1 Thessalonians 5:16
There may be another reason why some Christians are not joyful. One reason is overreacting to emotionalism. There is certainly a danger in emotionalism. Emotionalism is where emotions rule instead of the Word of God. It is often a “better felt than told” kind of religion. Where people depend more on what they feel in their heart rather than basing their beliefs and actions on what the Bible says. Such emotionalism often manifests itself in worship that is characterized by disorderly outbreaks of emotion contrary to what is ordained in 1 Co 14:40 “But all things should be done decently and in order.” Where such displays are often totally unrelated to what is being said.
But there is also a danger in the other extreme of resorting to “dead formalism” in which little or no emotion is shown or whether it be in our singing, or in offering an “amen” to our prayers. -- Worship which does not involve the heart is just as wrong! - Mt 15:7-18 “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” The extreme to which one can go can be quite absurd, as illustrated in this story:
“A man walks into a worship assembly. The preacher is eloquently expressing God’s love for us, and the man says ‘Amen!’ That draws a few stares and whispers of ‘Who is that?’ The preacher goes on to state that Jesus died for our sins so that we can go to heaven and the man says ‘Alleluia.’ Again more stares and questions. Finally, the preacher states that through Jesus we may have eternal life, and the man says ‘Praise the Lord.’ Everyone is looking now, and one fellow goes over to the newcomer to inform him, ‘We don’t praise the Lord here.’”
There can be both Joy and orderly worship…! There is room for “Amen’s” and “Praise the Lord!” when offered with sincerity and in keeping with what is said. In reacting to one extreme, let’s not go to the other and take away the joy of being a Christian! “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God.” - Joel 2:23. “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” - Psa 122:1. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” - Ph 4:4. “...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” - Ep 5:19
Oh, but many Christians enter the worship of our Creator and Savior with the enthusiasm and vigor of those filling their income tax returns on April 14th! Brethren, this should not be! And if it is...? We need to pray the prayer of David: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation...” - Psa 51:12. We need to allow the Word of God to do its work: “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord God of hosts.” - Jer 15:16. If we would spend time with the Word of God, we would learn we also have been called of God.... Called out of sin and its consequences. Called into a wonderful relationship with God and Jesus Christ, where all can be made new! With such a knowledge of God’s great gift, joy is a natural reaction and also a wonderful blessing:
“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.” (Psa 89:15-16)
Don’t you want that joy? Then understand and accept the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord!
