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In nearly every Pentecostal or Charismatic church I've visited, there's often a "Monster of Praise" who alienates members before the pastor even begins the sermon. During praise and worship, this individual dominates, dictating the fervor of worship and rebuking those who don't meet their standards. Like a self-appointed praise police, they believe they are responsible for ensuring the congregation's worship intensity.
This "Monster of Praise" can be a member of the Praise and Worship team or a leader in the church, someone with authority. When they are deeply moved by the Holy Spirit and notice others who seem disengaged, they react with holy indignation. They might call out individuals with statements like, "Jesus rose from the grave, and you can't even get out of your chair to praise Him!" or "I can't believe you're not more into it. God is in this place! I can feel it!!” However, instead of inspiring worship, this approach often leads to offended spirits and angry faces, as people feel judged rather than encouraged.
Unfortunately, this behavior is sometimes tolerated by the pastor, leading to a cycle where congregants either fake their praise to avoid being singled out or leave the church altogether to escape the public humiliation. Consequently, what should be a heartfelt act of worship becomes a reminder of negative experiences. Instead of ushering God into the sanctuary, the "Monster of Praise" pushes people away from God and the Christian faith.
1 Corinthians 8:9 warns against becoming a stumbling block to the weak, and Romans 14:13-23 urges us not to cause others to stumble. We must remember that we don't set the standards for what constitutes fervent worship to God. When we impose our standards on others, we're effectively saying, "Father, if Your Word and my praise aren't enough to move them into worship, I will embarrass them into Your glory." This is spiritually harmful.
Today, there's a sinful acceptance in some churches that suggests harder praise, more giving, and longer fasting will compel God to bless us more. Acts 10:34 tells us that God shows no partiality, and Romans 9:10-13 reminds us that He blesses whom He pleases. Our actions should not render Scripture ineffective.
Worship should not be a bargaining chip for future blessings. This misunderstanding leads pastors and worship leaders to berate and embarrass those they view as lazy worshipers. True worship is a response to what Christ has done for us, a constant state of gratitude that extends beyond the sanctuary and singing hymns. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-, we are God's temple; 1 Peter 2:9 calls us a royal priesthood, and Romans 12:1 urges us to be living sacrifices. Without Christ, we are none of these, so our worship should reflect His sacrifice and be an act of obedience.
True worship is much more. Christ is both the sacrifice and the priest, mediating between us and God. His obedience to God's will exemplifies pure and true worship. As Christians, we strive to be like Christ, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices. Trying to present someone else as a living sacrifice is futile.
As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, we become more dead to sin. A dead sacrifice stays on the altar until consumed by fire or decay. An unwilling living sacrifice, not dead to sin, will resist and climb down from the altar or be pushed off by others' piety. How others react to our worship is not our concern. Efforts to elicit a response often lead to forced, emotion-driven displays rather than genuine worship. This atmosphere of anger and resentment delights the enemy rather than glorifies God.
When our congregations seem disengaged, instead of embarrassing them into worship, we should focus on directing their attention to the living Christ among us. We should turn our own broken lives into beautiful offerings, living sacrifices to God. Whether we stand or sit, shout or meditate quietly, true worship is about offering real praise to God in the freedom we have in Christ.