Is Charismatic Worship too Emotional?
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
—Matthew 22:37
Shouts of praise, exuberant dancing, lifting hands, joyful singing, flag waving… all common characteristics of praise and worship at a charismatic kind of church. For some, it can seem a little too emotional. But is emotional expression in worship really a problem—or could it be part of how God designed us to respond to Him?
To understand the role of emotion in worship, we need biblical clarity.
Here are 3 keys that will help us discern the difference between being led by emotions and using them to glorify God.
1. Worship starts in the spirit, but will impact the emotions
Jesus said that true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). That means that worship starts in the spirit. Worship is a spiritual activity.
However, you are a three-part being: spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess. 5:23). You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Your soul consists of your mind, will, and emotions. Your soul is the part of you that says, “I think, I want, and I feel”.
Have you ever felt something stir so deeply in your spirit that your body just had to respond?
When your spirit is impacted, your soul and your body will have a response. Afterall, worship is a response to the revealing of God in your life. You may feel a sense of joy and want to lift your hands or laugh. You may feel victorious and want to shout. You may feel free and want to dance. You may feel the powerful love of God and begin to cry.
Worship starts in the spirit, but it will find expression in the whole of your being. Your thinking, wanting, and feeling—your soul—will also bring worship to God. Your body will have an expression—lifting hands, singing, dancing, shouting, kneeling.
When the revelation of who God is and what He has done hits our spirit, our souls and bodies will have a response. And part of that response is emotions.
A few biblical examples of emotions in praise and worship:
David danced with all his might before the Lord (2 Sam. 6:14)
The leper who got healed came back to thank Jesus with a loud voice and fell at His feet (Luke 17:15-16)
A woman wept at the feet of Jesus, washed His feet with her tears, and poured fragrant perfume on them (Luke 7:37-38)
A multitude of disciples rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice at the triumphal entry of Jesus (Luke 19:37)
A lame man was miraculously healed at the Gate Beautiful, entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God (Acts 3:8)
Can you remember a moment when worship touched you so deeply that you had to move, shout, or weep?
I’m pretty sure that all of those experiences were pretty emotional. Not to mention, their physical bodies had an expression as well.
But while emotions are a natural response to God's presence, they’re not meant to run the show. So how do we keep emotions from becoming the main event?
2. Lead your emotions
It’s important to note:
Emotions are great servants, but lousy leaders.
Are your emotions serving the truth of God—or trying to lead the way?
When your emotions serve the purpose of God, that’s a good thing. When they get outside of the purpose of God, it’s time to put them in subjection to truth.
Practice self-control (Gal. 5:23)
Lead your emotions.
Don’t let your emotions lead you.
If my emotions are going to assist me in praising God, then I’m all in.
If my emotions are going to lie to me about who I am and who God is, then they will be dominated over.
How? I have something outside of my emotions that is sure and stable: the truth of God’s word. God’s word is the anchor in the storm; the lighthouse in the stormy sea of emotions.
Lead yourself by the truth of God’s word. Choose truth over feeling.
If feelings want to serve God’s truth, praise God, that’s what they’re for. We were made to express ourselves—just make sure to have a sanctified expression. Unsanctified expression will lead you into all sorts of chaos.
One of our goals in being sanctified—being transformed into the likeness of Christ—is that our emotions come under the rule of the kingdom of God. Just because you think it or want it or feel it, doesn’t mean you should pursue it! Seek righteousness! (Matt. 6:33)
But if your emotions want to worship God, by all means, go for it!
Once you learn to lead your emotions rather than be led by them, you're free to offer them up to God in a healthy way. That brings us to the final point...
3. Worship God with your emotions
Jesus said the Greatest Commandment is to love God with all your soul! In other words, use your emotions to worship God!
Instead of stuffing your emotions, employ your emotions to worship God!
Like I said earlier, emotions are lousy leaders…but they make great servants!
Jonathan Edwards said, “True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections.”
Let’s just be real practical for a moment.
Human beings are emotional beings. The spirit of religion stuffs down emotion and expression.
“Stop being so emotional…”
“Why are you crying in worship?”
“Why do you have to shout?”
Isn’t that what they told ex-blind Bartimaeus before he got his miracle? Didn’t the Pharisees try to get Jesus to shut down His disciples from the loud praises they were giving? Jesus said that if they were silent, then the rocks would cry out! (Luke 19:40)
Have you ever felt pressure to "tone it down" in worship—when your heart wanted to fully express praise?
Emotions are a normal part of the human experience.
Emotional expression is many times a sign that God is doing a deeper work in someone’s life.
When I say the word “emotional”, some could equate that as unstable and insecure. I get that. But what I’m pointing to is the sacred use of emotions to express ourselves more fully and accurately.
A brief survey of Scripture would find that God Himself displays emotions. He rejoices over His people with singing and dancing! (Zeph. 3:17) Yet He is the most stable and secure Person in existence. So there’s a way to use emotion to properly communicate what’s on the heart. Emotion is part of accurate communication!
Then there’s those who say that modern worship music is being used to manipulate people into emotional experiences with God. (or repeating phrases too much is wrong…I wrote about that here)
We must remember that music was always an essential part of the worship experience of God. Heaven itself reflects that fact.
Imagine watching a movie with no soundtrack! How dry would it be?
Where do you think the idea of music facilitating a story came from?
When God reprimands Job, He asks him some questions that tells us about the musical environment of the creation story:
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4,7)
If religion has caused you to stuff down your emotions, break free today.
There’s freedom in Christ! God is not afraid of your emotions. Praise Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.
So, is Charismatic worship too emotional?
I suppose some are led by their emotions and get carried away.
To that I say: Worship is not primarily an emotional experience. True worshippers worship in spirit and truth. Emotions come second.
But there are others who are genuinely worshiping God in spirit, and it’s impacting their soul and body. There is an emotional expression.
What about the people who have shut down their emotions in praise altogether?
How can you sing about the fullness of joy in God’s presence with a frown? How can you praise God for His life-changing salvation, never shedding a tear of gratitude?
I would propose that worshiping God without emotions and expression is unbiblical.
It comes down to this:
If you’re not allowing yourself to express emotions in praise, you may not be loving God with all your soul.
But God is asking for you to love Him with all your soul. Love God with your emotions.
Don’t be like a shaken up soda can about to explode. Don’t keep it all inside.
You were made to praise God with all your soul. Let yourself express.
Sanctify your emotions and give God a crazy praise!
Questions:
How have you seen emotions used in both healthy and unhealthy ways during worship? What made the difference?
Are there parts of your emotions you’ve been holding back? What would happen if you let it all go and praised God with everything—spirit, soul, and body?