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 that moment, I felt so awkward. I was totally unaware of what to do with my body, but seeing so many other people so deeply moved stirred something in me. 

The next time I worshipped at youth group, I put one hand halfway up. A month later, I worshipped on my knees for the first time. Last Sunday, I was brave enough to put my hand up at my traditional Presbyterian church. 

A clarification I must make before we continue: There are some people who will make the claim that I am using the term "worship" incorrectly, as we are called to do all things for the glory of God and to let all things be worship. I understand that we can glorify, praise, and thank the Lord in all circumstances and activities. However, for the purpose of this writing, the term "worship" refers to the corporate act of a church singing to the Lord.

Clearly, worship ought to be Scripturally and theologically upheld, and we should not sing songs that have any kind of heretical teaching, so as not to mislead the body of believers. Besides the music, however, the other part of worship is the participants. The question is this: Is there a wrong way to worship? I think so. 

Jesus admonishes those who pray in public for the attention of others, and God calls out insincere sacrifices in Isaiah. The same principle applies to worship in the modern church. If our worship is performative, if it is done for a camera or for the attention or praise of other people, it is false worship. It is not worship of Jesus Christ, but worship of the idol of self. This does not mean that we can't have photographers capturing faithful moments or that we can't have a worship band on a stage leading a congregation, but it does mean that our worship must be genuinely centered around God, not ourselves. 

If we are kneeling to appear reverent to others, our worship is wrong. If we are raising our hands to get the attention of a photographer, our worship is wrong. If we are still because we fear the reaction or condemnation of other people, our worship is wrong. Worship is not about self-respect; David himself danced undignified before the Lord. Worship is about seeking and responding to God's presence. Sometimes, that looks like bowing before Him. Sometimes, that looks like physically surrendering. Sometimes, that looks like jumping for joy. Sometimes, that looks like being still and silent, or audibly crying out to Him, or reaching for our Father. There is no prescribed physical posture for worship. 

If our bodies are Temples, that means more than just keeping the Temple pure and healthy. It means we should do good things with our bodies, for others and for the Lord. It means we should allow our bodies to be genuinely used for worship, not restrained and not forced. After all, if Jesus could allow His body to be mangled, torn, bruised, beaten, abused, and crucified, we can allow ours to worship Him. 

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. . . You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." - C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity