“Would I Dance for You Jesus?”
That title above is a distinctive line from the immensely popular Christian song, “I Can Only Imagine,” from the group, MercyMe. Its writer, Bart Millard, wrote the song in only ten minutes reflecting on the death of his father and what heaven would be like for the first time in our Lord’s presence.
” Surrounded by YOUR glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of you be still?”
I grew up in a Baptist church in Georgia, where some church members thought dancing was a sin. Dancing for Jesus? Not possible!
However, in Psalm 95:1, it reads, “Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.” (ESV)
In 2 Samuel 6:14, the scripture tells us that “David danced before the Lord with all his might.” (ESV)
There’s also that dancing word again in my favorite Matt Maher song, ” Alive and Breathing.” Our Praise and Worship Center musicians performed these encouraging lyrics with such energy a few weeks ago with Danny singing vocals,
“Don’t stop dancing and dreaming,
There’s still good news worth repeating,
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord!”
Every week when I EXPERIENCE firsthand, God’s love in our Sunday service, I can’t keep from moving once the music starts. It is now impossible for me to sing and just stand still!
When we first began PWC in 2008, I felt shy and held back from raising my arms, clapping my hands, and swaying to the AMAZING songs played with such love, fervor, and passion each week. However, I now feel it’s just one other powerful way to connect to our AWESOME GOD without embarrassment or feeling self-conscious.
We all worship in different ways and that’s OK. It’s between you and your Lord and no one else. But for me, the extension of my love for my Master is through movement and singing.
Recently after church, I filled in at my job at the airport as a favor to a friend. During the very hectic shift behind the information desk, some of passengers were beyond rude, stressed out and wanted to take it out on me. I was cursed at and tried to stay calm. So, in my head, I kept thinking about the service that morning and how my heart had celebrated by the powerful music! (By the way, Father Dale and Pastor Mark, you both hit grand slams with your sermons!😁)
As the night wore on and the terminal started to empty out, an unhappy couple came up to my desk after hearing stressful news. Their flight was cancelled, they would have to spend the night at the airport and all restaurants were closed. I was bracing for the backlash. I comforted them as best I could. They walked away.
It was now close to midnight. As I was closing down the desk, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Was I seeing things? I quietly walked over and took a picture with my phone. It was the couple. No music was playing except what they heard in their heads. They decided to dance the hours away.
It didn’t look like sin to me. Just two people letting the other know they were loved on a very bad day. Sounds like what we do every week when the Holy Spirit allows us to dance, sing, and pray love songs to and for our Savior. After all, we call it the Praise and Worship Center.