Handcuffed in worship

[rockswillcryout]

I will dance I will sing

To be mad for my King

Nothing Lord is hindering

And I'll become even more

Undignified than this

Some would say it's foolishness but

I'll become even more

Undignified than this

Author Matt Redman

Copyright 1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Woo-Hoo!

[WISDOM]

Last night I helped lead worship to kick off the youth camp for our church. The audience was about 100 teenagers, including my daughter, who were starting their week at camp in the woods.

For whatever reason I felt convicted enough through the music to bring a lot of energy to the stage and to dance and jump in rhythm with the beat. Considering that I come from a conservative Presbyterian background, and that this is a Calvary Chapel type of church I would say that maybe my dancing was a bit out of the ordinary. However, the spirit was moving through me, and it seemed to transfer to a lot of the kids that were in attendance.

After our set the guys in the band were very positive, and even my daughter came up to me and told me her friends thought I was "cool". Granted, I'm not trying to look cool through worship, but rather just did what I felt the spirit led me to do.

I even looked up some scriptures, and there are about 18 references to dancing in scripture, so I don't think what I did was out of line. However, our worship pastor pulled me aside before I left and told me he was embarassed by what I did.

Am I wrong to be upset about this? I've never danced in worship before, which might be the reason for it coming across as shocking to some, but where do you see this? I don't know what to do from this point forward. I love to worship, but I don't feel I should be hindered because someone else might be embarassed by it. Were we glorifying the Lord through music? I would say yes we were. We brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a group of kids. What's wrong with that?

I don't know. I just got mixed signals through all of this and it kind of leaves me with bittersweet taste in my mouth right now, if you know what I mean.

Cuda:

What you did last night was wonderful for those youth to witness and even the "stuff collars" who complained to the pastor! There is nothing like being filled with the JOY of the LORD and not being ashamed to openly express it through the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT!

It is sad for me to see all too often how so many professed Christians cannot distinguish the difference between dancing for the "golden calf", and dancing for the "KING of Glory". It is a celebration everytime we come as two or more before HIS throne when singing, shouting, and dancing.

When the "lost son" returned home to the joy of his father, they celebrated with music and DANCING (Luke 15:25). Answered prayer turns our mourning into DANCING before HIS presence (Psalm 30:11). When YOU and I praise our heavenly FATHER, HE wants us to sing and DANCE if we feel so (Psalm 149:3), for it pleases HIM, AND HE takes pleasure in seeing us this way (Psalm 149:4).

There are going to be many, who are going to be shocked once they arrive in Heaven and find out that most of the restrictions they've tried to place on fellow Believers were of THEIR OWN DOING....and NOT from ABOVE! :oww:

Cuda......continue to be a GOD-pleaser, NOT a man-pleaser!

[BigJer]

I think that when we are doing something new in our experience, the newness is what makes it feel so strange. Therefore, you may be feeling something that isn't really the Holy Spirit, but just a 'strange' feeling because you have never done it before. Just a thought that I didn't see so far in this thread, unless I missed it.

[Guest yod]

It is sad for me to see all too often how so many professed Christians cannot distinguish the difference between dancing for the "golden calf", and dancing for the "KING of Glory". It is a celebration everytime we come as two or more before HIS throne when singing, shouting, and dancing.

I studied this long ago...it's really quite fascinating how we in America view all scripture through our own experience instead of trying to understand the hebraic culture which gives us the Bible.

There are different hebrew and greek words translated as "dance" in the Bible.

The "dance" of Herod's daughter-in-law was a sensual dance and a different meaning than the "dance" of David. Even though the NT is Greek and OT is hebrew, these words have VERY different meanings....

but are treated equally when translated "dance" in English.

I would call this phenomenon "western cultural" christianity

[JimR-OCDS]

Whether it was proper to dance or not has to do with proto-call. If your church doesn't have dancing during services, then don't, unless you get permission from the pastor before hand.

Many are pointing towards King David dancing. However, as I understand it, David danced through the streets, not in the temple. In fact, in sanctuary of the holy of holies, you can bet it was not permitted to dance.

There's a time and place for everything. If your church allows it, go for it!

[Born Again]

I even will go out on a limb and say that I bet God will be dancing, so excited that all His children are finally home with Him!

That's awesome Deb!

[nebula]

In fact, in sanctuary of the holy of holies, you can bet it was not permitted to dance.

Well - considering the only person who could enter the Holy of Holies was the High Priest, and that only once a year to sprinkle blood on the Ark . . .

[Orr v'emet]

KMB, Barracuda:

[barracuda]

Just to update in some way. I received an e-mail from my worship pastor telling me that he had found someone else to play keyboard (which is what I do on the team) for this Wednesday night. I think I've been doing every Wednesday service for about 7 months now, and all of a sudden I should "enjoy your day off" (as he put it). Not quite sure how to take this, especially considering I never implied or asked to not play on Wednesday nights. Granted I don't care if I play on Wednesday night or not. Fine with me if I don't have to, but the way this was presented to me just gives me a bad taste in my mouth, if you know what I mean.

This was just the icing on the cake for me today. My bosses wife just had it in for me today, and to read the e-mail from my worship pastor just about did it for me today.

Time to go play some golf.

[BigJer]

'cuda, That really is sad. I would spend some time in prayer to overcome any bitterness and approach him. I would ask him directly whether it would be a permanant break or not. If so, I would ask why. It could be something else completely.