Radio Antioch

Dave dancing with the children in Ngaramtoni, Tanzania, outside of Arusha

This teaching is an excerpt from our Radio Antioch Podcast, Episode 3 .

How do you learn to really worship the Lord? I began in my private time with God. Some of you might call that the “Prayer Closet”.  Many years ago I received a prophetic word that I would become a man who would dance before the Lord. At the time I did not receive it, as I was not the type of person to be dancing in church. For a long time I forgot about this word, until I remembered it recently, with a chuckle.
You see, in Africa I have been called Mazungu Moja Mchezo, the white man who dances,  (With apologies to Swahili speakers out there…my Swahili is very rough, but I try and write it down as I remember it sounding, Mazungu (sometimes Wazungu) meaning white man (Or European) and Mchezo meaning dances.) because I will dance with them, particularly the children. This surprises and delights them, as apparently most of the missionaries and others who come from Europe or America will not dance. In one villages, the children laugh at me, because my dance looks funny to them. They shout “Mazungu, Dance!, mixing in an English word, and delight when I do. It is sad that the people who come talking about the life in Christ are too hung up to dance with the children.
When I first got that word, I said “I will never do that” (Ask me sometime about my “dont ever say never” story) Sometimes during worship here in America, I will begin to dance. Not all the time, just when I feel like it. When did I make the change? It was kind of gradual. It began during private prayer and worship time. Sometimes I had music playing, and I would dance when no one else was around. I started to get free. Now, when I feel joy come during worship, you might see me in the back of the church dancing. I am so thankful to be around churches who will allow me to worship in freedom.
This is important that we allow the believers freedom to worship. If you are the quiet type that sits there reverently with eyes closes, more power to you. If you are the type who raises their hands, be free too. Sometimes people go to the altar. The key is to use discernment. So long as I see sincerity in worship, I tend to grant people freedom to press in to God.
Why? Simply this- It is when a large portion of a congregation sincerely presses in to the Lord in worship that the presence of the Lord will begin to move, touching people.
Notice that I say worship, not merely music. I am all in favor of excellent music in church. And I enjoy virtually every style of worship music, so long as I sense the Spirit in it. It is not about a “young” sound, a “traditional” sound, a Rock sound or Hymns. I can enjoy them all, so long as there is sincere worship and the presence of the Holy Spirit in it. But I would rather have true worship, no matter the style of music.
How many of you would like to see more healings, salvations and people deeply touched for Christ? How many would like to see more of the Glory of God in our churches?  Worship is a key way for people to experience the presence of God. So I guess I will continue to be the Dancing Mazungu, even if I get a few strange looks. I am going all out for God, even if I look like a fool to some. But I feel God’s pleasure when I worship.