Mud floor. Thatched roof. A collection of people in the small brick church.
Black and white, Malawian and American. All children of God.
In front of me stood two Malawian pastors. Most likely in their late 50’s and holding hands.
As they clasped hands they looked up to the sky and sang a beautiful song of praise in Chichewa, the local language of Malawi. Their voices were simple but beautiful. A low rumble at first that slowly rolled into melodies as the verses continued to flow out of their mouths and fill up the sanctuary.
Sometimes this is what worship looks like in Africa. Other times it’s a lot of dancing and clapping, movements of joy that would bring looks of distain from many congregations in America.
This isn’t a soap box about how African churches worship ‘better’ than American. I simply believe they worship differently, and I am in no place to ever judge a person with how they worship the Lord…that’s simply between them and our savior. What I do love about African worship is that there is no reservations or shame about praising God with all your might.
As I sat there listening to those two pastors sing I was reminded of what worship truly is…praising our Lord. It’s pretty simple. Sometimes it’s sitting in admiration at the top of a mountain in silence, and other times it can be dancing and singing at the top of our lungs. It all comes from the heart.
God doesn’t care about the quality of your voice, he cares about the intentions of your heart.
Inspired by those two men I’ve begun to sing hymns a cappella with the two other guys on my team this month. We won’t be up for musical award nominations anytime soon, but as we sing Amazing Grace in houses and churches all over the mountain side this month the Holy Spirit is there. I am sure at least half the people can’t even understand the English words, but they can feel in their hearts the power behind those words.
I never thought I would find myself in the Malawi countryside singing songs in front of people on a daily basis. It’s a bit of a stretch for a Financial Planning major, but I love every minute of it!
I’m so thankful for the reminder from those two pastors last week.
I’m thankful for the chance to worship my savior in so many different ways.
Perhaps most importantly I’m thankful God graciously pretends to be tone deaf when I sing.
