Our Need for 'Enthusiasm'
July 10, 2006
As a Wesleyan, it's probably not surprising that I occasionally think about the topic of enthusiasm, for it was the thing John Wesley and his early followers were frequently criticized for. Today, we don't label the more emotional believers among us as "enthusiasts"; we use other terms such as "pentecostal", "charismatic", "overly demonstrative", "wild", "mystical", or even "scary"!
In recent years as I've traveled about, I've noticed a growing aversion to outward displays of enthusiasm among gen-y'rs (aka millennials) during corporate times of worship. Many of them seem to be see such enthusiastic displays during worship as disingenuous -- something their parent's generation was into, but not theirs. In part, they see their parent's way of worshiping as too "music-oriented" and "showy"; too much like a concert rather than an encounter with Almighty God. People stand, clap, lift their hands, etc. because they're expected to. Therefore, all the clapping, shouting, dancing, kneeling, etc. no longer appeals to them in connection with worship.
Granted, many young adults within evangelical circles are being drawn to other and more ancient expressions of worship: lectio divina, liturgy, the practice of silence, etc. And while in our postmodern world, the "experiential" clearly has regained value and respect, individualism seems to continue it's relentless urging to worship God in our "own" way. However, the following questions still need to be asked:
- Why does it seem that enthusiasm is on the decline, especially in North America?
- Is there a legitimate place and/or need for enthusiasm within our corporate times of worship? If so, what purpose does it serve, and what are the primary factors inhibiting it's display?
- How might the "display" of enthusiam be different today than in past times?
- How does one discern whether or not displays of enthusiasm have gotten out of hand?
John Wesley found a biblical example of enthusiasm in Acts 26:24 -- "Paul, you are beside yourself!"-- and was quick to distinguish between "positive" and "excessive" enthusiasm. He expected that the "'religion of the heart' where one is alive to God, and dead to all things here below' may prompt others to pass the sentence: 'You are beside yourself!'" Wesley counseled believers to be "expecting to grow daily in pure and holy religion, so as to be deserving of the charge of enthusiasm in a positive sense, and avoiding the sort of enthusiasm that is 'merely nominal Christianity.'" (John Wesley's Scriptural Christianity, p. 88, 89)
At some level, it seems to me that our faith -- void of enthusiasm -- would end up being pedantic and lifeless. And maybe at another level, enthusiasm is often connected to the medium by which the message of the gospel is communicated; and if the medium is the message (especially within a postmodern context), then what does that say about the importance of enthusiasm?
I love the way Wesley valued "balance" regarding this issue. But I would also love to hear your thoughts about this type of enthusiasm and it's place within corporate (or private) worship.
.
picture credit: © Brent Anderson, via avisualplanet.com
Hi Chris, and friend and I were bouncing your post back and forth in conversation and this came out of it...
latin (en theo)
english (In God)
The eyptymological root of the word Enthusiasm is rooted in the latin meaning "In God"
I can be enthusiastically grieving, like the palestinians when someone dies. Or I can be enthusiastically afraid, such as when certain death is creeping at my door.
No matter what my felling, If I am living it out and being true to myself in that felling, I am being true to God myself and other human beings, therfore I am being, "in God", enthusiastic.
Maybe we havn't really understood what it means to live out a relationship with Holy Spirit and therefore we don't allow for all the expressions of Himself in us? Makes me think...
Peace brother...Ron+
Posted by: rron | July 11, 2006 at 03:55 PM
"Maybe we havn't really understood what it means to live out a relationship with Holy Spirit and therefore we don't allow for all the expressions of Himself in us? Makes me think..."
rron -- thanks for opening up the comments on this one with a great post. Good stuff (I guess the etymology of enthusiasm had slipped my mind -- glad you highlighted it!). Anyway, I wanted to comment on what you said above.
I do believe we still have a lot to learn within the Church about being the "community of the Holy Spirit." In that sense, our enthusiasm (i.e. our in-God-ness) is dependent upon our willingness to relenquish "control". It's not that the Holy Spirit is waiting to make us bold, loud, or demonstrative -- just yielded. And that's what ultimately scares us, I think.
Any further thoughts?
Posted by: Chris | July 12, 2006 at 08:11 PM
Chris, I couldn't agree with you more," It's not that the Holy Spirit is waiting to make us bold, loud, or demonstrative -- just yielded." I love your thought, or should I say the reality that we are a " community of the Holy Spirit." This friend, this counselor that Jesus promised us. This mysterious part of the scared divine that would take up residence in us.This mystery that we would abide in and live out of. This breath, that would give us Life. How often does the church " wait " in this place, that we would give up our lofty ideas, and words for divine wisdom and direction.
The Holy Spirit, from when it hovered " enthusiastically " over the nothingness in Genesis...has danced, and blown and breathed through the Old and New Testament.This is the power and the life of the church...this is the Spirit filled life Jesus promised and came to give us. It is time we once again woke up to this reality. Sorry fro being so " enthusiastic." Pax...Ron+
Posted by: ron | July 13, 2006 at 12:49 AM
I have sometimes noticed Gen-y'rs not being expressive (although I have seen many, many who are) but I interpreted that they were really concerned about what others may think more than such displays being a possible sign of ingenuity (oops, I mean disingenuous). It also depends on the context in which they are worshipping and whether they are still in high school or beyond.
I resonate with "It's not that the Holy Spirit is waiting to make us bold, loud, or demonstrative -- just yielded." But there are a large variety of expressions in both OT and NT -- some quiet and some bold. Sometimes it is personality driven and sometimes our inability to be expressive is more about our cultural upbringing. I have seen some powerful displays of expressive worship and I have seen some powerful displays of "spacious" worship. I have seen dead and empty, go-through-the-motions worship and have seen some absolutely ridiculous displays expression (where I have actually wondered what "spirit" was filling certain people).
I attended a Catholic funeral that was very enthusiastic although it was very liturgical and definitely NOT charasmatic. The key was the priest and his passion the literally radiated from him for ministry and for the worship, which fueled his compassion for the family.
Which leads me to wonder... how much is enthusiastic expression determined by the leadership? And how many people does it take to "quench the Spirit" so that expression is stifled or even snuffed out?
In Christ,
Posted by: Mark Eberly | July 13, 2006 at 01:35 PM
"Which leads me to wonder... how much is enthusiastic expression determined by the leadership? And how many people does it take to "quench the Spirit" so that expression is stifled or even snuffed out?"
Mark, both are excellent questions! And both have remained elusive in trying to answer for many, many years now (for me, that is!).
Maybe you or someone else has a thought or two concerning this?
Posted by: Chris | July 14, 2006 at 09:32 AM
I go to an independent Pentecostal church. This last Sunday we had a glorious time of worship in which people danced and waved banners. To me, it seemed like a little foretaste of heaven. You could see the joy and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We haven't lost any enthusiasm!
Posted by: DLE | July 17, 2006 at 07:41 PM
I read that someone said (maybe it was Moody) that the preacher ought to set himself on fire (whatever that looks like) because the people following would only be able to become glowing embers. Somebody help me on this if you know the real source and a more accurate rendition than my foggy paraphrase. That is for the first question.
For the second question, I'm not sure there is the definitive answer. But I have pastor friends who testify that when a particular person left the church, the church started growing (and implied usually is that enthusiasm increased. I have also observed the difference that one person with great enthusiasm can make in igniting the enthusiasm in others. It can be contagious.
In Christ,
Posted by: Mark Eberly | July 18, 2006 at 12:04 PM