To Rejoice or Not To Rejoice....Tuesday

Does your church service includes a time of praise and worship? Do you ever wonder about what we are called to do during this time? When the worship leader encourages raising your hands or other actions, what do you choose to do?

In 1842, the term Holy Rollers started being used to describe any Christian religious group that expressed themselves with extremely enthusiastic actions.  There would be singing, crying, and hands raised to God. Then sometimes the emotions became so ecstatic they celebrated being in God's presence by dancing, spinning, jumping, and even rolling on the floor. Now whether that was the Holy Spirit leading as they claimed or an overly excited human reaction, only the Lord knows. But one thing we can learn from them is that being joyful is beyond being happy.

To rejoice or not to rejoice - that is the question. I think we all know that we are supposed to rejoice. A better question might be: how should we express gladness or joyfulness of the heart? Different churches rejoice in different ways. Some sing songs praising God. Others include a piano or organ, while still other churches include all sorts of instruments. For some Christians that kind of worship seems inappropriate, radical, and not even biblical. I answered this question in my own heart by seeking God's approval for how I worship in His Word. 

The Hebrew language has many meanings for the word rejoice, so we have options! Please do your own word search, or check out one of the websites I used at the link posted below.

Spinning around: this first one may seem surprising , but it's there in black and white.

Singing: including loud singing, such as the host of angels at Jesus’ birth. 

Instruments: of various kinds: rams horns were much louder than our trumpets today.

Dancing: I have been so ecstatic that I have jumped and danced for joy. 

Shouting: laughing, or crying with tears of joy.

 

In 2 Samuel 6, the Ark of God is being brought into Jerusalem. King David danced with all his might, the people were shouting to God, and blowing trumpets in celebration. This whole process was done with gladness, and was both joyful and exuberant.

 

In Job 38:7, God tells Job that the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for Joy when the foundation of the earth was laid.

 

In Isaiah 51, the prophet encourages the people of Israel to not fear but trust God. Because (verse 11) the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the shepherd who left the 99 to go after one missing sheep, then rejoices when he has found it. The point of the story is in verse 7:

"I tell you that in the same way,

 there will be more joy in heaven

 over one sinner who repents

than over ninety-nine righteous persons

 who need no repentance."

Luke 15:7 NASB

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,

 against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

 

This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 NASB

There are so many more verses that have filled my heart and mind with understanding about how I may worship God in Spirit and in Truth. This next one is one of my favorites.

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:17 NASB

 

 Wow! It all begins and ends with God!

To hear Christ Tomlin's "Come Let Us Worship" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6wg3PXBMpI

1: Source for definition of Holy Rollers: http://oldlandmark.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/holy-rollerism/

2: Hebrew definition of Rejoice: http://m.ancient-hebrew.org/dictionary/rejoice.html

Written by Sandy Schott