sides
I was in middle school when the Ski Naked t-shirts started coming out. What followed next in Colorado was nothing short of a marketing phenomon.
Study Naked
Surf Naked
Drive Naked
Golf Naked
Baby on Board Naked
Luge Naked
Given the subject matter around here the last few days, couldn’t resist the last one. As a middle schooler… and high schooler… and a college student… and finally as a parent, I (still) chuckle when I see that. I’m still dealing with the abuse issues from my parents not allowing me to own a “Ski Naked” t-shirt. Of course, I’m not letting my kids get one either.
I’m preaching on 2 Samuel 6 this week, David dancing in front of the Ark and his country in a loin cloth. And his wife was horrified. She let him know about it when he got home.
Her argument – that wasn’t appropriate for God nor you, as King of Israel. You’ve dishonored yourself.
David’s response – get over it and it’s going to get worse. Worship Naked.
Rowland told me a story that happened at Grace about 5 or 6 years ago. One Sunday morning, a student got so wrapped up in worship, he took off his shirt and started swinging it around. He was sitting right next to the oldest guy in our church who still is wearing polyester suits. The older guy started smiling….and raising his arms in worship!
Not everybody had the same response.
“That was NOT appropriate nor worshipful!” (Can somebody tell me why people start talking with “nor” when they get all hoity-toity?)
The fact that most of us will never worship that way is an indictment on us – not a badge of maturity. Here’s the cold hard truth about people who worship naked, uninhibited, undistracted, unabashed, and unfazed by humans. We can’t control them.
They don’t fit in our box or mold. They intimidate us. They shame us. They know something we don’t. Better said, they know some ONE we don’t. They aren’t consumed with themselves like we are, rather they are being consumed by Him.
And our only defense against these kind of people? Intimidation to conform. Some of them will cave. Some of them will tell us to get over ourselves. Will we?
Worship naked. And get even more undignified than that.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Mom // Feb 20, 2006 at 11:34 pm
You shall know the truth…and the truth shall make you weird!
Please not naked.
2 Jerry // Feb 21, 2006 at 2:41 am
Your mom is funny, Grant.
Just don’t blog naked. Or at least don’t tell us if you do.
3 Wayne // Feb 21, 2006 at 8:37 am
Are you planning on wearing your pink luge outfit sunday??? If so, I’ll be worshiping nauseated.
4 TheMisfit // Feb 21, 2006 at 9:31 am
Preach it, dude! Have fun with the emails and anonymous letters next Monday.
5 jeremy // Feb 21, 2006 at 11:01 am
i always comment naked.
6 Mike R // Feb 21, 2006 at 11:17 am
Thank God David didn’t preach naked.
7 Mike S // Feb 21, 2006 at 1:36 pm
So how “undignified” are we willing to be?
8 Paul // Feb 21, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Great story and a reminder of who often leads the church.
9 likeafire.net » Blog Archive » the G sides » Worship Naked // Feb 21, 2006 at 2:06 pm
[...] the G sides » Worship Naked Grant tells a great story about what happens when people stop being nice and start being real – Christians. Definitely read this story. [...]
10 Grant // Feb 21, 2006 at 3:15 pm
I’m clothed as I type this. Jer, no wonder it’s so cold up there in Canada.
how undignified? Let’s just say there is enough offensive material in this for us all.
Those of us who plan worship – why don’t we plan services like that? What keeps us ’safe’ or ‘appropriate?’ OR what makes push the edges? A divine call or passive aggression for all the complainers?
As usual, I’m bringing my questions than answers…sorry.
11 Catbird // Feb 22, 2006 at 11:13 pm
At least one reason that we don’t plan services like that is that the Holy Spirit won’t fit in a box either!
I think sometimes we think God reviews our order of worship and says, “Great! Worship starts at 9:00am. I’ve got an early round of golf at 6, so I should be dressed and ready for my cue just when they start the first verse of “Heart of Worship!”
I think that we assume that God is reading our bulletins and following the plan. Which is not really characteristic of God; it isn’t really God’s nature to follow man’s lead. I’m pretty sure that dancing naked around the Ark wasn’t on anyone’s order of worship that day, which means the Spirit deviated from the plan. (gasp!)
That said, I love the thought of pushing the envelope in worship. Not really ready to shuck the clothes, though. It’s hard enough not closing my eyes during the prayer or saying, “Amen!” when I really feel like it!(grin)
12 Grant // Feb 23, 2006 at 9:06 am
After the last series on the luge, I’m quite sure I’m not ready for lycra or spandex worship either.
catbird – browsed your site…what’s with the chairs??? Could you worship without a chair in the room? That might be pushing the envelope with you!! hahahahah..
13 Catbird // Feb 23, 2006 at 9:25 am
What can I say, I just have a chair-thing. And, yes, it is quite possible that having no chairs might just impede my worship! (lol.)
I actually DO think about the chairs in churches…but I digress.
Loved the article, BTW!
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