Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Dancing at Fellowship Bible

I go to church a lot. I work at church and I grew up in a family that was faithful to attend church. I have seen a bunch of interesting stuff happen at church. Some say church is boring. I say hang around long enough...somebody will flip out soon enough. One such thing happened on New Year’s Eve @ Fellowship Bible, the place where the Cartee’s attend. (www.fellowshipnashville.org)
Oak was to be dedicated that Sunday along with 5 or 6 other babies so we had a lot of people in town to see the event. The baby dedication was after the first song and went off without so much as a tear from all the babies. They were great and every one was dedicated. We sit down and the worship band proceeds into their songs. Suddenly during a song called Your Grace Is Enough, the girl sitting in front of me and beside my in-laws, heads quickly out of her seat. “Where’s she going in such a hurry?” I asked myself. Seconds later she reappeared on the stage and starts dancing to the song. She’s tearing it up! She’s busting a move and doing a really good job. I got nervous. I immediately began looking for people’s reaction. What’s the worship leader going to do? I knew it was not supposed to happen as a component in the production schedule. What were my parents going to think? Did I want them to think I went to a dancing church? I went to a dancing church for the first eighteen years of my life or maybe it could be better described as a spinnin’ and floppin’ church...people just going nuts during all the fast worship songs. The issue at hand, is that Fellowship is not a dancing church. They are not averse to it and even have a church sponsored school of dance. However, it’s usually performed in a controlled context, with a spotlight and someone saying “Que dancers!” into a head set back stage. This was anything but that. It was totally unrehearsed and off the page.
So there I was going through all these “what ifs” and "oh no’s” when the Spirit says... “Stop focusing so much on yourself and worship me during this awesome song. Look at her, that’s what she’s doing. What people say or think about her expression of worship is the last thing on her mind. She is bringing her very best to me and that’s all she cares about. Her worship does not come with a comfort filter attached. It is wholehearted and humble, like David’s, my favorite kind.” Soon enough, I realized what I was seeing. It was one of the coolest acts of worship ever. It was graceful, unpretentious, unrehearsed but well done, Honest, joyful and pure. Once I got over myself, I recognized the most profound thing of all...the great humility it took to offer that kind of expression. Selfless and generous, she danced for the Lord. Obeying scripture in so many beautiful ways. My prayer for this new year is that I will worry less about what people think and more about humbly expressing worship to my Lord.
Dance more, worry less
Love,
Carl

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That girl was my daughter and I don't think I would have obeyed the Lord if He told me to go. Learning true worship, also. Robyn

Anonymous said...

Carl,
I can't find a place to contact you on your website, so I hope you don't mind me leaving this comment here. Our church is considering using, "The Glorious Impossible" this Easter. Have you ever considered writing a bridge that takes it into a key change for a final, resurrection chorus? That would be great and our church would love to do it for worship. I'm not sure if this is a request of you, or asking permission for us to do it. What do you think?

Amy Rau
Worship Arts assistant
Victory Highway Wesleyan Church
www.victoryhighway.com
aerau@victoryhighway.com

Anonymous said...

Thank You!
It is refreshing to hear of another believer acknowledging that the Lord so appreciates true worshippers. Even if those worshippers happen to be dancers. I am a member of a church that belongs to the Baptist General Conference. I have always joked that I belong to the BDC...the Baptist Dancers Conference. It's not that I break out in full dance or anything....atleast not in church....but I can not stand still while singing to our beautiful God. I guess I'm a daughter of David!

Thank you for the encouragement you have given this "unknown" sister!

In His Grip!
Robin Alexander

Steph Epps said...

You should have danced with her. Remember "recreational dance 101"?