[Worship] Expressive Praise & Worship

["Joy" <joy_in_the_soi@yahoo.com>]

<greg@gregjonesmusic.com> wrote:

> I was wondering this list's opinion on encouraging worship
> team members and the congregation alike in expressive praise
> & worship like the raising of hands, clapping, etc.
>
> It's obvious that these expressions are in Scripture, so as
> I see it there are two views:
> 1. These expressions are listed in scripture as models for
> how we should worship God.

I agree with this view, as well as Katie's "Free to Worship" view.

> 2. These expressions are cultural expressions that were
> natural for the ancient Jewish people, but different cultures
> will have different forms of expression, some more subdued than
> others. All the same, as long as the heart is in the worship,
> and the expression doesn't otherwise detract from worship, all
> cultural expressions are valid. So one culture (African-Americans
> are an example) may be more comfortable with dancing and
> shouting during corporate worship, while others (Asian would be
> an example) have a more subdued inward expression of worship.

Cultural shmultural! :o)  Every culture has its fair share of jumping around
and being free and noisy in celebration. A Chinese wedding dinner with its
prolonged screaming is a good indication of how 'quiet and reserved' us
Chinese people really are. Being quiet and gentle may be part of cultural
social etiquette in many cultures but it's usually thrown out in times of
celebration. I lived in Thailand for many years and have seen 'traditional'
little old ladies worship very freely by dancing (Thai dance) up and down
the aisles of a church. It never struck them as embarrassing - they were
celebrating Jesus and it was only natural for them to celebrate with the
proper amount of joy and enthusiasm that the occassion deserved! Asian
football fans are just as enthusiastic and noisy as their American,
European, and African counterparts... Asian girls scream and weep themselves
to shreds over ridiculous pop idols just as much as American girls do...
there is no reason why we any culture should be any more reserved in praise
and worship! Culture really isn't an excuse. Every culture knows how to
celebrate and rejoice!

-joy


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