How does God want to be worshiped? He has an opinion you know. How would He like me to interact with Him/others? Does He like tears of joy, shouts of praise? When does our sincere praise become carnal emotionalism? Just a few questions I have been considering.
The greatest commandment is to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Is it significant that God wants our hearts first, because if He has our hearts our souls and minds will follow?
I think God is indeed emotional, never out of control but never neutral or apathetic. He is a mighty God who is both good and severe. His thoughts are deep and He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. He is grieved and rejoices. He is at times angry. Jesus wept. If we dont praise Him, rocks will. Angels cry Holy Holy Holy day and night. Paul said if he *got beside himself* it was unto the Lord. The longest book of the Bible is full of emotion, Psalms. We are to worship Him how? In spirit and in truth, forget intellectual theories. He clearly wants our emotions to be alive and well, shouting His praises and declaring His glory.
I think He appreciates when we praise Him with our whole hearts. I cant imagine that He made us feel and experience emotions for any other reason than to give Him glory. Is He jealous when we shout and dance at the ball game but stand still and rigid during church? My tear ducts were made for His glory, that we might cry when we repent and weep when we worship. I have the ability to smile, laugh, and frown all to the glory of God. The Apostles talked about their hearts burning within them when they walked with Jesus.
I understand that there are many people and even whole churches that have turned emotionalism into a selfish act of carnality. Charles Spurgeon said....Ah! dear friends, one half of the emotions excited in our places of worship are of no more value than those excited at the theatre. I love CHS.
I think there may be a fine line between carnal emotionalism and God Glorifying emotionalism, I am looking for that balance. I understand that our emotions will lie to us and out of our hearts come every evil. I also know that our hearts must be subject to His word, but isn't it true that the more we immerse ourselves in His Word the more emotional we become? Doesn't His word fill our hearts with hope and love? I want every tear, shout, frown, laugh, prick of guilt, fear, joy, every emotion I have to glorify God. Hes not impressed with our intellect but a heart that is full of joyful adoration, now that He can work with!
