Abandoned and Unashamed Worship

For many people, the appropriate wedding reception conduct is to dance when the DJ calls for a couples' dance, join the dance floor during the electric slide, do the hand gestures for the YMCA, and of course, rock out to 'Don't Stop Believing' when it gets played. But in my family, appropriate wedding reception conduct is much different and might be what others claim inappropriate. We don't claim to be good dancers, but claim to provide an interesting and entertaining experience. Sporting moves like the sprinkler and shopping cart and sweating profusely from our inability to leave the dance floor, we have been known to be the life of the party by our willingness to be unashamed. We break social norms; we are far from self-conscious; and we cause others to notice us as we abandon appropriate behavior and embrace all our dance moves.

This past week, I was reading 2 Samuel and fell in love with chapter 6 in which the Israelites are bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. As they carry the Ark which contains the Lord into the city, it describes David's interesting response to the event. Far from what people would deem appropriate, David strips down into his last layer of clothing and "came dancing before the Lord with abandon". He breaks social norms; he is far from self-conscious; and he causes others to notice as he unashamedly worships. And though he takes criticism for his worship, David will not apologize for this response to the Lord's entrance into the city. Instead, he professes "Not only will I make merry before the Lord, but I will demean myself even more" as he continues to worship and adore the Lord in such an unexpected way.

I think for many of us, we've grown up with the understanding that as Christians, we must conduct ourselves in an 'appropriate', reserved way. We hear in Philippians that we are to "conduct [ourselves] in a way worthy of the gospel" and assume that means following suit and making our worship small and contained. We are told in Colossians to "conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity" and end up thinking this means keeping our faith separate from others so as not to force our opinions on them. But I think that what society really needs are people who embrace 2 Corinthians 5:13 in which Paul says, "if we are out of our minds, it is for God".

I fear that much of our society does not desire a relationship with the Lord because we, as Christians, are not showing them that this relationship is worthwhile. With our reserved worship, our 'appropriate' behavior in every circumstance, our self-conscious witness to our faith, and our conservative and restricted praise of him, we are not showing those around us the truth of who Jesus is. He is a Lord that is worthy of our unashamed worship. He is a Lord whose very presence should spark in us a desire to live for him in abandon. He is a God who grants us grace to desire others to be esteemed before us, others to be praised instead of us, and him to be worshiped more than us.

My favorite quote from Pope Benedict XVI is this: "Tell the world that it is beautiful to be a friend of Jesus and that it is well worth following him. With your enthusiasm, demonstrate that, among all the different ways of life that the world today seems to offer us--apparently all on the same level--the only way in which we find the true meaning of life and hence true and lasting joy, is by following Jesus." With enthusiasm that can't be found from earthly things, let us demonstrate the peace and joy found in Jesus. By going beyond what others deem normal concern and compassion for others, we can display the mercy and love of Christ. And by abandoning ourselves to the Lord in prayer, let us allow him to continue to demonstrate to us that he IS worthy to be followed, praised, and loved.