Sport, Church, and Emotion

One of my friends commented recently that, "Sport can be quite emotional." And I replied, "If it's not emotional is it still sport?"

Then relating that thought to my own situation, I thought "Church can be quite emotional. If it's not emotional is it still church."

Nikki recently wrote a nice piece about Jesus sleeping through the storm while the disciples are frantically trying to stop the boat from sinking. At last, they decide they will have to wake him. "Do you not care that we are about to die?" they ask him.

Now that's emotion!

Sometimes I feel that we have taken Paul's instruction to do everything 'decently and in order' far too far. The stories of Jesus in the New Testament contain lots of emotion.

Jesus wept, Jesus was indignant, Jesus had compassion, Jesus was exasperated, Jesus was angry, Jesus felt abandoned, the prodigal's father was joyful.

In the Old Testament too there was much emotion.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Rejoice in the Lord. By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept. He drew me up from the desolate pit and put a song of praise to God in my mouth.

When a sports person accomplishes a great achievement they celebrate in style.
When an actor wins an Oscar they throw an enormous party.
When an election is won there is a tremendous cheer from the winners.

Sunday by Sunday, as we come to worship our great God, let's celebrate in style, throw a great party, and raise the roof with a tremendous cheer.

After all, the Good Book tells us to 'make a joyful noise!'