I would like to add my comments to the thread in support of the view that both 'types' of 'worship' can be appropriate - at different times at the same or different gatherings.
I moved from a church that had 'praise and worship' sisnging times - but no 'silent worship and listening for a word from the Lord' time.
It was choreographed liveliness - scheduled praise - and it left me cold.
The Messianic congregation I attend now is not so structured and there is very lively dance and praise - but if the lord is calling you into quietness thats fine too and there are times when the whole meeting is quietly listening.
I guess where the difference here is - ae you talking to (praising) the Lord or are you worshipping (Listening) to Him?
Some people do one of them without the other - I like to do both according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
All the comments about praise , dance and song are true and scriptural - but unbalanced, there are other scriptures too - "be still and know that I am God' - 'Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord' and probably a lot more if I was pushed to my concordance.
The story that comes to mind most strongly though, is that of Elijah after he fled from Jezebel. The passage is 1 Kings 11-13 - there was a windstorm, an erthquake and a fire but the LORD was not in those things, then came the sound of a gentle whisper...
Most often the voice of the LORD comes when we are quiet.
My point being that these are different times - in one we are offering praise to the Lord, in the other we are listening for Him.
I have had a word from the LORD when I have been quiet while others are dancing and singing and the reason for that was I had been 'entering His gates with thankgiving in my heart and into His court's with praise' beforehand - other times I have been in quiet contemplation and heard from Him and that has lead me into praise and worship - both are required for a real relationship with Him I thnk.
The enemy loves to get these things into opposition with each other in peoples hearts and minds - then those folks are not going to be growing whichever the one is that they are having critical thoughts about the people doing them.
Is it distracting you that people are singing and dancing? why is that?
Is it annoying to you that some people prefer to be ordered and quiet?
why?
The real isssue is are you in agreement or not - because you cannot be one in the Lord if you disagree with your church family on what is the 'right' form - if there is no room for one or the other and you feel strongly about that, maybe it's time to seek the Lord about moving to a place that does give room for it.
People dance and sing and shout and clap and fall over - in accordance with the Holy Spirit - they can also be doing it in the flesh - that between
them and the Lord.
People can be worshiping quietly - or thinking about other things entirely, again thats between them and the Lord.
The important thing is the fruit, are they growing in the <ord, becoming more like Him in Love and so on - even more important - are YOU?
This is my first post here so if I have contravened anything please
be gentle
