Silence and ice

I attended a multicultural interdenominational worship service last night--actually a "prayer concert" to celebrate the National Day of Prayer.

As I sat and observed the Hallelujahs, the Amens, the Yes, Sirs, Preach Ons, and other comments coming from the congregation in response to comments made from the podium, I began to think how quiet the worship practices of my fellowship are. There were hundreds of hands raised pointing to God, and a good amount of clapping for what was said and sung. People swayed and clapped to the music. The children's choir rapped for God. During the concert of prayer times, the loud murmur of voices praying ALOUD to God filled Ryman Auditorium. We have made one comment ("decently and in order") into a mantra for silence and ice.

Lynn Anderson says,"Some of us have backed so far away from the ditch of emotionalism that we have gotten entangled in the fence of legalism and cold ritual. Today's church...is in far more danger of having swelled heads, shrunken hearts, and feeble bodies in worship than we are of being overly emotional and subjective."(from In Search of Wonder: A Call to Worship Renewal)

When did disengagement become a science for us in the Church of Christ? Was it during the charismatic scare of the 50's and 60's? Was it at the entrance of contemporary Christian music into our psyches? Was it because Alexander Campbell absorbed and preached the rationalism and logic of John Locke? Was it because we were afraid of the Assemblies of God and Billy Graham? I don't know--I would like to hear someone learned speak on the subject.

I value silence and awe in worship, but there are times when exhuberant praise is necessary and required. So wake up out there and say Amen.