#2 I brought emotion into my worship.
For some this is a no-brainer, but for many others emotion in worship is at best taboo. You don't believe me? Just look out into most audiences on a weekend.
I believe we need to bring emotion into our worship, not for emotion sake, but for relational sake. Think about it this way- any relationship without emotion is stale, boring, and lifeless.
I have heard some people say (most of the times it's a guy)," Well Pace, I am just not a real emotional person. I am just sort of an even keel, straight over the plate kind of guy." And I get that, sort of. I know some people are less expressive than others. Interestingly enough if you get this same guy in front of his favorite football team or let him catch a 10lb bass, all of sudden he is through the roof emotional!
Sometimes I wonder if the lack of emotion in our worship is a matter of whether or not we have allowed God to capture all of our hearts. Even the part of our hearts that loves football and fishing.
Pace, this is a great post and something that every worshiper needs to keep close to their hearts. I see those same faces sometimes in the crowd at my church and wonder if they've ever REALLY connected to a God that is truly "life-changing." If we really did understand what Jesus did all that time ago, I can't see how we could ever walk around with a straight face.
Bottom line...God created us as emotional creatures. We were meant to put forth emotions in our relationships. Why so often does that exclude God?
Posted by: Gary Humble | August 09, 2008 at 10:52 AM
We western evangelicals forget that God created our emotions. I believe God is something to be emotional about! We worship God with our minds, but for some reason think it doesn't count if we worship emotionally. As you say, we wouldn't ever say the same thing about a relationship with a spouse or our child. We would never totally disregard our emotions.
That said, I don't think we should WAIT til we are emotional in order to worship........
As a worship pastor I've thought about this inside and out.
Posted by: jan owen | June 29, 2008 at 02:24 PM
"Sometimes I wonder if the lack of emotion in our worship is a matter of whether or not we have allowed God to capture all of our hearts."
Couldn't have said it better. AMEN and AMEN. How could it not evoke the strongest and deepest of our emotions to have the God of the universe capture our hearts? Nothing could possbily be more moving...not even a record setting bass!
Posted by: Carlotta | June 24, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Enjoying this blog. Glad you joined the blog world. I completely agree with this and understand it. I'm the "not emotional" kind of guy. But I do get a little more active with the Cowboys. I love the diagnosis of "capturing our hearts." THANKS FOR THAT! Good stuff!
Posted by: Stephen | June 24, 2008 at 05:17 PM
It is so true.Even in my church in Malaysia.Is it a universal phenomena?What I am most surprised with is that it doesn't just happen with the "older" folks. It also happens in my youth group and young adult group!
Posted by: Alexandra | June 24, 2008 at 04:26 AM
I totally agree, I know for me in the very early days in my walk with Christ my lack of emotion was a result of either my guilt or my stunted christian growth. It makes me think of a song by Brooke Fraiser called "albertine" she says "now that I have seen I am responsible Faith without deeds is dead" I would go as far to say if you have truly experienced the presence of God in your life you can't but help showing some strong emotion!!
thanks dude, Zach
Posted by: Zach Lee | June 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM