I was thinking the other day about one of my son's basketball games I attended some time ago. The game was exiting and filled with parents and fans. We always seem to go wild when our team scores or does something well.
At Times We Act Excited
Groups of people jump up. Some scream. Some whistle. People high-five each other. I even noticed a certain group of the students have this little "jump up move" they make when a player scores a free throw.
We really are good fans. We add to the excitement of the game and make it even more fun. We have great fun in the process.
Other Times We Don't
I couldn't help but think about how dry we can act at other times in our life, especially when we hear something that is truly exciting and something that we should shout about.
We sit in church and nod our heads. We sit there and think (not shout or jump up), "Oh yes that's true; that's good, Pastor!" To some of those things we hear we should be screaming "Yes!"
We should be shouting! We should be running around church singing and praising God with joy because they are so profound, so awesome and so wonderfully good!
Do you know why we don't? Because the devil has succeeded in far too many places to turn our churches into libraries—into an atmosphere, a place of "ssshhhhhhhh—be quiet now…don't disturb anybody."
Somehow the devil has conned us into thinking this is reverencing the Lord. The truth is, many people sleep or struggle to keep their eyes open in church. They think about a thousand others things to keep their minds occupied until the service is over.
People are bored.
Too many churches are too quiet and often don't teach us exciting things about God in order to make us shout. This does not reverence God. The Bible doesn't teach that.
The Word Is Exciting!
The Bible teaches us that there is a time to bow and worship God. It teaches us there is a time to sing and praise Him. It also teaches us there is a time to dance and shout in excitement and praise to Him.
Psalm 32:11: "Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
Psalm 35:27: "Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
Psalm 149:3: "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him…."
God never meant to turn our churches into quiet zones or places where we can't express honest emotion of praise to His truths. To the contrary, emotion that matches the moment is the healthiest thing in the world for our emotional balance; plus, it reverences God.
Let me share and example of the kind of truth that should stir that kind of emotion in us today. In Romans 8:31 God's Word says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Also, Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Those are shouting verses!
There are things that we get excited about that really have little or no significance on our life. Then there are other things—like life changing promises and truths—that should set our feet dancing with joy.
I encourage you to set yourself free and let yourself get excited. Stir up emotions when emotions should be there. People might think you are a little strange, but then again, just watch sports on TV and see how people behave regarding things that have much less significance.
At least you'll be getting excited about what God's Word instructs us to. Praise the Lord!
"I will declare your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise (shout, clamorously rave and make great noise, celebrate and make noise about) You" (Ps. 22:22).
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Timothy Burt is a pastor, author, and writer. He is best known as the author of Fresh Manna, a daily devotional and online Bible study.
