Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” 1 Corinthians 16:31
I was raised in a predominately black Baptist church. We sung a lot of hymns and gospel songs with only a piano, organ and drums. Sometimes we stomped along to the beat, humming and doo-woping. No music necessary. Having grown up listening to a certain kind of music, my idea of praise and worship became what I was accustomed to.
My sophomore year of college, I attended a predominately black, mega church where I was exposed to a more diverse playlist of Christian music, not to mention a full band complete with praise dancers! Where I was used to clapping and swaying and swelling with emotional, there was something jovial about an “alternative” Christian song. It made me want to spin around the room. My all time favorite is without a doubt, Indescribable by Chris Tomlin.
After moving back home, I started attending a predominately white non-denominational church. The music here was loud and celebratory, gentle and moving, sweet and full of surrender. The atmosphere was so electric, it was as if Jesus, the man, had walked into the room. The very different worship amazed and uplifted me. So much so, I purchased their CD, No Other Name.
Presently, I live in Guam where blacks and whites are the minority. Guam is a tossed salad of Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, Palauan, Chamorros, and countless other cultures. The music varies depending on the church you attend, but the worship….it is enticing.
It draws you in. It makes you want to linger and stare, taste and see who God is. It pulls you in like the aroma of food to the hungry. It says, “Everything you need is right here.”
Worship through music has always been a favorite time for me. But, I’ve realized the more “foreign” it is to me, the more splendid it feels. I had put Jesus in a Gospel box. Praising Him was clapping and shouting and the shrill of the organ. Then it was praise dancers, horns, and a 300 person choir. I couldn’t be late to the Christian mosh pit of my rock ‘n’ roll church! But, that was before I heard His name proclaimed in a multi-cultural praise team at my current church.
Tonight, I saw Him in the midst of a Irish bond fire.
And, He was altogether lovely.
All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You; they shall praise Your name in song. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 66:4
{I’d love to hear what your worship looks like!}
See you in the comments!
With Love,
Woman, Live! 