The Physicality of Worship
Untitled by Michael Leaver I've grown up in the Presbyterian church. Thus, my understanding of and ideas about the action of worship were developed solely with input from a specific branch of Christianity. In my experience, corporate worship meant everyone stood with their hands at their sides, unless they were holding a bulletin, and sang a combination of hymns and theologically founded contemporary music. The only time we raised our hands was halfway up for the benediction. Worship was an action that was stationary and reverent, and though I knew some churches put their hands up or dimmed the lighting, I believed that this was, somehow, the wrong way to praise God. Then, a little over a year ago, I joined a youth group at a non-denominational church. I stood in the back. I didn't know any of the songs. What shocked me most, however, was to see the way in which posture changed. Hands went up. Knees dropped to the ground. I saw boys my age stretched facedown on the ground. At ...
