To some I may appear "judgmental" about the modern "worship", so maybe I should jack up myself.  There is such a thing  as holy enthusiasm,  feasting on Christ.

A dear lady I once met in our plane way up in the air and with whom I still feel spiritually connected, often signs her greetings with words about her leaping and dancing for joy. Our personal testimony seasoned with the joy of salvation will always be noticed, and a joyless world just wonders.

An old woman in our neighborhood has this answer to me when I enquire about her well being,  "The joy of the Lord is my strength" (Neh. 8:10).  That speaks to me as it transcends heavy doctrinal and boring arguments.

In my youth up in Norway we knew little about stagey worship numbers.  But I tell you, I´ve seen young people sobbing deeply convicted before the Lord in their need for His salvation, and then later I saw the same young people with their guitars in a new established choir praising their Savior.  I´m almost moved to tears when thinking about it.

It has nothing to do with me.  I was "down" before the Lord, often on the point of utter despair, but soon I too could share the joy of my newly won babies in Christ, and I need not tell you how easy it was to preach then.

The answer to "dead" churches is not to advertise for another "gifted" worship director, fond of music with platform talents, but to remain on the floor and do what old times saints did,  bowing their knees and crying to the Lord.  Indeed, that´s how an awakening among the youth started.

You´ll never be the same.  You will be misunderstood all right.  You´ll be labeled "judgmental" if your spiritual discernment looks beyond the religious surrogate manifestations, but still you don´t want to throw the baby out with the bath water and discourage honest souls.

This word kept ringing in my ears in those days, "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream, then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy!" Ps. 126:1-2

"The Lord has done great thing for us;  we were glad!"  (Ps. 126:3)

July 12, 2019 - jn