King'z Jewel

What happened to the fun in church? Where is the joy of Your salvation?

I remember being in churches where you can’t even clear your throat without being looked at with a raised eyebrow. I have also been to churches where the message is milk, but the people feel free to dance before the altar in unadulterated worship.

What do I miss from both extremes? The reverence for the living God and the joy of being in His presence.

Where is the balance? Where is the middle ground?

David danced out of his outer garments in worship to the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14), but yet he reverenced him like no other. Why are our churches not reflections of that?

We need to get rid of the status quo. We need to get rid of church as usual. We need to go back to the root and heart of why we ever wanted to be in church to begin with. We need to teach our children about the joy of salvation. How will they know if all they see are stern faces, disapproving looks, and are given no opportunity to enjoy being in the house of God? How are we going to secure the next generation if we don’t allow them to express their worship, making a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord?

We sing about dancing as David did, singing and worshiping and praying like he did. We sing about being free to run and dance. We sing about where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. We sing about dancing in His freedom and liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17)…but do we really EVER do that? Sure, there are probably break out moments here and there…but why isn’t it a regular occurrence?

Don’t even get me started on the songs about surrender and sacrifice! The verses of the Bible where we talk about taking up our cross no matter the cost… you can already see where I am going with that.

I don’t want to just be on the pulpit singing words. I don’t want to be up there with stern faces and disapproving looks falling down on the congregation as they try to wrestle from under the tradition and religion that has been forced upon them from years of being abused in various forms of churches and religious sects who don’t believe in truly going all out for God in church.

I believe that God hears us singing these songs and professing these verses from the Bible out of our mouths and expects to see something happen, only to be disappointed. We are in essence HYPOCRITES every time we pronounce these things and then don’t follow through with them. I can just see God’s eyes light up when he hears the songs coming through or the words being read…He gets expectant…on the edge of His seat even… only to slump back in His chair, wiping his brow and thinking “they missed it AGAIN!”.

I am saying that we need to reevaluate our churches. Reevaluate the calling that God has placed on our lives. We need to stop pleasing people and start pleasing God. It’s time to break out, break free, and move forward with truth the way God intended!

Psalm 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

(emphasis is mine)