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Uploaded by: deviantmonk July 17, 2008
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Question:
“Exactly how, and how much should we encourage our students to follow the
numerous commands throughout Scripture of bodily expression (as a natural
outpouring of the heart)?
Although
bodily expression in worship is not the MAIN issue, it can reflect an inward
reality.
Responses
to this question range from sober reverence – “do what you’d do in the presence
of royalty” – to complete freedom – “do whatever God commands in Scripture.” I
think the answer is a little more nuanced than either of these extremes
suggest.
Here are my recommendations for how to lead your church into
biblical physical expression. (I adapted these four points from Mark Alderton,
a pastor in one of the Sovereign Grace Churches in Minnesota.)
1.
Teach on the appropriateness of physical expression in worshiping God.
Worship
of God was never meant to be mere intellectual engagement with biblical truths.
Nor is it limited to an inner emotional response. God created our bodies to
glorify him (1 Cor. 6:20). We aren’t pursuing a Gnostic spirituality that
downplays or negates the importance of the body in true spirituality (Rom.
12:1; Phil. 1:20). God commands us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind,
and strength. That certainly includes the bodies he’s given us.
Many
of the words that we translate as “worship” in both Greek and Hebrew contain
the idea of bodily movement. The two most prominent words – histahawah in the
Old Testament, and proskynein in the Greek – connote the idea of bending over
at the waist or bowing down as an expression of homage. In addition, physical
expression is both commanded and spontaneously modeled in Scripture as a way of
giving God glory. (Ex. 12:27; Job 1:20; Ps. 47:1; Ps. 95:6). Those expressions
include clapping, singing, bowing, kneeling, lifting hands, shouting, playing
instruments, dancing, and standing in awe (Ps. 47:1; Eph. 5:19; Ps. 95:6; Ps.
134:2; Ps. 33:1; Rev. 15:2; Ps. 149:3; Ps. 22:23).
Some
have pointed out that the New Testament contains few references to physical
expression other than kneeling, singing, and lifting hands (although this last
one isn’t emphasized too often). However, it’s not readily apparent that the
bodily responses commanded in the Old Testament have been superseded or
fulfilled in Christ’s high priestly work, or that we now obey them only in a
“spiritualized” manner. (“I’m shouting
in my heart.”) Rather, we need to seek to apply these Scriptures in a way
that truly honors God and edifies the church.
We
aren’t disembodied spirits. God intends that we use our whole beings to bring
him praise (Ps. 16:9).
But how and how much? We don’t simply tell people to “sing like they mean it,”
or “jump higher for Jesus,” although in my early zeal to see God honored I crossed
that line a few times. Commanding a physical response can produce artificial
affection and actually end up being dishonoring to God. Nevertheless, it’s
clear from Scripture God expects us to use our bodies to glorify Him both in
corporate worship and in all of life. He is infinitely glorious, desirable,
good, and worthy of our strongest and purest affections.
Here’s
the second thing I’d do:
2.
Teach that physical expression should flow from a heart that desires to bring
God glory.
God
strongly rebukes those who think physical expression makes up for an idolatrous
heart or disobedient life. Moving our ministry into greater physical expressiveness
that’s not rooted in a clear view of God’s glory will hinder, not help, true
worship.
One
of the actions that supposedly signify spirituality is lifting hands. Lifting
hands can express a wide range of emotions and attitudes – dependence,
gratefulness, expectation, reverence, or celebration. However, God condemned
both the actions and motives of the Israelites through His prophet Isaiah.
When
you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make
many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. (Is. 1:15)
The
hands we lift to worship God should be holy hands (1 Tim. 2:8),
made so through our humble trust in the atoning work of the Savior.
In
our culture singing has become almost synonymous with worship. But God turns a
deaf ear to singing that isn’t accompanied by righteous living.
“Take
away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not
listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:23-24)
I’ve
known more than one person who was exuberant in corporate worship who lived in
unrepentant sin. I’ve also known people who exhibit little physical expression
on Sundays but have a thorough knowledge of Scripture, an exemplary life, and a
profound love for the Savior. We never prove our devotion to God by external
acts alone. God looks upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).
3.
Address the different reasons people might be reserved in their expression and
teach on preferring others.
Some
Christians are simply unaware of what the Bible teaches about physical
responses to God. They don’t know that Scripture is filled with examples of
exuberant, passionate worship (Psalm 150; Neh. 8:6; Rev. 5:11-14). Perhaps they’ve grown up in a
church environment that elevated certain types of expressions and ignored
others. Often simply understanding what the Bible says will bring about a
greater freedom in expression.
Others
restrict their responses to God because they’re afraid of what others might
think. They wonder if their image as a “respectable” Christian will be
tarnished. They’re concerned that people might think they’re pursuing
emotionalism. The Bible calls this the fear of man a dangerous trap. (Prov. 29:25). Our responses to God are based on
His worthiness, not some image or reputation we may be trying to protect.- I
personally fall into this trap quite often. Do you?
Some
think it’s hypocrisy to express honor towards God physically when they don’t
feel anything in their hearts. On the contrary, it’s only hypocritical when we
act a certain way to give others a false impression of our spirituality. A
better response is to acknowledge our lack of desire for God as evidence of our
innate sinfulness, and to begin to fill our minds with truths about His
kindness, mercy, holiness, grace, and goodness, especially expressed to us in
the Gospel. We then act in faith, trusting that God will give us a greater passion
for Him.
Another
reason our physical actions to God are tempered is theological presuppositions.
I have good friends I respect deeply who love God passionately, know the Bible
much better than I do, and are more reserved in their physical expressiveness.
They believe our worship is to be characterized by an attitude of reverence and
awe (Heb. 12:28), soberness and solemnity. It’s true
that reverence and awe are essential to biblical worship, but can’t bowing down
or lifting hands be a sign of that as well? Also, it’s impossible to ignore the
multitude of examples and commands in Scripture that emphasize celebration,
passion, delight, and exuberance, all reflected through our bodies. The
question to ask ourselves is this: Is there any physical expression of worship
that God has given us in Scripture that I’ve never displayed? If so, why?
Finally,
some think that worship is a matter of the heart, not the body. Actually, both
are crucial. If I told my wife that I loved her in my heart, but never
demonstrated it through physical actions, I doubt that she would believe me. We
wouldn’t have much of a marriage either.
In
every church there will be varying degrees of physical expressiveness. While
the focus of our bodily expression is God Himself, we are called in love to do
what is edifying to others (1 Cor. 14:12; 13:1-8). That means I don’t break
into loud shouting and enthusiastic dancing just because I feel like it. I want
people to see the glory and greatness of God, not my physical displays. I also
don’t assume that those who are physically expressive are seeking attention,
hypocritical, or insensitive to others. Perhaps God wants me to learn from
their unhindered and sincere expressiveness.
Our
focus should be exalting God in a way that magnifies both His infinite holiness
and His unfathomable grace which has brought us near to Him through Jesus
Christ. Our culture, personality, or background doesn’t ultimately determine
what that looks like – God does. May our churches be filled with the kind of
truth and expression that most clearly communicates to others the value of the
One we worship.
Let
me say again that in issues regarding our faith, physical expressiveness in
corporate worship is an important but secondary issue. I have no problem
worshiping God with a church that may be more enthusiastic or reserved than I’m
used to, as long as they are proclaiming the same Gospel and glorying in the
same Savior.
However,
our culture tends to separate head and heart, doctrine and devotion. Some
congregations sing profoundly biblical lyrics with no visible effect (which
doesn’t always mean they aren’t affected). Other churches are enthusiastically
expressive, but seem to be pursuing experiences more than God (which again
isn’t always true). So that leads to a fourth suggestion to help a church grow
in natural expressiveness:
4.
Preach and sing the Word, works, and worth of God, centered on the Gospel, to
raise the affections of people for God.
This
might have made a better first point. We don’t help people grow in
God-glorifying expressiveness simply by explaining it or telling them to lift
their hands. Teaching and encouragement may be necessary at times, but
directing people’s gaze toward God’s glory in Christ is our ultimate motivation
and goal.
Our
bodies naturally reflect what affects us. I cringe when a glass of milk is
about to be knocked over; I open my arms wide as my daughter runs to greet me;
I jump up from the couch with my hands upraised when my team scores the winning
goal; I gratefully applaud unselfish acts of service; I cry when a friend’s
child dies. Is the church the only place where our bodies can’t express what
our minds comprehend and our hearts are feeling?
So
our goal must be to help people hear, see, and understand the right things.
What does this look like? As we sing “No power of hell, no scheme of man can
ever pluck me from his hand,” some might raise their hands to thank God that
His plans to save us cannot be thwarted. As we sing, “My sin, oh the bliss of
this glorious thought, my sin, not in part but the whole, has been nailed to
the cross and I bear it no more,” some might kneel in grateful adoration that
ALL their sins have been paid for. After singing, “Crown Him ye kings with many
crowns for He is King of all!” we might hear joyful acclamations of praise to
the omnipotent, sovereign, reigning Savior.
Even
when my heart isn’t affected by what I’m singing, expressing my devotion to God
bodily can stir up affection in my heart. I raise my hands because God IS
worthy to be exalted. I kneel because I AM completely dependent on God for
mercy, sustenance, and wisdom. My feet move for joy because my greatest problem
– my sin against the holy God – has been solved through the finished work of
Jesus Christ.
Of
course, at the end of the day, I’d rather be sitting in the midst of a quiet
congregation that is singing rich, doctrinal truths than be jumping around with
a lively congregation that is belting out shallow, man-centered songs. But why
not pursue both? God doesn’t intend for us to have to choose. We can experience
theological depth AND passionate expression.
Our
physical expression should help people see the greatness of God’s glory in
Christ. It may feel uncomfortable at times. We may find ourselves on our knees,
broken over our sin, while others sing on, seemingly unaffected. It will mean
we have to make every effort to engage with GOD, and not simply our emotions.
It will certainly mean that we’ll never think any physical expression is
adequate to fully express our amazement at God’s mercy in drawing us to Himself
through the Savior. It will look different at different times, in different
churches, and in different cultures. But there’s no question that we have to
help those in our congregations understand that God is worthy of our deepest,
strongest, and purest affections. And that our bodies should show it.
My
heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to
you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to
you among the nations.
For your steadfast love
is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness
reaches to the clouds. (Ps. 108:1-4)
