It’s no secret that African church looks different than
American church — or at least, African church looks different from the church that
I grew up in — but I didn’t fully
realize just how different it all was
until after a children’s program one Saturday morning. The seven of us dutifully sang some songs
along the “My God is So Big� lines, told a Bible story, and played a couple of
games. Given my frame of reference,
that’s about the time that the suburban-driving moms show up to take their kids
home, maybe stopping at the McDonald’s drive-thru for lunch if they were extra
good that morning.
American church — or at least, African church looks different from the church that
I grew up in — but I didn’t fully
realize just how different it all was
until after a children’s program one Saturday morning. The seven of us dutifully sang some songs
along the “My God is So Big� lines, told a Bible story, and played a couple of
games. Given my frame of reference,
that’s about the time that the suburban-driving moms show up to take their kids
home, maybe stopping at the McDonald’s drive-thru for lunch if they were extra
good that morning.
Instead, somebody blared techno
music and the kids broke it down.
music and the kids broke it down.
And that pretty much sums up church here. Services that last for four hours, keyboard
tunes that don’t match the songs, PA systems that crackle due to the screaming into microphones, conga lines and dance parties. Sprinkle in a heaping portion of
“HALLELUJAH!!!â€�s and lots and lots of “Amen!â€� and boom — welcome to Africa.
tunes that don’t match the songs, PA systems that crackle due to the screaming into microphones, conga lines and dance parties. Sprinkle in a heaping portion of
“HALLELUJAH!!!â€�s and lots and lots of “Amen!â€� and boom — welcome to Africa.
Dancing is everywhere here — EVERYWHERE. It’s a celebration, an act of worship, a
ridiculous way to move your body. It’s a shot of adrenaline — after experiencing this kind of worship, I’m just not sure how I’m going to go back to the Chris Tomlin route, you know? It’s a reminder of David’s dance before the Lord, that undignified, unembarrassed movement that reveled in who God is. And more than even that, it’s a way of life… a choice to dance, regardless of where you are or who you’re with, because you have the joy of the Lord living inside of you.
ridiculous way to move your body. It’s a shot of adrenaline — after experiencing this kind of worship, I’m just not sure how I’m going to go back to the Chris Tomlin route, you know? It’s a reminder of David’s dance before the Lord, that undignified, unembarrassed movement that reveled in who God is. And more than even that, it’s a way of life… a choice to dance, regardless of where you are or who you’re with, because you have the joy of the Lord living inside of you.
Vid Credit: Ta da!! I made this one myself!! It’s like I’m a big girl now 😉
