- Mar 28, 2005
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I am starting to think about what people do in public worship as compared to what they do when they are alone. When we are alone, there are no spectators, mentors, friends, or anyone else to impress. This is where our true heart and attitude toward God is most noticeable.
There are people who do all the demonstrative aspects of worship while in the presence of others, but never have the motivation to do the same things in private just with God. What would we think about that? Could it be that they are just putting on a show for others. If so, Jesus said that the praise that comes from the observers about the supposed "spirituality" of the person is all the reward they will get. So I wonder if a lot of public worship is just "man pleasing"?
I also wonder if much of public tongues-speaking is of the flesh and not the Spirit, because the Spirit will not motivate anyone to do anything that is inconsistent with the Scriptures. Paul said that we should speak in tongues in private to God and only speak in public if we mean to have the tongue interpreted. So, if people are speaking in tongues in disobedience to Paul's teaching, is it really an intelligible language that God understands and appreciates? Or is it fleshly nonsense and not of the Spirit at all?
This might be the same with "holy laughter" if it is only done in front of others in a public service, especially the "hysterical" laughter. Does the person have the same experience in private when it is only God who is observing? If not, then the manifestation could be suspect.
Jesus was very definite about what His attitude was toward those who loved to display their religiousness in front of others.
After over 40 years in the faith, I have become very reluctant to expressively worship in public services, yet I do not have this reluctance when I am alone with God. I feel much safer whooping it up when I am alone with Him. When I speak in tongues, the language is rich and expressive and I can feel very free and relaxed speaking to God, and it is fun, because I know that I am fellowshiping with God in the Spirit.
There is a Scripture that says that the Word was not made effective because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. I wonder that if worship, either in tongues, laughter, raising hands, dancing, etc., is done with the observers in mind, whether it is actually mixed with faith. Because without faith it is impossible to please God. So, is a lot of public worship pleasing to God? I'm having my doubts.
There are people who do all the demonstrative aspects of worship while in the presence of others, but never have the motivation to do the same things in private just with God. What would we think about that? Could it be that they are just putting on a show for others. If so, Jesus said that the praise that comes from the observers about the supposed "spirituality" of the person is all the reward they will get. So I wonder if a lot of public worship is just "man pleasing"?
I also wonder if much of public tongues-speaking is of the flesh and not the Spirit, because the Spirit will not motivate anyone to do anything that is inconsistent with the Scriptures. Paul said that we should speak in tongues in private to God and only speak in public if we mean to have the tongue interpreted. So, if people are speaking in tongues in disobedience to Paul's teaching, is it really an intelligible language that God understands and appreciates? Or is it fleshly nonsense and not of the Spirit at all?
This might be the same with "holy laughter" if it is only done in front of others in a public service, especially the "hysterical" laughter. Does the person have the same experience in private when it is only God who is observing? If not, then the manifestation could be suspect.
Jesus was very definite about what His attitude was toward those who loved to display their religiousness in front of others.
After over 40 years in the faith, I have become very reluctant to expressively worship in public services, yet I do not have this reluctance when I am alone with God. I feel much safer whooping it up when I am alone with Him. When I speak in tongues, the language is rich and expressive and I can feel very free and relaxed speaking to God, and it is fun, because I know that I am fellowshiping with God in the Spirit.
There is a Scripture that says that the Word was not made effective because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. I wonder that if worship, either in tongues, laughter, raising hands, dancing, etc., is done with the observers in mind, whether it is actually mixed with faith. Because without faith it is impossible to please God. So, is a lot of public worship pleasing to God? I'm having my doubts.
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