This is a week late. I wrote it last week during church (oops), but just decided to post it. The background info is that a musical guest made a quick comment about feeling like lifting his hands but having to control himself in our church. I do not claim that a person should raise his hands or should not. Rather, he should feel comfortable to worship God in whatever way the Holy Spirit moves him. This statement, which probably went unnoticed by many and overlooked by many more, just fed my angst about our inability to grasp the idea of worshiping "in spirit and in truth," or even to care to find out what that means.
When a guest in our church feels inhibited in worship, what does that say to us? 1. There is a spirit of oppression over this place. 2. We have grown accustomed to it.
If we feel physically restricted, is that where it stops? What does our inability to lift our hands suggest? Our inability to surrender to God? Our inability to expose our hearts to Him and to immerse ourselves in worship?
How ironic on a day when we are celebrating liberty. Is Memorial Day a time for pomp and ceremony and flair- or to remind us of those who have sacrificed for us? Likewise, is church a time for pomp and ceremony and flair, or to draw our attention to the One who sacrificed His life for ours.
Is Jesus honored by our restraint? Is He honored by our fine dress and etiquette? I often wonder what pleases Him and what saddens Him - what honors Him and what mocks Him. This I know - He once walked into a temple, overturned tables, flipped things upside-down, drove people out, and created an overall ruckus because the temple was being used in the wrong way. I wonder if it isn't time for some table turning again.
