The Paradox of Expressive Worship
Does Scripture encourage expressive worship (as in, during a church service)?
In a general sense, yes it does! The Bible appears to describe good and God-honoring worship as joyful and expressive with singing and dancing (and raising hands and knelling). Many Bible characters’ worship is portrayed as such, including Miriam (Exo 15) and David (2 Sam 6). Some of the Psalms appear to highlight expressive worship too:
“So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Ps 64:4)
“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” (Ps 149:3)
“Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Ps 150)
Certainly, there are times, seasons, and circumstances that affect an individual’s expression during worship. However, there seems to be sufficient ground to claim that God desires holistic and expressive worship, one which a believer’s body, mind, and soul are focused on God. I struggle with people who are stoic during Christian worship but crazy expressive at a concert or party. Perhaps they believe solemnness is displaying honor to God.
Anyways, what’s the paradox and the problem?
The Paradox and Problem
We live in a postmodern (or “post-postmodern”) climate. There is a heightened emphasis on the individual (me, myself, and I).
The problem with expressive worship ISN’T the biblical aspect. Rather, it is the perception of expressive worship in a postmodern society and climate as today—namely, expressive worship is the highest form of worship. In other words, the idolization of physical expressiveness in worship. It is as if those who raise their hands and express themselves physically during a worship service are “holier” and “closer to God”. Worse off, this can translate to a toxic church culture that integrates social darwinism where those who are most expressive are the “best Christians” as they have been “taken over by the Holy Spirit”. (Bethel, hello?)
We need to understand that the rise of Pentecostalism is distinctively parallel to the rise of postmodernism. I believe God used the platform of postmodernism to fuel a (mostly) powerful movement through Pentecostalism. However, even if your church isn’t Pentecostal or (3rd wave) charismatic, the chances are that you (and those around you) have been influenced by their subtle practices and beliefs.
Consider this: The Cambridge Companion to Postmodern Theology writes, “There is a a renewal of the significance of the Spirit expressed through intensive bodily participation.” (Kevin Vanhoozer, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Postmodern Theology, of Cambridge Companions to Religion, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), 171.
These include shaking, speaking in tongues, and being “slain in the Spirit”. Bruno Reinhardt, an amazing Pentecostal scholar, writes,
“Pentecostal charisma is a widespread virtuality that…dwells immanently in the world and in the convert’s body.” (Bruno Reinhardt, The Pedagogies of Preaching: Skill, Performance, and Charisma in a Pentecostal Bible School from Ghana,” Journal of Religion in Africa 47, no.1 (2017): 75.)
This is why it is considered “good” (let’s say an average evangelical church) for Christians to be “swaying” or moving during worship and song. It is considered “spiritual” and “spiritually good” when…maybe they’re just following the beat? Don’t get me wrong, I love worship and I’m on the expressive side of things too.
The problem is that true worship is not determined by expressiveness! Solomon writes, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” (Eccl 5:1) God cares more about the way we live—worship as response to Him—than raising our hands in service while living in sin! The danger for the Christian who worships expressively is compartmentalization, thinking his/her “performance” (though “genuine”) wins God's favor and blessing and grace.
There’s something beautiful about the tax collector, who stood far off, “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Lk 18:13) What did Jesus say about him?
“What I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (18:14)
If I’m not walking rightly with God, I think my default worship pose at church is NOT “let me start dancing and raising my hands like crazy” but “Lord, I want to be right with you.” (Then I might raise my hands)
Conclusion
Should Christians be expressive during worship? Yes. There is something beautiful when we align our bodies with our mind and soul in worshiping God.
Brother and sister, go all out. However, is expressive worship intrinsically better than solemn worship? No. Worship is ultimately a matter of our lives in relationship to God. Expressive worship, in today’s age, is guilty of hypocrisy, prompting the believer to think he/she is “loving God” or pursuing Him through intense bodily expression. Sure, one’s heart might be right with God during worship, but what matters is one's heart throughout each day in all the mundane.
