I struggle with this a lot, especially at c-ville where predominantly the most anyone does is clap occasionally, but you have those few who do raise their hands and such, and there are times when I do, but I have to wonder if it’s distracting. So all this goes to say, I feel your pain man!
Heh, I used to have a huge problem with raising my hands with worship. I came out of a fairly conservative background, so all my experience with it came from charismatic backgrounds (which is, more or less, all for show). But through my experiences at Cedarville, I came to realize that it really is ok to raise my hands when I’m worshipping because it further engages me in the act of worship. I found that it got my body involved with my heart and mind. Granted, I didn’t do it unless I really felt led to, but I no longer look down on the practice nor do I question people’s motives when I see it.Sorry to single that part out. I just felt it was comment-worthy.
Yeah, I definately agree!