For many, it was a normal Sunday
morning worship. For me, it was different. A service in French, with occasional
English interpretation. My French is very basic to enable me to order food,
take a taxi, buy some groceries, and buy credit for my phone and everyday
living. It is like "one word at a time" and someone has to speak
slowly for me to be able to follow the gist of the communication, C'est la vie
et je ne me plains pas.
Assemblees De Dieu is located in
II Plateaux 7eme Tranche, less than 5 minutes walk from where I am staying. The
church is still under construction but being used. It has open sides thus you
are able to enjoy the fresh breeze coming from the hot and humid Abidjan.
My experience at the church
signifies the fact that God is awesome and that in our diversity, we are able
to worship and praise him in the way we feel comfortable. I have never been an
advocate or appreciated what I call "disorganised worshipping". My
thinking has always been that God is orderly - at least looking at the
structure of creation. "On the seventh day he rested". This thinking
has always led me not to appreciate the Pentecostal type of worshipping. Years
ago, I attended a service of worship at Assemblies of God in Malawi and I
remember how uncomfortable I felt. That is years ago and thus was not prepared
at what I was to see at my new place of worship.
The message was simple and
powerful. Which Jesus do we worship? The one that performed miracles in the
bible, conceived, born, crucified, died and rose again on the third day? Or we
have created our little Jesus - who performs different magic in 21st century?
Then came those 30 minutes of
mind boggling worship! There was this sudden change in the atmosphere. You would
have thought you were watching a Liverpool match. I believe this was time for
individual prayer - or let's call it "aller satan" moment. People
were pacing from left to right, up and down the aisle, speaking, praying,
shouting softly, shadow-boxing, gesturing, emphasising points. I did not know
what to do other than observe and say my own prayers quietly. Then, the noise
vanished into this beautiful chorus led by this youthful band in front, "majeste,
adorer sa majeste", nous chantions (we sang). As I enjoyed the music, back came the
"aller satan" moment again. Now most of the congregants had a hand on
their head. I observed that it did not matter which hand. All deep in
conversation.
As I left the church, I said to
God. Mon Dieu, which types of worship do you really appreciate and bless? Is it
the one where we wear suits, sit quietly and sing with subdued senility? Or is
it where we sing and dance for you? Or is it where we speak strange language
and take the opportunity of a gym session? Then I heard a voice inside. "Those
who do the above, are they people or animals"? I said, of course God, they
are people, just like me. And the voice said, "all people were created in
my image".
I then realised that worship is
about expressing yourself to the creator. We all express ourselves differently
in life. Some cry when they are happy. Others tremble when they are angry.
Others scream for different reasons. Others bite their lip when in pain. All the
different worships aim to praise and thank God. May God bless you for reading
this testimony and may we thank him for the diversity that enriches this world
- which could otherwise have been boring. It is good.
