Can I Jump Off My Amp in Worship?

Just a quick follow-up note to the previous post on humility for musicians. Many of you were wondering if its a problem if you jump around etc. out of a sincere heart of worship to the Lord. 1 Sam 16:7 says that "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart". As the Lord looks at your heart of worship, rest assured your actions are fine.

But you will also need to consider how this affects the congregation. Certain actions, like jumping wildly or bombastic solos, could distract worshippers. 1 Cor 10:32 tells us: "do not cause anyone to stumble". We should abide by this, and ensure that while our hearts might be right with God even as we prance around the stage, we should not do so in a way that it distracts others.

8 comments:

† JuLeZ † said...

definitely agree with that

but sometimes the music may call for the guitarist to be a bit theatrical especially during praise - if the people see the guys on stage getting excited then they are going to want to as well :)

but definitely agree, it would not be appropriate for say a heavy shredding teeth solo in the middle of a worship song lol

soulflame.COM said...

ur right bro.. exactly right.. can i ask you something? would you choose to confront people who really distract you during worship? whats your opinion?

user said...

Hi Jules: indeed..what's proper or improper depends on the context and on the congregation.

soulflame: depends on your church's practice, and how well you know the person. As I know most of the people in the band, I can just gently inform them. If otherwise, I might talk to me church leader first, who might get the worship pastor to talk to the person.

Nozes said...

Glory to God !!! You got the point... God look the heart but our brothers ans siters do not.. they look what the eyes can see... So we have to love they and sometimes it means to don´t do what we desire in favor of them...
Romans chapter 14

Barry said...

The title of this post really had me laughing. I have to agree with Tadeu on giving God Glory.

As a kid (28 years ago) I used to play Petra in my room and jump around with my arms swinging wildly in all direction and kicking and swinging my legs around as hard as I could. I was 7 years old, totally in love with Jesus and in my room all alone I had an incredible sense I was dancing in front of God and that He was in the room with me. If there was something to jump off there I might have. It was the only was I could best express how I felt and what was in me to God.

Years later I learned David danced kinda wildly before the arc. His wife judged him and faced the consequences. Then again there are times when you just want to "fall on your face as if dead."

I do believe theatrics belong to the actors, but worship belongs to God.

If God tells me to jump from an amp, I'm going big. If not, I wont.

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.


If Jesus said all the Law and the Prophets. I reckon you could say the rule for jumping off your amp hangs on that one too.

Nozes said...

I´m really surprised with this posts... I was in a retreat on january... and one afternoon ppl were divided by age... my group (18 e 19) was "working" with one pastor and we spoke about "inside or outside.. what really matters".. which would mean.. God looks just your heart or you must take care of your looking... And after that, one night another pastor came with Romans 14
"...that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling....For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love....It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [to do anything] whereby thy brother stumbleth."

And this can be something that for example the most conservatives would not appreciate or say "He is not praising the lord.. he is just in flesh" or something else... but if everybody is jumping, like a youth time of praise and you feel free in your spirit to do it.. GO AHEAD ! :)

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