I attend a fair number of Christian conferences every year, and I often feel a bit out of my element in that environment. Not only are my peers typically a little more conservative in their theology than I am, they are also much more demonstrative when it comes to worship. I find myself standing awkwardly with my arms at my side or crossed over my chest, while most everyone else around me raises their hands heavenward, eyes closed, swaying passionately to the music. More recently I’ve taken to sitting in the back, where I can be my stoic, uptight self without anyone noticing.
I used to feel badly about my lack of passion during worship. I worried it reflected a lack of faith. Why don’t I get all emotional over Jesus? I wondered. I worried that acting like such a stuffed shirt meant I didn’t love God enough.
I’ve since realized that there’s no one right way to worship and celebrate God. What counts isn’t how we demonstrate our love God, but that we love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.
Let’s look at some of the people featured in the verses we read in church yesterday. When the shepherds heard the news about the birth of the Savior, they actively rejoiced, hurrying to the village to crowd into the manger. After witnessing the baby Jesus, they left immediately and began to spread the word, eager to tell everyone they encountered about this Good News. The shepherds put their faith and worship into motion – traveling, visiting and then verbally glorifying and praising God everywhere they went, even as they returned to their flocks.
Now compare that demonstrative reaction to Mary’s response. While the shepherds and other visitors crowded around her and the baby, praising, rejoicing and exclaiming over the astonishing news, Mary sat quietly amid the bustle, contemplating the amazing turn of events:
“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Luke 2:18-19)
The New International translation of these verses reads that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She didn’t sing Halleluiah or exclaim Amen or even pray audibly, but that didn’t mean Mary didn’t rejoice over the birth of the Savior. She rejoiced differently than the shepherds; she quietly received the gift.
The very different ways Mary and the shepherds worshipped Jesus reminds me that praise and prayer come in many forms – boisterous and joyful, quiet and contemplative. There’s no right or wrong or even preferred way to worship. Faith takes all shapes and sizes. Faith takes all forms. God, I believe, desires that we be ourselves, the people he made us to be, and to love and worship him in our own unique, perfect way.
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever participated in a worship service that was completely different from the kind you usually attend? Did it make you consider your faith or worship practices differently? Do you relate more to Mary or to the shepherds in these verses?
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Michelle – Lately I have heard discussion on worship & how it should look, what should be done, etc. Like you, I truly feel that what is most important is the posture of our hearts. I am so grateful that throughout Scripture, we see such varied forms of worship & I find that such a relief. May I always seek to worship Him in sincerity of heart, with my eyes off man & fully focused on Him Who is worthy of all my praise. Thank you for sharing this post today.
You hit on something important Michelle, when it comes to worship. There are no “shoulds” when it comes to our conversations and adoration with and of Jesus. We wants us to come to him as we are, his children. There isn’t a “right” way.
My most profound time of feeling this was in college. I was raised in a much more “sedate,” less vocal faith tradition, and I was worried that I must not be “getting it,” like these people who worshiped differently from me. As I’ve gotten older, I appreciate the diversity of each individual and each experience. Thanks for the opportunity to link up. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Michelle.
I am soooo glad you did a post about this and I never thought of the correlation between the two, the scripture and the styles. I have noticed that often some people feel their way is the better way, the more holy way. Worship flows out of who we are. Are we exuberant and passionate? Worship will flow from that. Worship flows out of our culture, our family, it encompasses many things. I have never understood why people don’t recognize that God loves diversity. We live in a diverse world, we are all diverse as people, as cultures and in our worship.
“What counts isn’t how we demonstrate our love God, but that we love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.”
You’re exactly right, Michelle. We’ve joined a new church the past year and a half, and the worship expressions are very different. At first I was a tad uncomfortable, but now it’s most natural. Everyone worships differently; I think God designed it to be so.
“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
I love how you expounded on this verse, pointing out the different responses to the miracle of Christ’s birth.
I was recently thinking about this description of Mary, how she pondered things in her heart, thinking about the often. I find myself doing the same sort of thing. Sometimes it’s watching a child or animal and learning a lesson from their behavior. Other times, it’s a difficult-to-understand passage in the Bible, where the explaination given by the commentaries just doesn’t seem to fit…so I ponder over it, waiting for the time when the Holy Spirit brings it to mind, again, with new understanding.
Hi Michelle! My first “church” experience, where I went because I wanted to,was loud. It was a non-denominational church on the second floor of a rehearsal space in the theater district of NYC. The music, voices, tongue-speaking, and freedom of this experience was lost on me. I thought church should/would be peaceful and quiet. Restrained even. This was just too loud. I wondered how I’d fit into this group of people who were way too happy for me. But curiosity got the better of me and I didn’t leave. I stayed. In time I learned to worship “Lisha style” and it felt right. I never felt pressure to release or do anything out of my comfort zone. As a dancer I found community in the dance ministry. I found my groove. But not everyone jumped around in fits of worship. Some were quiet and barely clapped. Some barely moved their lips as we sang. I’ve learned since then that God calls us to worship individually, based on what he’s working in us and what he wants. I think he loves it all and even designed our praise to be as unique as we are. Sometimes I hear him tell me to sit. Sometimes there are no movements, no words. There’s perfection in that. Still, I wonder if we touch the tip of the fullness of our worship experience as humans on earth. I think it gets richer and hope there’s a dance within me I’ll only learn when I meet him. Maybe we all have one. Even you Michelle. He might surprise you like that. I enjoyed this. Have a great week.
I believe I would love your church, except I might need to wear ear plugs if it was too loud. The spontaneous worship from the heart is where we need to find. Seek to be grateful and thankful for Jesus and all that he has done and is doing for us even now. The traditional church is where I find myself at present and the candle lighting etc of advent. I had to get away for a couple of sundays and visit elsewhere. Good hymn singing with meaningful words were precious, but I shall return to my church soon, cause God has not told me to leave YET.
Beautifully said, Michelle. My style of worship has changed over the years of walking with Him. For me, there was a significant life event that birthed a new way of seeing Him in my heart and mind.
I have to say that I relate more to Mary – but I happen to be a *ponderer* at heart. I love that you pointed out that our worship “styles” can be as different as the way God made our personalities. And just because mine is quiet, it doesn’t mean it’s less heartfelt. Sometimes I am so deeply touched with my thoughts and feelings, that I can only stand quietly and “ponder them in my heart.”
GOD BLESS!
Thank you for hosting your precious site! Love it here!
From the heart — that’s worship. Yes, I’ve been in “foreign” situations, too, and am constantly amazed at how diverse we are in loving the same Saviour. Heaven will be exciting!!
Michelle,
You’re right, there are no right ways as we are each unique in our personality and experiences….Merry Christmas 🙂
I am much more likely to have my hands raised, swaying to the music!! I love to worship out loud. But even for me, there have been times when I felt out of my element because the people around me were either more reserved than me or even more demonstrative than me. It always makes me examine whether my worship is true heart worship or is being done for some external reason. It also helps me appreciate all types of worship…whether it is a form I would choose or not.
Great post (as usual!) Michelle! I used to feel the same way… I am a very expressive person by nature (couldn’t tell, could ya?? 😉 but when we first started going to churches that worship might be a little more expressive, I think I spent more time watching others than paying attention to the worship songs.
But as I have grown in relationship with God, I know I am singing TO Him FOR Him… and if the spirit moves, I lift my hands. I might sway. Or if I stand totally still, I know that is ok too. 🙂 But by nature, I am more like a shepherd. Blessings, sister!
Hi Michelle, I’m so glad I discovered your blog {Thanks to Shelly Miller}. The verse you chose in your post was exactly what I shared with my kids on Sunday. I love this idea of their worship. This gives me good context to continue our conversation next week. Thanks! 🙂
interesting that perhaps Mary was a little more Stoic. and maybe the shepherds were little more Demonstrative. I wonder if they had different musical taste As well?.