My month in the Dominican Republic has been one in which the Lord has shown me the importance of pure and sincere worship. Although I’ve sang this song countless times, sometimes sleepily and purely out of memorization, my heart was never truly aligned with the full understanding of the heart of worship.
My team, as well as team SOAR, has been working alongside our contacts Kristin and Miguel in Guatchupita this month. Kristin and Miguel gave us the freedom to choose when and where to attend church, which allowed us to have a few nights of our own worship with the other three teams in our house.
Although I understand the importance of attending church and learning from my elders in their Christian walks, worshiping solely with people my age this month allowed God to strip away the facade that I so often fall victim to.
One night, we worshiped underneath the stars in the park in downtown San Juan. At one point, I opened my eyes and glanced around at the Dominicans sitting in the park. Although they were in tune with their own conversations and friends, it was evident that they were watching us worship. As if a large group of Americans arriving in a country doesn’t draw enough attention, throw in some dancing around and singing and you will surely gain the attention of every passerby.
I considered the fact that they probably thought we were crazy. Then, after debating what my reaction would be if foreigners were doing the same in the United States, decided that I really didn’t care. I thought about how worship is often dictated by trying to obtain a certain emotion or reaction from people. I even began to wonder what people would think about the fact that most of our group prays with their eyes open. Would this be considered acceptable worship in most churches?
One of the things that I have loved about the World Race is the feeling of acceptance during worship. You can dance, jump around, stand on your head, raise your hands, lower your hands, or simply be still in the presence of the Lord and no one really cares, because they’re not worried about you…they’re focused on their own worship. The “sermons” we’ve had were simply declaring the words of God straight from the Bible; declaring truths that we don’t have to add to in order for them to be powerful and significant.
I’ve learned that the church isn’t four walls and a roof; it’s the unity of believers across nations, cultures, and languages. It’s not about making an appearance at church so everyone thinks we have it all together and are pursuing the Lord. I could choose to attend church every Sunday and my heart could never truly be present. Have I had any clue what most of the people in Haiti or the Dominican Republic are saying during church? Sure haven’t, but the great thing is that it doesn’t really matter. It’s not about an event or a production of “how many people can we get to walk down the aisle this week, because we’re so awesome?” It’s about loving people, because we’re loved. I can give nothing of importance to the Lord; He doesn’t want my words, He wants my heart…not just part of it, but the entire thing.
I can choose to stand with grease-ball hair, without having showered in 3 days, in my pajamas, in a run-down building, my living room, a field, a park, or on a balcony and worship my Creator. That’s the beauty of the church; it’s wherever we choose to be.
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breathe
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus
