There’s an old song that says, “Get all excited”, and I can’t help but wonder why we don’t. Back when I was playing baseball it was common to hear players and coaches say, “Come on, talk it up. Let’s hear some chatter out there!” That was a part of the game. Everyone knew the importance of of emotion. It not only inspires us, excitement is contagious. Watching others get excited has a way of stirring up your emotions, and that can be very important. It can make the difference in the outcome of whatever we’re doing. That’s why the “home team” has an advantage in a ball game. Can you imagine watching a ballgame where there is no display of emotion? Chances are it would be that way only if there was an attitude of indifference. If you don’t care what the outcome is there is nothing to get excited about. But if you care about winning and losing, victory and defeat, emotions come easy. We get excited about things we value, like, or admire.

Maybe that explains why some are so unemotional in church. If a person doesn’t care about what he hears or sees there is nothing to get excited about. On the other hand, if a person has a great love for God, a healthy fear of God, an intimate relationship with God, and a strong desire to please God, he will be excited about worshiping God. He might not express his emotion in exactly the same way as others, but he most certainly will be deeply moved when God is honored, when Christ is exalted, when the saints are edified.

It should be stated that emotions aren’t everything as some people make it appear. It takes more than a hallelujah hoedown to impress God. If the truth is absent, the conduct improper, and the motives impure God isn’t impressed — regardless of the showy display. However, that being said, neither is God pleased with a cold, dead, formal, unemotional service where you never hear so much as a holy grunt from anyone. My question is, how can a person who has been forgiven, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and assured of heaven not get excited about worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords? How is that possible? Why is that acceptable? That is a problem that should never exist.

What excites you? Are you one of those who goes to a ballgame and yells like a Comanche  and then attends church and sits like a wooden Indian? I’m not saying we should behave the same way in church that we behave at a ballgame— that’s not the point. Worship demands a dignity that isn’t expected at a ballgame, but surely we ought to be deeply moved at the thought of being in the presence of Christ. Think about it!

Want to start a heated debate? Just start a conversation about worship. “Worship wars” have been raging for several years, and everyone thinks they’re right. Sadly most of the arguments are based on personal preference rather than scriptural admonitions. Some like a certain style of preaching or music, etc. and they think everyone else ought to feel the same way. And some folks change their minds so often that you never know where they stand.

For some it’s traditional hymns only. Others prefer Southern Gospel. With many it is nothing but contemporary music. But it’s not just about music. Even when it comes to preaching people have their preferences. Some want one kind, others want another. Sadly most people don’t have a clue as to what constitutes “good preaching”. They are stuck on a certain style and anything different doesn’t suit their taste. A lot of folks in the south think if you’re not screaming at the top of your lungs,  panting like a dog chasing a deer, foaming at the mouth, and walking on six inches of your pant legs you aren’t really preaching. Others can’t stand that much emotion. They insist that the delivery be dignified and every word pronounced properly, etc.The truth is that good preaching can come in many forms– as long as it is done in love, with humility, in sincerity, and according to the truth. I’ve heard great sermons delivered without the preacher ever raising his voice and great sermons delivered in the style of the deep south. But, regardless of how it was delivered, it was “in love, with humility, in sincerity, and according to the truth”, and I was blessed by it. Preachers should be themselves, rather than trying to copy someone else.

Too many people have lost sight of what worship is all about. It’s about glorifying God, not gratifying the flesh. Whether sermon of song, it should be about pleasing God rather than pleasing yourself. And if you can’t prove that the Lord is displeased with a certain style you have no justification for criticizing those who differ. There are plenty of things for which we ought to contend, but this isn’t one of them. No one has a right to insist that all the music be of their favorite style.

It’s time that we get personal preference off the table. If we aren’t guided by the Word of God we are sure to error and go astray. The craziness needs to stop. We ought to stand firm regarding scriptural doctrines, but when it comes to debating about our desires that’s another matter. Having a preference for one thing over another is fine, condemning those who differ isn’t. Think about it!