David Danced

My parents did it right. Like really right. I don’t know what they did, but they did it right. Growing up, it never bothered me because we were in our tiny town. Our little church… my little family… our little town… our little world… We never really collaborated with other churches, and I never understood that. Until I got older.

Before I go any further, there is something that you need to understand about me… I grew up in a Fundamental Independent Baptist Church. What do you picture with that title? Skirts… King James Version… hymns only… Certainly nothing with a beat! I didn’t grow up that way. We listened to contemporary Christian music but stuck to hymns in church. My dad loves his King James and that is what we use in church, but at home in our personal devotion time, we use other versions for comparison. I have always dressed up and worn dresses to church in respect and reverence to Christ, but that is not always appropriate in Michigan. I wear PANTS! It was normal to me!! Until I found out that that is not the case. We were deemed “liberal” to many, but too “prudish” and “conservative” to others. We were always somewhere in the middle.

My dad is the Godliest man I have ever met. He is the one I have always drawn my encouragement in Christ from. He tried to collaborate with other churches, but we were always shunned by the conservatives and ignored by the liberals. We were on an island. He always told my brothers and I that when you go to other churches, camps, schools, colleges, you don’t need to tell them that you read other versions or listen to CCM because you’re in their territory. Then I went to a very conservative college. I made the mistake of telling one person that I trusted that I am different basically and that was the end. I became the scarlet letter! It was awful…

My parents taught me that my relationship with Christ was the most important thing. They always told me that I cannot rely on their faith and salvation. I must make Him my own! So that is what I did. I focused on knowing Christ and experiencing God. Don’t get me wrong! We are still Baptist’s and Northerners and radical and showy is just not our thing. It’s difficult sometimes to raise a hand or show some emotion. It’s a little too much at times. Even an alter call is sparse. We can’t show emotion! It’s not the way of the Baptist. It’s all about the rule book… One big thing that I learned through my one semester at that college was how fraudulent it all was. I was shamed because of the music I listened to and the Bible that I had at home, but most of the ones that attacked me have completely left the faith altogether! They were so worried about looking the part and following the rule book that they never made God their own. My own husband was raised that way and didn’t even come to know Christ until two years after we were married. He has had a difficult time finding who he is outside of the rules and experiencing God deeper than the way it looks. He has even shielded his friends from me because he knows that they will not agree with my “radical ideals.”

One thing that has always connected me to Christ is music. God has given me an ear for music, and I truly love it! Music is something that has gotten me through some dark times. Dad’s theme for our church this year is “Sing A New Song.” This can mean so many things to so many people, but one of the first Sunday nights after he announced his new theme he asked us, “What is your new song?” I did not know exactly how to answer that, but I have pondered it a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. I love my Lord and Savior! I love to sing to Him! In a sense, my new song is the lessons that God is teaching me. Watching my husband grow and experience the Lord like he never has before. Watching him lead this family! Watching Jake teach Logan that God is what matters… not the rules, or the failures, or the hard times. Even if things are hard, He is still there! But then I heard a song the other day… “The Truth” by Megan Woods. I was bawling! I have had it on repeat for days! She talks about the lies that the enemy tells us, but all that matters is that there is a perfect King in whom we were created in the image of. God made us in His image!! HIS image! His perfect image!  This is something that I have always struggled with because I don’t fit in. I don’t fit in with the crowd that doesn’t know Christ and I don’t fit in with the crowd that claims to know Christ… but thinks that I don’t because I don’t look like them… And then I heard another song today, “NOTHING NEW” by Brandon Lake. This one had me raising my hands! My favorite lyrics are “From the dawn to the dusk of my days. From the depths of my soul and with all of my strength. Here is my heart in just one phrase, Jesus I love You, I love You. When I say it, I mean it, it's true And I hope You can see it in all that I do. I know it might be nothing new, But Jesus, I love You, I love You I do” Just writing these lyrics out makes me cry! It made me consider David… When we were reading 2 Samuel the other night we laughed because David was praising Christ without a care! He was praising Him so much that his wife Michal was ashamed (partly because his clothes fell off). Don’t get me wrong! I am not saying that everyone needs to worship like I do. My mother-in-law is VERY Godly woman and does not see eye to eye with me on worship, but she also understands the importance of a relationship with Christ that is real! Even my dad does not like all of my music! He finds it cheesy or too “touchy feely.”

I don’t want to be ashamed of my worship anymore. I have hidden from the conservative crowd because I know what they will say about me. I have refrained from raising my hands in worship for fear of looking too radical… but I don’t want to hide anymore! David danced for the Lord UNASHAMED!! He did not care because he was praising the LORD! I think my new song is allowing myself to be a little more radical… allowing myself to be unashamed of praising the Lord like David. Not caring because the only thing that matters to me is my Lord and my praise for Him.

2 Samuel 6:14-20

14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!