Worship
You’re not praising God right!
Is there a “right” way to praise God?
The soloist walks to the microphone, says a quiet prayer, and readies himself to sing. He gazes out to the audience and says: “if the Lord has done something to you; clap your hands.” Feeling that the response is less than appropriate, he grabs the microphone and says: “I said; if the Lord has done something for you, then clap your hands!” Was the congregation praising God the wrong way? Is there a right way and a wrong way to praise God?
Forced Praise
Turn on the radio, and most gospel songs begin with a request. The soloist wants the crowd to “hype it up,” or to “make some noise,” or to give God a hand clap of praise. This is a universal request that is made of everyone, regardless of how the participant may feel. Surely, we all have something to praise God about, don’t we?
Praising God can take on many forms. It can be found in demonstrations of music, singing, dancing, and meditation. In church, there are often those who aren’t very demonstrative; and you will also find some who cannot sit still.
King David was so moved that he danced out of his clothes. The Psalms offers a feast of praise for God, using instruments and voice. In these cases, the praise is out front, demonstrative, and audible. Does this make it the right way or only way?
Said one Christian:
“I love to praise God as much as the next person, but I refuse to allow someone to force me or (attempt to) embarrass me into it. I think that a relationship with God is very personal. Sometimes I’m moved to dance; sometimes I’m moved to tears. Sometimes, I just sit quiet and reflect. I will not allow anyone to mandate how I should praise God. We are all different; our circumstances are different; our praise is different.”
Competitive Praise
More and more churches and states are hosting or sponsoring gospel contests. Choirs come in from around the country to be “judged,” and to determine which choir sounds the best. Good idea? One Christian’s opinion:
“I have been hearing the radio announcements for the "How sweet the sound" gospel competition and this has always bothered me. The people who support this say it is just praising the Lord. Yes, song is a way to praise God, but they are saying that one group’s praise sounds better than others.
If they are singing the gospel message, the only way to determine who is better is by the show one choir puts on over another. It is true that one person may be blessed with a better singing voice than another, but it is the words that should be the message, not the person.
How long before someone has an idea for a competition to decide what preacher is the best? How will they judge this? How will they determine who is the best? Those who would join the competition would have to put on some type of show to outdo someone else because the word of God is the word of God.”
Sincere Praise
There is one form of praise that is better than the others, and that is sincere praise. Our praise should come from a place that is reserved for God. It should be rooted in our understanding of God’s blessings, and be real. If you are compelled by God’s blessings to raise your hand, then that is your sincerest form of praise. If you are moved to sit silent and reflect; know that God will find pleasure in that form of praise as well.
When reflecting on the successes and challenges, allow your testimony to be your praise. Your story, in its on way, praises God for the storms that he has brought you through, and for the blessings that he has given you.
Let everything that hath breath….
Is there a right way to praise God?
To comment, go tovhttp://www.examiner.com/national/discuss/praise-god-from-whom-all-blessings-flow
Email me at [email protected] or twitter.com/sth1718267
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+150&version=KJV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%206:14-15&version=KJV
http://www.allaboutgod.com/praising-god.htm
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