This is how some imagined our church, but it wasn’t quite like this! But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:23 NLT
I grew up in one of “those” churches in the 70’s. You know the kind, the ones that everyone called “Holy Rollers” or rumored that we were running the aisles and swinging from the chandeliers. Of course, from an outsider’s perspective, our services may have seemed chaotic, and maybe even a bit scary. However, even though I haven’t been involved in this particular denomination in nearly twenty years, I wouldn’t trade the priceless treasure of my church background and religious upbringing for all the world!
I developed a sense of awe about the Lord, even as a young child, that has grown into a deep and lasting love for Him. What could be more valuable than cultivating an intimate relationship with God Most High? I am thankful for where I am today in the Lord because of those wonderful saints in my home church! I saw true miracles there that cannot be denied by reason or logic. I had personal experiences with God through my growing up years that I will treasure deep in my heart all my life. It was during this season of my spiritual upbringing that I knew without a doubt that I was called to give my life to full-time service for the Lord. I am eternally grateful for those experiences!
 |
| This was my home church throughout the 90’s. What a great place to grow! |
As I grew and studied the Word of God for myself, however, I began to discover so many wonderful truths about God that had never been taught to me in my home church. It is not necessarily that they were in error, but they were missing out on so much by emphasizing the narrow bits of truth they knew and running with only that glimpse of light. Although the manifestation of the Spirit in our church and in our lives was irrefutable, we were not grounded in the Word.
Please understand that I am not knocking my home church, the entire denomination, or my parents in any way by what I am saying. I honor them with all my heart! However, I have learned that the work of the Holy Spirit is so much more than speaking in tongues, shouting, dancing, or making a ruckus. A great service back then was determined by the preacher not being able to preach because the Holy Spirit “took over.” What? Is He not in the preaching of the Word also? If it requires us to be a bit uncomfortable or disciplined, does that mean that the Spirit is not in it? If we are not experiencing an emotional euphoria, does that mean the Spirit is not present? Doesn’t He have any more depth than that?
While I know that the Holy Spirit did accomplish much in the hearts of those who earnestly sought Him through such services, and the evidence of healings and miracles cannot be discounted, I also know that the experience was sometimes shallow and hyped up for the sake of an emotional high, or because of habit or tradition. There is quite a difference! The gifts themselves were often sought after more than seeking after God Himself. While many were sincere, there were as many who abused the gifts and presence of the Spirit. Lord help us when we were unwilling to grow, learn, or exert any discipline to achieve balance in our walk with God!
I must reiterate that I honor the spiritual leaders of my past. I stay in touch with many of them even today, and they are rock solid in the faith! What I am focusing on here is the lack of balance in such a prevalent mindset, not in the specific church or denomination. That lack of balance can be found to some degree in every denomination and church, because it is all about the human heart.
On the flip side, my very best friend in the whole world growing up belonged to a more reserved, mainline denomination. Her church excelled in discipleship, studying the word, and missions. Her parents were two of the wisest people I knew in the world, and I so enjoyed talking about Biblical topics with them. No matter what tragedy or hardship they endured, they maintained their faith and their sweet spirits. I have no doubt that they were just as filled with the Holy Spirit as the elders in my church, as it was evidenced in their lives. They were simply more reserved in their expression. But, perhaps, they were missing something spectacular because of their reservations.
As a matter of fact, they had a kind of fear of anything emotional in the church. If anyone clapped or raised their hands, eyebrows would raise as others would glare in their direction. Members of this church typically frowned at the chaos of Pentecostal churches. It was not that they were denying the power of God, but they were trying to keep all things “decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). They had a deep reverential approach to their worship, but the folks at my church deemed that to be unspiritual. Is it really?
 |
|
| A more liturgical setting |
My best friend and I were not allowed to visit each other’s churches as young children because of the lack of understanding on both sides. My mother used to quote 2 Timothy 3:5 when I was invited to my friend’s church, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Eventually, I realized that this verse was being taken out of context.
As teenagers, we began to visit each other’s churches frequently and learned a lot about how others worship. Her church members had just as much of a love for God and worshiped Him just as intensely in a quiet setting as the shouting and dancing members in my own church. What really mattered was the condition of the heart. Let me say that again for emphasis. What really matters is the condition of the heart! The style of worship setting is not as important as a genuine encounter with God.
Each side had true worshipers as well as the judgmental, finger-pointing saints who could only see things through their own narrow perspectives. That goes for both! My friend’s quiet mother loved God from the bottom of her heart, and the fact that she did not lose dozens of hair pins all over the altar during worship service did not make her any less spiritual. Again, it is a matter of the heart.
What helped me and my best friend was not to hold fast to our own limited understanding, but to appreciate what we did have in common as a fellowship of true believers. The entire chapters of Romans14 and 15 explain what our attitude should be concerning believers who worship or live differently than we do. I recommend taking a moment and contemplating these chapters.
 |
| Lord, keep me grounded in Your Word! |
The point that I learned from these extremes is that true worship is actually a balance of spirit and truth, which is somewhere in the middle of the two. Jesus Himself said in John 4:23, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” That is the kind of worship He is seeking! It is not about which side is right. One extreme is to seek all spiritual and emotional experiences without taking any interest in learning truth from God’s Word. This is quite shallow, and believers in this camp lack strong roots that will keep them steadfast in the storms of life. On the other hand, the extreme that is based on all truth but no spirit, is missing out on a living, vibrant, daily adventure with the Spirit of God as He brings the truths of His Word to light in our daily lives. This extreme has shielded themselves from a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in their hearts along with miracles and wonders that are still alive and abundant today!
We need both!
I implore you to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Seek Him with all your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to come alive in your life. That does not mean that you have to act or react exactly the way that someone else does. A lot of the wild antics I observed in my past were merely learned behaviors passed down from others. I am not saying that it isn’t genuine, but I’m saying that it does not necessarily mean that you have to act the same way. The Holy Spirit will guide you. However, balance that with truth and depth from the Word of God. This is the only way you can be grounded and deeply rooted in Him. As the Holy Spirit brings the Word of God alive to you, you will see things you have never seen before. Then, your worship of Him will be based on truth but alive in your spirit. That is worshiping Him in spirit and in truth!
Love in Christ!
Shari Lewis
 |
| Lord, we worship You in spirit and in truth! |
