Dialing down

[probinson]

are you talking about someone walking into a really quite type congregation and during the hymn, they shout out "YES JEEESUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! YES LORD!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" and then dance up and down the church? I think then it's a bit unfair to impose your style of worship on a congregation that isn't ready for that.
If the church is then there shouldn;t be a problem.

The problem with this is that while you say it is a bit unfair for the jubilant person to impose their style of worship on others, at the same time, it is equally unfair for those that prefer to worship quietly to impose their style of worship on others.

The point everyone seems to be missing is, when you worship God in Spirit and in Truth, there are no distractions, regardless of what others do, because you are focusing solely on Him, which is what worship should be. I would go as far as to say the one who is "distracted" is the one that has an issue, moreso than the person who is swinging from the chandeliers. We need to learn how to focus on Him regardless of what is happening around us. If someone shouting GLORY! and running down the aisle can distract me from worshiping God, then I dare say I need to work on myself, and quit worrying so much about what others are doing.

We all need to focus on Him. When we are truly worshiping God, nothing else around us will matter.

 

[sebastian]

The problem with this is that while you say it is a bit unfair for the jubilant person to impose their style of worship on others, at the same time, it is equally unfair for those that prefer to worship quietly to impose their style of worship on others.

The point everyone seems to be missing is, when you worship God in Spirit and in Truth, there are no distractions, regardless of what others do, because you are focusing solely on Him, which is what worship should be. I would go as far as to say the one who is "distracted" is the one that has an issue, moreso than the person who is swinging from the chandeliers. We need to learn how to focus on Him regardless of what is happening around us. If someone shouting GLORY! and running down the aisle can distract me from worshiping God, then I dare say I need to work on myself, and quit worrying so much about what others are doing.

We all need to focus on Him. When we are truly worshiping God, nothing else around us will matter.

I do agree with you, there should be no distractions, but what i meant by that, is if you walk into someone elses church where they all keep quietish then i think it is right to respect that, if they turn up at your church and told you to quieten down they'd be just as disrespectful, though i'd love to see every church worship God without any limits, people are not all ready for it yet, and some, genuinley don't like it for many other legitimate reasons.

We need to learn how to focus on Him regardless of what is happening around us. If someone shouting GLORY! and running down the aisle can distract me from worshiping God, then I dare say I need to work on myself, and quit worrying so much about what others are doing.

to be honest that stirs my heart even more to worship God, i love when i see the Spirit moving.

 

[he4rty]

The problem with this is that while you say it is a bit unfair for the jubilant person to impose their style of worship on others, at the same time, it is equally unfair for those that prefer to worship quietly to impose their style of worship on others.

The point everyone seems to be missing is, when you worship God in Spirit and in Truth, there are no distractions, regardless of what others do, because you are focusing solely on Him, which is what worship should be. I would go as far as to say the one who is "distracted" is the one that has an issue, more so than the person who is swinging from the chandeliers. We need to learn how to focus on Him regardless of what is happening around us. If someone shouting GLORY! and running down the aisle can distract me from worshipping God, then I dare say I need to work on myself, and quit worrying so much about what others are doing.

We all need to focus on Him. When we are truly worshipping God, nothing else around us will matter.

I can agree with you there, the first time I witnessed any type of Charismatic worship I was about sixteen had been brought up Methodist with the standard Hymn prayer Hymn sandwich, then to go to a church where people were all arm waving and shouting Amen was quite scary let alone a distraction but I wasn't saved then, Once I became saved it didn't bother me as much, some people I felt where just doing the look at me thing.

Off topic,

a person I work with went with his wife to her Charismatic church and during the sermon you were getting the Amen, brothers. He said he lent over to his wife whispered quietly in her ear "you didn't tell me you could heckle the pastor."

 

[Glenda]

I believe that personally.. for me.. If I can get excited and hoot & holler over a baseball game, Nascar race or concert, how much more should I be 'praising & worshipping' my Lord.. the Creator of the Universe.. the Lover of my Soul.. my Savior.. my all & all..

I want to worship like David did! I was watching God TV.. and someone said (sorry, can't remember who),

If the church in America was any calmer, it would be in a coma..

 

[Tamara224]

The point everyone seems to be missing is, when you worship God in Spirit and in Truth, there are no distractions, regardless of what others do, because you are focusing solely on Him, which is what worship should be. I would go as far as to say the one who is "distracted" is the one that has an issue, moreso than the person who is swinging from the chandeliers.

I can't agree with this... having actually experienced situations that prove it wrong. And I have several reasons why I disagree as well...

First, I don't think we should be so focused on our own personal experience that we "tune out" what is going on around us. If worship were simply and only about what is happening between me and God - then what need have I of being in the same room with other believers? No, I think there is more to corporate worship than just a room full of individuals doing their individual things with God.

If we're so focused on God that we don't notice what's going on around us... then we're probably missing the point of corporate worship.

Also, we can't be so focused on our own thing with God if we're to follow the worship leader... We have to pay enough attention to know what song is being sung, we have to pay enough attention to listen in case someone gets a word from the Lord for the rest of the church... So, realistically, even when we're focused on God, a little bit of us is still focused on what's going on around us.


Second, sometimes distractions are distracting because they are not from God - because they are demonic and/or carnal in nature. Those need to be dealt with promptly and not ignored or neglected because we are so focused on our direct line with God that we "tune out" what is going on around us.

I was once involved in a "worship" service that grieved the Holy Spirit. And the only way for me to have not been distracted by what was going on around me would have been for me to be dead. There was screaming, shouting, chaos and confusion and if you had been there, you would have known, as I did, that it was not from God nor was it pleasing to God. It did worse than disctract from true worship.

That was an extreme case and I know that most of you have probably never experienced anything like it. However, it taught me something I'll never forget... and I've seen toned-down versions of the same thing in "regular" worship services.

It needs to be dealt with, not ignored. If people are sensitive to the Spirit then, imo, such things (of demonic or carnal origin) will distract them from worship because the Spirit will be grieved by it and will point it out to us for dealing with it.

I guess what I'm saying is... being focused on God doesn't necessarily mean not being distracted by abuses going on around us. In my experience, the Spirit will reveal those source of distraction to the discerning so that it can be rooted out and dealt with.


I totally agree with probinson about most everything else here, though. We cannot allow our own carnal insecurities to keep us from worshipping God. That is true a lot of the time... we worry about looking foolish or being embarassed... and that's not what should be on our minds. We also shouldn't be falsely judging others but exercise discernment to know when a distraction is our own problem and when it is not and what (if anything) should be done about it.


I think that's the key to all of this... Discernment, letting the Holy Spirit lead.

 

[JimB]

The problem with this is that while you say it is a bit unfair for the jubilant person to impose their style of worship on others, at the same time, it is equally unfair for those that prefer to worship quietly to impose their style of worship on others.

The point everyone seems to be missing is, when you worship God in Spirit and in Truth, there are no distractions, regardless of what others do, because you are focusing solely on Him, which is what worship should be. I would go as far as to say the one who is "distracted" is the one that has an issue, moreso than the person who is swinging from the chandeliers. We need to learn how to focus on Him regardless of what is happening around us. If someone shouting GLORY! and running down the aisle can distract me from worshiping God, then I dare say I need to work on myself, and quit worrying so much about what others are doing.

We all need to focus on Him. When we are truly worshiping God, nothing else around us will matter.

But we all sometimes struggle to enter into real worship that connects with God. In any given congregation, people are there who have brought their emotional baggage to church and are already distracted by the pressures of life. A lead worshiper’s duty (IMO) is to help them beyond themselves and into the presence of God. When some person distracts worship from God to themselves don’t you think that interferes with a belagured person’s (who is already distracted by whatever they brought to church) from entering into the presence of God who wants help them through whatever ordeal they are faced with? In that repect, the only person “edified” is the person who distracts others—

Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Romans 14.9)

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Romans 15.2)

Love (for others) edifies.” (1 Cor. 8.1)

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the (whole) church that you seek to excel. (1 Cor. 14.12)

For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. (1 Cor. 14.17)

Let all things be done for edification. (1 Cor. 14.17)

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess 5.11)
​

Your job as a worship leader (IMO) is to ensure that all are edified through worship, not just a few.

~Jim

It is better to assume your responsibility than to assert your rights.​

 

[charityagape]

bump

 

[JimB]

Well, then, without rebuttal, I rest my case.

~Jim

It is better to assume your responsibility than to assert your rights.​

 

[Tamara224]

Well, then, without rebuttal, I rest my case.

~Jim

It is better to assume your responsibility than to assert your rights.​

 

[Tenebrae]

The one that really used to bug me was "come on church raise your hands" or "Church give Him a shout of praise" Like the congregation didnt know how to worship God

For me worship is a heart thing, and alot of the times when I worship God, looking at me a person might see a woman standing still with her arms wrapped around her body and being quiet.

For me that is a precious time where I can just be in Gods presence be as I am without the need for striving and trying to reach a set of predefined standards.