God made us each different, just like everybody else! We solve problems differently. We plan things differently. We interact with people differently. We create differently. Ned Herrmann characterized these patterns as rooted in the four quadrants of our brain in the Whole Brain Model.
This couldn’t be more evident than in a church worship service, even in Granbury. Some want to sit reverently and sing solemnly. Some want the service to be in good order, showing respect to God and each other. Some want to be openly joyous. How do we resolve those differences and worship together in the same service?
We use the word “emotion” to cover a lot of territory. In a worship service, the quiet ones may feel like the noisy ones should “calm down.” The noisy ones may feel like the quiet ones should show some emotion. How do we collectively deal with this verse?
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before his presence with singing!” Psalm 100
All of us have “emotions.” Not all of us are “expressive.” These two terms of human behavior are different but often captured in the word “emotion.” Now, think about a worship service in those terms. I submit that all of us are “emotional,” just to varying degrees. All of us are “expressive,” to varying degrees also. In fact, some people may seldom express themselves openly, certainly when it comes to something so personal as worshipping God. I assure you that non-expressive people may be feeling as much emotion as someone who is over the top on being expressive about their worship.
So, what is the answer? Some would say that we should be tolerant of those that worship differently than I do. I submit that Christ wants us to support each other in love, not just tolerate another person’s style.
Can we go too far? Yes. Scripture describes a joy that coexists with reverence, awe, and order.
“Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” I Corinthians 14:40
God does not want us to worship in chaos. He created order in the world out of chaos according to Genesis.
It’s interesting to me that we teach, and actually encourage, our children to be joyous in Sunday school, but then want them to sit quietly and act reverently in worship services, and even more so when they grow into adults. I wonder what magic barrier the children cross between the back and front of the building that causes us to expect them to change their behavior toward God.
The ministers work diligently to design our worship services to glorify God and prepare us to be better disciples. Some people will be moved to show their joy in response to God by clapping their hands during singing (like children), or raising their hands, or saying Amen out loud. Don’t be timid in doing so, commit. Joy should be in response to God, not a performance, and certainly not done by design. It is too personal for that, for both you and God. Our role should be to act in response to God in our own way and love and support those that are more expressive or less expressive than us in worship. Worship should be genuine and come from your heart. It should also be done in order out of respect for God.
I’ve been told that I am not an expressive person. I am happy for you to be expressive, but it makes me uncomfortable if I am.
So, it is OK to clap, just don’t expect me to do it!
Mike Blevins
For the elders