We all know who we are supposed to be in Christ as a body: We are a holy nation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a chosen race, and a people for His own possession (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9). However, we are individual members one of another with our own peculiar gift and identity in the Lord. It is vital to find out who we are in the Lord ourselves and where we fit in, and not try to be all things to all people. We go astray when we compare ourselves with others or commend ourselves with one another (2 Cor. 10:12). Like one saying: "Compared to him I'm a saint!" or "I just can't compete with Mother Teresa!" The compare game is a no-win proposition.
We all like to size people up and put them in a box and see what they are capable of. Caveat: Don't belittle someone's gift (remember that to whom much is given much is required and your race is different from theirs) and worst of all, don't exalt someone and be fooled by charisma (Greek for gift), for many cult leaders have displayed great personalities and are therefore able to lead many astray. These are wolves in sheep's clothing and charlatans to boot.
We celebrate diversity in the body, as the eye needing the ear, we all have different functions in the body and are all necessary to get the body going on track. You cannot expect someone to have the same passion for music as one gifted in this area and feels called to have a music ministry. Likewise, some people feel the passion of God when writing and this cannot be expected as normative. Eric Liddell, in the movie Chariots of Fire, said that he felt God's pleasure when running and realized this is what he was meant to do. We need to find our own passions and develop them and not try to keep up with the Jones, spiritually speaking. I used to go to a church that had a member who always said "amen" to everything the pastor said, and we called him Amen Eddy--but he was just being himself and we loved him for it, we didn't feel compelled to copy his behavior. To be sure, we are all unique and God threw away the mold when He made us!
There is such a thing known as gift envy when we wish we had someone else's gift or position in the church. We are prone to worry that we fall short when we get our eyes off Jesus and unto others--Peter sank in the water when he took his eyes off Jesus! There is no gift more important than another per se, but rather the spirit that the person exercises it in, and the faithfulness he demonstrates that brings reward from the Lord at the Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ). We want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
There is no "one-size-fits-all" way to worship God, as some are more demonstrative and some stoical and feel inclined to be reverent and respectful of the presence of others, not presuming to be the spiritual leader. Some people naturally follow and some lead but we are all one in Christ--neither is more "spiritual." It is not a matter of "inhibition" whether one feels free to express his praise, but sometimes just a matter of church background--for instance, Pentecostals are known for being unruly and free-spirited. Those of this persuasion think that is the only "spiritual" way to be in church. I disagree with Pentecostal-type worship on doctrinal grounds, having been there and done that, I know where they are coming from. The intellectual loves God more with his mind and the sentimental person may wear his feelings on his sleeve. It is too easy to rely on feelings, and let others run the show in chaos or in an unruly manner. It is faith, not feelings that pleases God.
I, personally, am suspicious of charismatic excess, and anything that is not decent and in order as being a sign of disrespect to others. There are plenty of churches where this is welcome. We go to church to worship God, be edified, and get a spiritual checkup--but they are going nowhere edification-wise in the Spirit. We should worship God in any way that seems fit or suitable--that's why there are so many denominations. We all have our own ideas as to what is right and what is suspicious, foreign, or "strange fire" before the Lord.
The other error is gift projection, where we think everyone should be like us and imitate our gift or way of worship. We cannot expect others to have our gift or to measure up to our standards, but we must see that we all are part of the picture and fit into God's plan in a unique way. We are not to hold someone in special esteem as our exemplar, except Christ, who alone is worthy--we are to look to Him and keep our eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith. When we expect others to be like us or like a person we respect we are presuming to be the spiritual leaders and have spiritual ambitions that as an ulterior motive.
We all like to size people up and put them in a box and see what they are capable of. Caveat: Don't belittle someone's gift (remember that to whom much is given much is required and your race is different from theirs) and worst of all, don't exalt someone and be fooled by charisma (Greek for gift), for many cult leaders have displayed great personalities and are therefore able to lead many astray. These are wolves in sheep's clothing and charlatans to boot.
We celebrate diversity in the body, as the eye needing the ear, we all have different functions in the body and are all necessary to get the body going on track. You cannot expect someone to have the same passion for music as one gifted in this area and feels called to have a music ministry. Likewise, some people feel the passion of God when writing and this cannot be expected as normative. Eric Liddell, in the movie Chariots of Fire, said that he felt God's pleasure when running and realized this is what he was meant to do. We need to find our own passions and develop them and not try to keep up with the Jones, spiritually speaking. I used to go to a church that had a member who always said "amen" to everything the pastor said, and we called him Amen Eddy--but he was just being himself and we loved him for it, we didn't feel compelled to copy his behavior. To be sure, we are all unique and God threw away the mold when He made us!
There is such a thing known as gift envy when we wish we had someone else's gift or position in the church. We are prone to worry that we fall short when we get our eyes off Jesus and unto others--Peter sank in the water when he took his eyes off Jesus! There is no gift more important than another per se, but rather the spirit that the person exercises it in, and the faithfulness he demonstrates that brings reward from the Lord at the Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ). We want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
There is no "one-size-fits-all" way to worship God, as some are more demonstrative and some stoical and feel inclined to be reverent and respectful of the presence of others, not presuming to be the spiritual leader. Some people naturally follow and some lead but we are all one in Christ--neither is more "spiritual." It is not a matter of "inhibition" whether one feels free to express his praise, but sometimes just a matter of church background--for instance, Pentecostals are known for being unruly and free-spirited. Those of this persuasion think that is the only "spiritual" way to be in church. I disagree with Pentecostal-type worship on doctrinal grounds, having been there and done that, I know where they are coming from. The intellectual loves God more with his mind and the sentimental person may wear his feelings on his sleeve. It is too easy to rely on feelings, and let others run the show in chaos or in an unruly manner. It is faith, not feelings that pleases God.
I, personally, am suspicious of charismatic excess, and anything that is not decent and in order as being a sign of disrespect to others. There are plenty of churches where this is welcome. We go to church to worship God, be edified, and get a spiritual checkup--but they are going nowhere edification-wise in the Spirit. We should worship God in any way that seems fit or suitable--that's why there are so many denominations. We all have our own ideas as to what is right and what is suspicious, foreign, or "strange fire" before the Lord.
The other error is gift projection, where we think everyone should be like us and imitate our gift or way of worship. We cannot expect others to have our gift or to measure up to our standards, but we must see that we all are part of the picture and fit into God's plan in a unique way. We are not to hold someone in special esteem as our exemplar, except Christ, who alone is worthy--we are to look to Him and keep our eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith. When we expect others to be like us or like a person we respect we are presuming to be the spiritual leaders and have spiritual ambitions that as an ulterior motive.
Besides bringing honor to the Lord, we want to get some attention for ourselves. We shouldn't expect others to meet our standards and expectations, nor should we point others out as the one to follow and bring him into the limelight, especially if he desires to keep a low profile; but let the Holy Spirit lead through multiple people. The Holy Spirit, Himself, is not interested in attracting attention, but only in magnifying and glorifying the Lord.
Don't get into a worship rut and be confined to one way to worship. Don't think that your church is right and everyone else just doesn't get it. Some people are caregivers and love God through meeting the needs of others. Some are born singers and just love to sing unto the Lord all day long--it thrives in their souls. Some people are social activists and like to get involved in political or social causes and see this as serving and loving God. Catholics and Lutherans are highly traditional and show their love for God through a devotion to ritual. The point is that you must learn to be yourself and not imitate others or envy what God does through them. God is looking for real people, not ideal people and especially not people thinking they are ideal people--no perfect people need apply!
We don't want to "betray" someone as the de facto spiritual leader ("You're the man!"), and put them under pressure. The devil sure would like to see who we see as a leader and tempt him or use him. It can go to one's head! It is vital that we notice when someone is exalting themselves or presuming upon themselves a position of authority or leadership--the way up is down and we must heed John the Baptist's words: "He must increase, I must decrease" in John 3:30. The way up is down in God's economy.
Don't get into a worship rut and be confined to one way to worship. Don't think that your church is right and everyone else just doesn't get it. Some people are caregivers and love God through meeting the needs of others. Some are born singers and just love to sing unto the Lord all day long--it thrives in their souls. Some people are social activists and like to get involved in political or social causes and see this as serving and loving God. Catholics and Lutherans are highly traditional and show their love for God through a devotion to ritual. The point is that you must learn to be yourself and not imitate others or envy what God does through them. God is looking for real people, not ideal people and especially not people thinking they are ideal people--no perfect people need apply!
We don't want to "betray" someone as the de facto spiritual leader ("You're the man!"), and put them under pressure. The devil sure would like to see who we see as a leader and tempt him or use him. It can go to one's head! It is vital that we notice when someone is exalting themselves or presuming upon themselves a position of authority or leadership--the way up is down and we must heed John the Baptist's words: "He must increase, I must decrease" in John 3:30. The way up is down in God's economy.
Before honor comes humility and also we should know that the wolf in sheep's clothing always tries to get in some other way than a legitimate way, and likes the back door or a side door that is not the conventional way--he recognizes no chain of command or authorized leadership but his own, and doesn't understand authority. Soli Deo Gloria!