Recently, I was watching the superbowl. A big game with friends and people cheering and shouting for different teams and at different times. Just to say “it got a little loud” is an understatement. Overcome with excitement when a touchdown occurred I caught myself raising my arms like a field goal post. Physical expressions are a natural way to celebrate the things we love.
With that said, I also have attended several funerals in my days. When the human body is sorrowful, we tend to hang our heads, slouch our shoulders, and perhaps even hide our faces and tears. Again, we can see that our outward, bodily expressions and our inner emotions are one in the same.
But what about at church? Does what we do outwardly with our bodies matter when gathering together with the congregation and other believers in worship? Sure, cheering on your favorite sports team and worshipping the savior with other believers are different experiences. However, In the book of Psalms we repeatedly see permission for the people of God to express themselves not only through inward emotion(s), but also loudly and outwardly when coming before Him to worship.
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! PRaise befits the upright. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings , with loud shouts. Ps 33:1,3
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! Ps. 47:1
Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! Ps 134:2
The book of Psalms portrays to us that it is appropriate to use all of our emotions when praising God, from rejoicing to lamenting, sometimes, even in the same breath. Take Psalm 95 for example:
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Ps. 95:1-2
It begins with these essences of joy. But shortly after, the worshipper is encouraged toward humble posture:
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture. Ps. 95:6-7
Paul clearly instructs churches to gather for prayer, biblical teaching, and congregational singing, including psalms (Col.3:16; Eph.5:19). Nonetheless, the New Testament writers didn’t precisely dictate what such expressions must look like. I believe it is safe to say, our outward expressions of the body are as much a part of us as our inward selves. When we pray and worship, it’s good to incorporate both body and soul. We may be able to better engage mentally when we engage outwardly.
So how do we cultivate appropriate physical expressions in worship without coercion or it feeling forced? Consider 3 different groups and what they may need:
- Permission: During the call to worship, we may occasionally read scripture that encourages loud singing or hand raising as we give a brief reminder that we’re embodied creatures. Using the fullness of our vocal cords or raising our hands can help lift our hearts to God. During times of corporate confession of sin, we give people permission to sit or kneel in a posture of sorrow. Some people simply just need to be told it is okay.
- Encouragement: Gathered with other believers, the congregation’s voice is the most important instrument as we worship God. Participating in worship, rather than merely observing it, is a value for our church. Not just singing loudly; but this also includes responsive Scripture readings, silent confessions of sin with heads bowed, invitations to voice praise and thanksgiving through testimonies, and so on.
- Examples: Shouts of “Amen! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”, raising hands, kneeling in prayer, and so much more help others to feel free as well. I have heard people say they felt uncomfortable raising their hands at first, but the consistent permission and example they see within the congregation has enriched their enjoyment of God in worship.
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As the prophet Samuel said when anointing young David, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). God knows and loves his children all the way to the depths of our hearts. He knows when we’re hand-raising hypocrites, and he knows when we raise them to engage our whole selves in honest worship. He wants our love for him (with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength) to show (Mark 12:30).
When the Lord gets our hearts, our bodies come too. Why wouldn’t we seek to cultivate biblical forms of embodied worship? What is it that is holding you back from expressing yourself before the Lord?
Written By: Jordan Hampton
