Comments on: The presence of God in worship http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/ Reasonable Thoughts on Religion, Science, Skepticism, and Atheism Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:20:07 -0500 hourly 1 By: Elle http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-65602 Elle Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:07:29 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-65602 Daniel, You summed it up perfectly... "It was a mixture of gratefulness and love and awe." I am overcome with awe of what He's done for me. Like you were saying, if you truly allow yourself to sense His presence, and absorb just who He IS, what He has done for you (every minute of everyday; how much we have to be thankful for), and that He loves you... how can you not feel unbridled moments of awe. Mine can be counted on during every worship. It just happens and the tears flow. The power for worship is the Holy Spirit who guides and directs our worship of the Lord. Good piece Daniel - Thank you for that. Daniel, You summed it up perfectly… “It was a mixture of gratefulness and love and awe.” I am overcome with awe of what He’s done for me. Like you were saying, if you truly allow yourself to sense His presence, and absorb just who He IS, what He has done for you (every minute of everyday; how much we have to be thankful for), and that He loves you… how can you not feel unbridled moments of awe. Mine can be counted on during every worship. It just happens and the tears flow. The power for worship is the Holy Spirit who guides and directs our worship of the Lord. Good piece Daniel – Thank you for that.

]]> By: Jim Etchison http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3513 Jim Etchison Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:20:54 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3513 Christian rock makes me want to cry too, but not for the intended reason. ;D Christian rock makes me want to cry too, but not for the intended reason. ;D

]]> By: Metro http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3512 Metro Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:47:20 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3512 I've wanted to cry while listening to Christian rock. But I don't think that's the same thing ... I’ve wanted to cry while listening to Christian rock. But I don’t think that’s the same thing …

]]> By: SteveWH http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3504 SteveWH Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:33:09 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3504 Jim (#7) - I've never thought about how those factors come together before. Thank you. Jim (#7) – I’ve never thought about how those factors come together before. Thank you.

]]> By: Jim http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3508 Jim Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:15:11 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3508 Really excellent post. Thanks for saying that. I also had powerful experiences during "worship." But later I also wondered if it had something to do with the fact that I had my arms raised (changing blood flow to the brain) for a long period of time, plus singing increases oxygen flow, and doing this late on a Sunday morning would mean you probably haven't eaten much. The effect of these things, plus the things you mentioned, the group experience, thinking about the "big picture" of our lives, inspiring words, etc. ... it all adds up. Really excellent post. Thanks for saying that. I also had powerful experiences during “worship.” But later I also wondered if it had something to do with the fact that I had my arms raised (changing blood flow to the brain) for a long period of time, plus singing increases oxygen flow, and doing this late on a Sunday morning would mean you probably haven’t eaten much. The effect of these things, plus the things you mentioned, the group experience, thinking about the “big picture” of our lives, inspiring words, etc. … it all adds up.

]]> By: McBloggenstein http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3507 McBloggenstein Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:30:35 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3507 <blockquote>Now, as a non-believer, modern Christian worship just looks like emotional masturbation. There’s nothing wrong with being emotionally moved by music, but to go to a place every week (or maybe 2-3 times a week) to work yourself up into a frenzy is a bit unbalanced.</blockquote> That's a great point. These feelings are encouraged, and expected at a lot of churches, it seems. Have you seen Jesus Camp? Those kids get worked up into a frenzy by the adults, so much that they are running around crying and screaming that they feel God in their hearts. Very scary.

Now, as a non-believer, modern Christian worship just looks like emotional masturbation. There’s nothing wrong with being emotionally moved by music, but to go to a place every week (or maybe 2-3 times a week) to work yourself up into a frenzy is a bit unbalanced.

That’s a great point. These feelings are encouraged, and expected at a lot of churches, it seems.

Have you seen Jesus Camp? Those kids get worked up into a frenzy by the adults, so much that they are running around crying and screaming that they feel God in their hearts. Very scary.

]]> By: Chris http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3510 Chris Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:53:34 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3510 When I was a Christian, I played guitar and bass in many worship bands at church. I enjoyed it, found it meaningful and edifying, but I never got over emotional about it. To me, at the time, there was a distinction between emotions and true spiritual experience. Music of all sorts, secular and religious, affects us emotionally, so "feeling the presence of God" had to be something more than just being excited or crying. Now, as a non-believer, modern Christian worship just looks like emotional masturbation. There's nothing wrong with being emotionally moved by music, but to go to a place every week (or maybe 2-3 times a week) to work yourself up into a frenzy is a bit unbalanced. When I was a Christian, I played guitar and bass in many worship bands at church. I enjoyed it, found it meaningful and edifying, but I never got over emotional about it. To me, at the time, there was a distinction between emotions and true spiritual experience. Music of all sorts, secular and religious, affects us emotionally, so “feeling the presence of God” had to be something more than just being excited or crying.

Now, as a non-believer, modern Christian worship just looks like emotional masturbation. There’s nothing wrong with being emotionally moved by music, but to go to a place every week (or maybe 2-3 times a week) to work yourself up into a frenzy is a bit unbalanced.

]]> By: Gerald Fernandez-Mayfield http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3511 Gerald Fernandez-Mayfield Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:01:54 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3511 I have never felt 'the Presence of God' in any literal way, and I think mostly this is personal delusion. The closest I have come was a sense, the first time I was really in a hospital I got the overwhelming sense of being in a temple. I just felt comfortable there. But that is more like a hunch than anything literal. I have never felt ‘the Presence of God’ in any literal way, and I think mostly this is personal delusion. The closest I have come was a sense, the first time I was really in a hospital I got the overwhelming sense of being in a temple. I just felt comfortable there. But that is more like a hunch than anything literal.

]]> By: Pirx http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3505 Pirx Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:31:00 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3505 These are great observations! I bet a lot of people have other examples, I'd like to see what view are. These are great observations! I bet a lot of people have other examples, I’d like to see what view are.

]]> By: TheOtherOne http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3506 TheOtherOne Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:13:23 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3506 When you're in your home-town stadium watching your team win the big game and the whole crowd is going crazy, and you're caught up in a very similar wave of powerful, shared emotion . . . . When you’re in your home-town stadium watching your team win the big game and the whole crowd is going crazy, and you’re caught up in a very similar wave of powerful, shared emotion . . . .

]]> By: Michael http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/08/the-presence-of-god-in-worship/#comment-3509 Michael Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:47:16 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.wordpress.com/?p=574#comment-3509 I agree 100 percent. I was a bawler during worship and other times. You mention soldiers, what about the power of teenage fandom? Ever see teen girls bawl and the mere mention of a their favorite celebrity. "I love him so muuuuuuuch." Great post. I agree 100 percent. I was a bawler during worship and other times. You mention soldiers, what about the power of teenage fandom? Ever see teen girls bawl and the mere mention of a their favorite celebrity. “I love him so muuuuuuuch.” Great post.

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