On Tuesday evening, I returned from a wonderful five days at Joni and Friends family retreat. What an interesting and amazing experience all at one time. There are many things that stood out to me and that were learned, but one comes to mind to share with you today.
I have been thinking a lot recently about the “rules” of being a Christian that are so often laid out. I feel like so much of the time there are so many different churches and different people telling you that this or that is wrong with no Biblical back up. They tell you to dress up for church, they tell you to not say a certain thing because it’s considered “swearing”, they tell you to dress a certain way, they tell you not to listen to a certain song, they tell you only to say certain things and be certain people, but why? Often times I find that these rules just set up walls and block people out. When we set up rules, one person’s rules clash with another causing conflict, but yet Christ calls us to love and love deeply each another. How does that all work out?
One of these things I have been thinking about a lot is the way we are taught to worship. For one, they always tell you to stand up, as if standing is going to do anything. They then tell you to close your eyes or raise your hands in worship to God, to reach out and touch God. They tell you that we can only worship through a certain kind of music, through a hymn or just only certain music types. You are to stand still and to not look around, and if you do you are greatly looked upon for doing so. But why is all of this so?
While being at Joni Camp, I began to see worship in a totally different way. Not everyone stood up to sing. In fact, often times people didn’t stand, some weren’t able to stand and others didn’t want to block the view of those who weren’t able to stand. Not everyone would say the right words and sing on tune. In fact, some would sing way off key and some wouldn’t even sing at all. And there were even those who couldn’t even speak a word that would smile and raise their hands in worship.
I have been thinking a lot recently about the “rules” of being a Christian that are so often laid out. I feel like so much of the time there are so many different churches and different people telling you that this or that is wrong with no Biblical back up. They tell you to dress up for church, they tell you to not say a certain thing because it’s considered “swearing”, they tell you to dress a certain way, they tell you not to listen to a certain song, they tell you only to say certain things and be certain people, but why? Often times I find that these rules just set up walls and block people out. When we set up rules, one person’s rules clash with another causing conflict, but yet Christ calls us to love and love deeply each another. How does that all work out?
One of these things I have been thinking about a lot is the way we are taught to worship. For one, they always tell you to stand up, as if standing is going to do anything. They then tell you to close your eyes or raise your hands in worship to God, to reach out and touch God. They tell you that we can only worship through a certain kind of music, through a hymn or just only certain music types. You are to stand still and to not look around, and if you do you are greatly looked upon for doing so. But why is all of this so?
While being at Joni Camp, I began to see worship in a totally different way. Not everyone stood up to sing. In fact, often times people didn’t stand, some weren’t able to stand and others didn’t want to block the view of those who weren’t able to stand. Not everyone would say the right words and sing on tune. In fact, some would sing way off key and some wouldn’t even sing at all. And there were even those who couldn’t even speak a word that would smile and raise their hands in worship.
Worship wasn’t made for a certain aspect and to be done in only one certain way. It was made to be done in each person’s own way. With or without words, with or without standing, with or without eyes shut and hands raised, with or without being in tune, with or without movement. God doesn’t set a standard for worship in the Bible and we aren’t only called to do it in one specific way. I was once again reminded that I can’t just do things a specific way all the time, and that sometimes there is room to let loose and just be my own person and for you be your own person. After all, isn’t it God who made you with your own specific desires and ways to worship? And if that’s true, wouldn’t it make Him all the more excited to see you worshipping with the gifts, talents and desires that He made you with? Just a thought for today.
