The beat of a stick against a plastic gas can. The young African boy drumming out the beat of the song as the women add to it by stomping, clapping, jumping, and shuffling to create a more complicated rhythm. Smiles and sweat on faces that are colored from the joyous dancing. African whistles and shouts as the words sung are like repetitive like a broken record. Hallelujah.
It’s so different from what I am used to, but it’s the same when it’s genuine worship to the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Traveling throughout the past seven months has brought me to many churches, many worship sessions and many people in relationship with and on fire for God. Every culture has expressed their praise and has given glory to the Highest in it’s own unique way.
As an American, my worship has been a very personal intimate time even when it’s in community. Oftentimes when I most feel the Spirit, I hit my knees with tears in my eyes at the revelation of how deep His love and grace goes for me, and in other times I lift my hands to exalt Him.
In India, Nepal and Africa the fervor was the same but shown in completely different ways. India was marked by a reverent worship. Nepal an urgent worship. In Africa, it’s a joyful full-bodied worship with each other.
All are motivated by the knowledge of how deep the goodness and character of the God of the true Gospel.
And it’s sad to me. That in many ways the American church has died. Communal worship is no longer about relationship with your Savior. It’s become tradition. It’s become lifeless. Because many people in the American church don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s become a show. It’s become a line checked on the To Do List of a ‘Moral’ Person.
But I’ve been enraptured by the communal worship of cultures worldwide that have experienced the true and right relationship with God.
Yahweh is infinite. He is never ending, and He has chosen to relate to His children and reflect Himself in His children in an infinite number of ways. See every culture shows an aspect of God and a way of relating with Him. Take it even further and every individual does the same thing.
After seeing the beauty of Him all around the world, I couldn’t imagine a heaven where only one culture stands worshipping him on his throne. It would stand incomplete. But combine every tribe and tongue, worshipping in their own tongue and in their own way and you have the most glorious vision ever – an infinite God being worshipped in an infinite number of ways.
I wish I could put words to it that would do the justice of a vision like that, but there is no possible way to do so. All I can do is show you pieces of it.
I pray that this would inspire you to release the obstacles that are holding you back from freely worshipping our Abba in the way that He made you to. He is a God that has done everything and who hasn’t withheld anything, even His only begotten Son, to have you. Don’t withhold anything from Him in your worship together. Forget about the eyes of your neighbor that chances are, aren’t on you to begin with and dance! Shout! Hit your knees and cry out Abba! Stand immersed in His presence. Whatever it is the Spirit is moving you to do in worship do not with hold it. Seek true relationship with Jesus.
And don’t let your worship stop at the end of Sunday morning service. Worship Him with your entire life through your words and actions.
