Spirituality, Worship, and Spontaneous Dancing
August 21, 2007
by Rocky Wing
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about passion, particularly in our musical expression of worship. These ideas have been brewing in me for some time, but they have been fairly nebulous. Even as I write this, I know that they haven’t reached their final shape, but I just need to get this stuff out.
I think it started a couple of weeks ago during Austin City Limits. Some random band I’ve never seen before was performing and they totally were not my style at all, but what kept me focused in through the whole show was their complete passion for their music. It was seen on their faces, their hands, their feet; their entire bodies were taken up.
I have often believed the current thought on worship. That it is all about the heart. That it is all about GOD working in the believer. I have even encouraged a worship band with the words “it’s not about how they respond, worship is all about the heart.” and naturally, I still have to believe at least part of this. JESUS criticized the Pharisees more than any other group for their outward appearance devoid of any inward change. This is hypocrisy. This is wrong, especially so in our worship of GOD–musical or otherwise. I can’t imagine a bigger slap in HIS face than to sing with an unmatched exuberance yet remain untouched in the inward being.
This being said, I think another teaching has been overlooked. I think we have become so spiritual about spirituality that we have abandoned an important part of it. I have yet to name this, so let me just lay out the idea.
Recently, I officiated Lyndsey Filer’s wedding and I had the best seat in the house–a few steps from the couple. It was a fun, joking, carrot eating ceremony. However, I wish that I could describe her countenance as she repeated her vows to Steve. I have never seen that quality in her face, her eyes. Her entire being was expressing these words to the one she loved. Now naturally, she could have said these words nonchalantly, passionless, unmoved eyes, closed body. Steve might even argue that since she meant it with her heart, which is all that mattered.
But that can’t be all that matters. We are physically beings just as much as we are spiritually beings, and our worship must be expressed both ways, the entire summation of what makes us human. There is no reason why some random band on Austin City Limits singing about the sun should be more physically passionate than my singing to the ONE who is infinitely more worthy of such a display.
I want my worship to be complete. I want it to flow seamlessly from the inward to the outward. I want to break into spontaneous dancing. HE is worthy.
Posted in Pastor Rocky Wing, Worship Ministries
