I’m not convinced that God requires a particular personality type, does he?
Does God require all his children to be extroverts?
AGREED.
No. He doesn’t require all to be extroverts.
I agree with my teen AoG Pastor . . .
we don’t live by feelings, we walk by faith.
But Praise God for the feelings when they come.
There’s something wrong with a faith where the individual goes berzerk at loud volume with wild physical expressions at a ball game or watching a game on TV . . .
and yet can hardly be motivated to pray at all, or above a whisper—and certainly don’t expect anything MORE dramatic than that, when it comes to God.
There’s something wrong with that kind of spirituality.
Either GOD ALMIGHTY IS WORTHY some emotions and excitement, or he isn’t.
I haven’t found an introverted mother yet, who, rushing into the street to pick up her child hit by a car doesn’t get excited to find the child alive.
DEAD RELIGION IS DEAD RELIGION no matter how you slice it.
Weasel words don’t work for Proddys any more than they work for RC’s.
I should note, my current congregational home is noted for dancing, flag waving . . . even a young adult cartwheeled across the front at God’s insistance . . . . which turned out to confront an atheist who’d just asked God to show he was real by having someone cartwheel across the front.
Yet, on average, I don’t feel a whole lot in most services. I man the used book table in back and somehow rarely seem energized by whatever’s going on.
Occasionally, I’ll feel touched or congruent with moving around a bit . . . maybe a slight dance sort of in place or in a small area in front of the book tables . . .
But I hate sham and going through the motions. So, if it’s not authentic, I don’t.
I agree that there’s a place for ACTING IN FAITH AS THOUGH . . . but unless there’s at least a kernal of leading or authenticity rising up in my spirit—I tend to sit such stuff out.
Praise God for those who feel touched every service. Praise God for those who get excited every service. I’m sometimes a bit covetous of their experiences in The Lord. But I hate phoney and I know God hates phoney so unless and until or except when it’s authentic for me, I’m quiet.
One of my students’ mothers is a keyboardist in our services. Precious woman. She evidently thinks I’m quiet and reserved. Her daughter, my student knows better because of all my outrageous demonstrations and antics in class.
It’s a funny contrast.
I’m not at all against emotional demonstrations or acting out one’s excitement or passion for The Lord. I just don’t want any of it to be phoney or for show before man.
And, usually, I’m rather quiet . . . still . . . with my sound canceling headphones on because of the outrageous amplified volume of the music—104db last Sunday morning. GRRR.
God uses all types of people who are willing to listen to his word and voice. I have known both kinds. Some are out front and everyone knows them and then there are others who are quiet and in the background.