Charismatic or Conservative?
II Samuel 6
The Charismatic movement (among other things) celebrates the free expression of the emotions to worship God. Conservative fundamentalist movements stress the importance of worshipping by the rules. I can't think of a more perfect chapter than this one to show us how to deal with these two issues!
There are two lessons here, and they are not in conflict. 1) Worship must be done God's way, according to His rules. 2) Never despise a man who is sold out to Christ to the point of self-forgetfulness.
David went to fetch the ark and bring it back to Jerusalem. (The ark had been in exile for many years...it's a long story that you can read about in I Samuel.) He had it brought in a cart, though, not carried on poles by the priests. Who knows why they neglected this clear command for moving the ark. Maybe the priests were afraid to get near it. Maybe it was because all of the high priestly family was dead (Saul killed them*), and no one else volunteered for the job. In any case, they ignored God's way of moving the ark and brought it in a cart. The "breach of Uzzah"-- where he reached out to steady it and was struck dead--would not have happened had protocol been followed.
David was afraid after this happened, and delayed the bringing of the ark. Later, though, seeing that the man who kept the ark had been greatly blessed, he returned for it. This second time they brought the ark to Jerusalem, David was so overcome with joy that he danced with abandon before it. (Here is where the conservatives reading this story begin to squirm.) God does not look askance on David for this. On the contrary, Michal, David's wife, who reproved him, is the "bad guy." She despised him for what she saw as an undignified display. But there is no room for false dignity when completely overcome by a love for God. So many instances in Scripture--the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears, the woman with the alabaster box--show "senseless" abandon because of love for Christ.
Yep, I'm a lot like Michal. Squinchy, picky, careful of my dignity and the dignity of others. Not focused on adoring Christ. But what room is there for dignity and self-preservation when we have been so lavishly loved by Christ?
If I throw all rules to the wind and worship God however I like, I sin. If I focus on the externals of worship but have no heart of worship, I sin.
How much of our Sunday morning "worship" is actually an exercise in self-righteous pride? How many of us would dare close our eyes in worship as we sing a hymn or let our love for Christ show in our expression? God never condemns lavish, loving displays of gratitude to Him. He does condemn carelessness in worship. These are two very different things that I think we sometimes confuse.
God, help me to forget my pride and false dignity and have a pure heart of worship toward You!
*This incidentally was a fulfillment of the prophecy to Samuel that Eli's family would be wiped out.
The Charismatic movement (among other things) celebrates the free expression of the emotions to worship God. Conservative fundamentalist movements stress the importance of worshipping by the rules. I can't think of a more perfect chapter than this one to show us how to deal with these two issues!
There are two lessons here, and they are not in conflict. 1) Worship must be done God's way, according to His rules. 2) Never despise a man who is sold out to Christ to the point of self-forgetfulness.
David went to fetch the ark and bring it back to Jerusalem. (The ark had been in exile for many years...it's a long story that you can read about in I Samuel.) He had it brought in a cart, though, not carried on poles by the priests. Who knows why they neglected this clear command for moving the ark. Maybe the priests were afraid to get near it. Maybe it was because all of the high priestly family was dead (Saul killed them*), and no one else volunteered for the job. In any case, they ignored God's way of moving the ark and brought it in a cart. The "breach of Uzzah"-- where he reached out to steady it and was struck dead--would not have happened had protocol been followed.
David was afraid after this happened, and delayed the bringing of the ark. Later, though, seeing that the man who kept the ark had been greatly blessed, he returned for it. This second time they brought the ark to Jerusalem, David was so overcome with joy that he danced with abandon before it. (Here is where the conservatives reading this story begin to squirm.) God does not look askance on David for this. On the contrary, Michal, David's wife, who reproved him, is the "bad guy." She despised him for what she saw as an undignified display. But there is no room for false dignity when completely overcome by a love for God. So many instances in Scripture--the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears, the woman with the alabaster box--show "senseless" abandon because of love for Christ.
Yep, I'm a lot like Michal. Squinchy, picky, careful of my dignity and the dignity of others. Not focused on adoring Christ. But what room is there for dignity and self-preservation when we have been so lavishly loved by Christ?
If I throw all rules to the wind and worship God however I like, I sin. If I focus on the externals of worship but have no heart of worship, I sin.
How much of our Sunday morning "worship" is actually an exercise in self-righteous pride? How many of us would dare close our eyes in worship as we sing a hymn or let our love for Christ show in our expression? God never condemns lavish, loving displays of gratitude to Him. He does condemn carelessness in worship. These are two very different things that I think we sometimes confuse.
God, help me to forget my pride and false dignity and have a pure heart of worship toward You!
*This incidentally was a fulfillment of the prophecy to Samuel that Eli's family would be wiped out.
posted by Emily at 9:37 AM
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