Thirst

John, thanks for that post. My response is just one big AMEN! I dream of biblical worship, just like you do, worship that is not just religious service, but worship that is total- heart, mind, body, emotions, soul, EVERYTHING poured out as an expression of worship. I enjoyed class films tonight, for what it was, but one thought I couldn't keep out of my mind was that these guys and girls are the same students who worship together in chapel 3 times a week. These people were excited, and they cheered ear-piercing cheers behind and all around us; they cheered for comedy sketches, clapped for depictions of awkward relationships, and called out the names of the people they knew. It was a display of enthusiasm that was unabashed and unreserved, with little regard for others' opinions. They let their hair down, they released the pretense, they became themselves.

These students weren't afraid of being theologically incorrect; they just allowed themselves to burst forth in spontaneous enjoyment of the spirit of the moment. They didn't care if no one else was cheering at a particular time-- that was their roommate up there, and they wanted everyone to know it.

I think you know where I'm going with this. There was a sort of freedom of worship tonight in Edman, a freedom which disappears when we come together in the name of Jesus. It'd be quite a time if Wheaton students allowed themselves the same freedom of worship in a chapel or communion service. I dream of a time where we would be unafraid of being theologically incorrect, where we would allow ourselves to burst forth in spontaneous enjoyment of the Spirit in the moment. I dream of a time when we won't care if no one else joins us-- that's our Jesus, and we want everyone to know it! In Jesus we have a whole lot more to "cheer for", so to speak, than a funny sketch or a friend-- he is our EVERYTHING!

I struggle with wondering whether my dreams for this outpouring of pure unreserved worship are simply a result of my background, that the majority of students here are from more conservative backgrounds and just aren't comfortable with outward expressions of worship. But what makes us uncomfortable in God's presence? And what makes us comfortable at class films? No, I don't think it's because of religious background- it's just fear, plain and simple. We're so dang concerned with others' opinions that we willingly elect to close our hearts and spirits off to the Spirit! Where are the worshipers who will worship like David, who in the presence of God (the ark of the covenant) danced for miles, literally danced his clothes off?? Sure, we WILL be despised by those who don't know this love, as David was by his own wife, but we won't mind, because we won't be living for their opinions- the only opinion that matters is GOD'S opinion.

Here's the little theological disclaimer: OF COURSE I don't think everyone has to be jumping around and crying and waving their arms or whatever to be really worshiping God. Don't be so narrow-minded!! Think about the thing, outside of worship, that brings you the greatest joy. Perhaps it is creation, or a relationship with a loved one. Ever fall in love?? Didn't you just want to jump around, let the whole world know? Didn't you at least walk around smiling a whole lot more? The sky was clearer, the flowers were more beautiful, and those problems in your life seemed somehow more manageable. A change came over you, a change which affected the way you viewed and interacted with the world and the people in it. IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION! THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME!! WOW!!!!! Am I just being overly emotional if I say that makes me want to jump around and just be utterly ridiculous for God??

Is my reaction unnatural?? What do you think? And if it's not unnatural, that means that God must have put it there. To paraphrase Brennan Manning, we see movies and we resonate with what lengths a man and woman will go to for the sake of their love. They will throw caution, reason, and inhibition to the wind for that love, and we the viewers nod our heads and cry our tears; we understand. Understand this now, that the love of God in Christ Jesus is much greater, much deeper, much wider-- and what's more, NOTHING in all creation can come between us and that love (Rom. 8:39)!!!! Draw your own conclusions-- what's your response to that love going to be?? To sit quietly and steal furtive glances at the people around you? Or to worship with glad abandon?? What's the least you could do for a God who "did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all"?