Fraudulent Praise, Part III: The Loss of Control

Fraudulent Praise, Part III: The Loss of Control

In this third and final installment of my Fraudulent Praise series, I want to (briefly) look at the issue of "Control" and how many offer their "praise" in a kind of "out-of-body" experience!
I'm sure you've seen it - a display of "praise" that is shocking in many cases. I've been a devoted/Bible Believing Follower of Jesus Christ since 1988, and 3 times, I've seen a person hurt themselves (to the point bleeding and needing stitches) from uncontrolled "praise" dancing! I've also seen more female body parts than you can believe!

Why is it that the "praise & worship" experience in the church is so emotion-driven? Why is it, by in large, such a FARCE (as said by Jesus Himself)? How is it that praise TO GOD can result in such bodily harm and personal embarrassment?
I personally believe one major part of this answer is housed with the freshly desire to "be seen", appear deeply spiritual and to attain some selfish place in God that is delusional at best!
In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke very clear and direct to the issue of "being seen" by men! Four times, regarding Righteousness, Giving, Prayer and Fasting, Jesus instructed NOT to do these "to be seen" by other people!

1). “...Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven...Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward...."
** Matthew 6:1-2

2). “...And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward...."
** Matthew 6:5

3). "...And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward...."
** Matthew 6:16

4). "...But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you...."
** Matthew 6:17-18

Being seen, appearing "holy" or having spiritual depth, has been the "code of carnality" and "spiritual ineptness" since the beginning of time. What we should also know about this "code" (and what I strongly believe) is when there is a presence of carnality and spiritual ineptness, there is an even greater problem: The Loss of Control.

The Bible says,

"...A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls...."
** Proverbs 25:28 ESV

Is the experience of Praise one that completely assumes control of your mind, body and spirit? Does our Praise efforts jeopardized our physical safety depending on how "appointed" the experience or the atmosphere? Can it be possible that such super-natural control over us in moments of Praise also causes us to hurt ourselves physically?

The Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 6, "our bodies is the Temple of The Holy Spirit" and further said, "we should Glorify God in our bodies."

"...Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?... You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body...."
** 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

Does it make sense that The Holy Spirit would (during an episode of Praise) hurt His Temple and/or cause us to NOT be able to bring Glory to God in our bodies because of a severely wounded head, broken bones or similar from a "praise experience"?!?

Is this the view and experience of God that I'm supposed to have as a Christian?!? Do I lose control when I Praise God?!? Am I to Praise God with some form of intensity that takes me out of myself in some way?

My friends, the answer to this is a resounding NO! Not only is this gross error, but it has no Scriptural basis whatsoever and is a disgraceful portrayal of Who God is and how He relates to His People!

Sure, the Praise (and Worship) experience is a powerful one, but that is because of a powerful relationship already existing, where God Calls us into His Presence by His Love and Grace!

"...I have loved you, My People, with an everlasting love. [Therefore] With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself...."
** Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

When I survey the Scriptures for myself, I find it hard to see The God that many claim to know in most of our churches!

I see the god (small "g") whose praise assumes control of his subjects and causes them to hurt themselves physically. I also see this "god" demanding these episodes as a sort of "payment" or spiritual currency in order to gain his attention! Is this the God of The Bible?

What we should see, however, is The God whose Love is so Great, that He Gave it all people, regardless of how they loved or hated Him!

"...But God commendeth His Love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...."
** Romans 5:8

"...But God, who is rich in mercy, for His Great Love wherewith He Loved us... Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved... And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus...."
** Ephesians 2:4-6

Now lets be CLEAR about the issue I am arguing here! I am NOT against Praise, NOR am I against Praise rendered through/with human emotion. Of course The Lord relates to the WHOLE of Mankind, which INCLUDES the emotional part of us.

When we read about the life of King David, in 2nd Samuel, we read CLEARLY that he was a Man of Praise...

"...And David danced before the Lord WITH ALL HIS MIGHT; and David was girded with a linen ephod... So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord WITH SHOUTING, and with the sound of the trumpet...."
** 2nd Samuel 6:14-15

My issue, unlike what we see in the life of King David, is directed at "personal control" along with heartless, powerless and man-made (or man-directed) episodes where praise becomes nothing more than an appearance of "holiness."

As I have contended in my previous two segments of this 3-part series, Praise, in its authentic form, is a PERSONAL rendering to God alone, for HIM alone and as a result of a personal relationship with HIM alone!

It [Praise] is NOT merely an exercise or formula to provoke the Movements of God on our own behalf. In fact, its the Movements of God as revealed to us through a Personal and Intimate RELATIONSHIP that HE has with us that will cause us to Praise Him.... Its the AWE of KNOWING God that provokes Praise within us, that we render to God... Causing us to RENDER OUR LIVES IN SERVICE (not simply "lip service"), and that by FAITH!

This is why The Apostle Paul says (in 2nd Peter)...

"...By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.... And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires... In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement [ or ADD TO ] YOUR FAITH with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge... and knowledge WITH SELF-CONTROL, and SELF-CONTROL with patient endurance, and patient endurance with Godliness... and Godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone... The more you grow like this, the more PRODUCTIVE and USEFUL YOU WILL BE in YOUR KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ... But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins... So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen... Do these things, and you will never fall away....."
** 2nd Peter 1:3-11 NLT

Jesus is interested in our HEARTS more than He is our Lips (see Part ! or Matthew 6:1-34).

Finally (yeah, I know... Finally), it is not only ERROR to see/hear people NOT being able to control themselves when engaged in an episode of praise, but it is also FRAUDULENT! Frankly, we ONLY see this kind of praise INSIDE of the church walls and typically when the music is playing (and THAT says even more to me personally... I won't get into it though). I just find it interesting how "music" plays a major role in Fraudulent Praise & Worship!

The Biblical account of The Three Hebrew Boys (shadrach meshach and abednego in Daniel 3) is a PRIME example!

I am thankful to know that NO MAN, church group or the like can make any claims on my efforts of Praise nor on the level of my Christian experience! My relationship with The Lord is personal, and my Praise is rendered personally. Yes, it may be (and frankly should ALSO be) in The Congregation of The Righteous, but is called for by God alone, as a result of my Relationship with HIM alone, rendered for HIM alone and UNDER COMPLETE EMOTIONAL CONTROL!

Much Love,
#KeepWINNING!
Roc

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