May 2002 - Adventist Review, pg. 14 - NAD Edition
Family Matters by Kay Kuzma

Let's Just Praise the Lord

I was raised a Baptist, but I attended a series of evangelistic meetings, and 1 now believe in the seventh-day Sabbath. I love my Sabbath school class, and the message at church is good, but I miss the praise and worshipful singing part of the church service. I feel like I'm starving to death.

Sometimes I think about going to a Baptist church, but I don't believe in their beliefs any longer. But then again, I don't believe in everything at the church I'm at now.

What can I do?--Joyful

Dear Joyful:

I love praise services too. We right-brained people need to feel and respond to God's love with our body language. There are a lot of left-brained people, however, who were drawn to the Adventist Church because they saw the logic of Bible truth, and they don't understand us. Many are afraid that a show of emotion will lead to extremes.

So what should we do? I urge you to enjoy the diversity of God's church family and pray for flexibility, for openness to new forms of worship, and for a loving tolerance of each other. Raise your hands when you feel like it--especially if the words of the songs you sing tell you to, Any song can be a praise song if sung with emotion (although it seldom happens with heads buried in hymnals).

You might suggest that your church select a few hymns to memorize, so they can put the hymnals down and look up to God. Start with a slow, meaningful version of "Holy, Holy, Holy." Our little church group is memorizing scripture songs; it's really fun. The children sing with us, and they're eager to raise their hands to the Lord and clap as the words of the song may indicate. We're also learning to sign some songs, since one of our members is a deaf teenager.

There's no question that the seventh day is holy time. But when you're hungering for something more, there's nothing wrong with worshiping on Sunday too. Just don't give up one for the other. Plus, it's a great way to witness to others about the Bible truth you've found.

And keep playing the praise CDs in your home, singing out, raising your hands, and praising the Lord,

Kay Kuzma, Ed.D., is founder and speaker of Family Matters. Send your questions and comments to Dr. Kay c/o Family Matters, 1105 Big Creek Road, LaFollette, TN 37766; or via e-mail to kaykuzma@aol.com.