Physical Expressiveness in Worship, 1

I ended last week’s column with this question: Are we willing to let the Bible be the basis for what we do with our bodies on Sunday morning? Most of us respond to God’s worth with our bodies by standing, sitting, singing, listening, eating bread, and drinking grape juice at various times throughout the worship service. But what about the other postures the Bible commands? …things like kneeling, lifting our hands, bowing down, clapping, shouting, and dancing?

It’s easy to beg off at this point with, “But that’s just not my personality.” To which I would gently reply, “At what point do personality and culture have to yield to the Scriptures? In our relationship with God, should we always act according to what comes naturally, or should we deliberately practice certain behaviors and become more natural in them over time?”

Or someone might say, “But our culture just isn’t as emotionally expressive as people in the Bible were.” And again, I would push back with, “At what point does our Christian faith call us to be counter-cultural? Wouldn’t it be reasonable to suggest that we might start with how we respond to the works and worth of our awesome God in the worshiping assembly of His redeemed people?”

Another person might object: “People might look at me if I raise my hands or clap or kneel down in the worship service.” Knowing full well this fear, I would tenderly remind all of us of David’s example. “I will become even more undignified than this” were his words to his wife, who held him in derision for his fervent dancing before the Lord (2 Sam 6:14-22). And then I would carefully explain what the Bible says about the “fear of man”—a sinful, enslaving condition where we are more aware of the eyes of others than the eyes of God.

Finally, someone might just blurt out: “What are you after from us, Josh?” Great question. Here’s my answer: I deliberately want to encourage our worshiping congregation to respond to God with every part of their being—mind, heart, and body—because God is worth it and because the Bible recommends it. “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Ps 34:5).