Henry’s Story, My Bemusement

Some time ago, I attended a Pentecostal event, reminiscent of the old ‘Glory’ meetings. These were viewed with suspicion by mainstream, ‘sound’ Penties; their energy and liveliness were deemed to border too much on the irreverent. Sadly, classical Pentecostalism has all but shrivelled up, and the once innovative Glory-style seems old fashioned. Having been an elder in an Elim church, I have a soft spot for Pentecostalism, though my experience served as a good reminder as to why I’m now somewhat more conservative. Here, I share my observations of the meeting:

Repetitive songs:

I don’t mind repeating a verse or chorus; some lyrics are so deep they’re worth singing again. This meeting, perhaps to gain maximum value from the licencing provisions, sang each song 3-4 times through, and many more if it were just a couple of verses. I don’t expect to be entertained by songs, but I did find myself giving up singing when I grew bored.

Lite lyrics:

How about this?

Hallelujah, Hallelujah [x4]

Oh Lord, we give you the glory

Oh Lord, we give you all the praise

Oh Lord, we give you the glory

Oh Lord, we give you all the praise, all the praise, all the praise, all the praise.

Repeat

Hallelujah x8

We give you the glory

We give you the praise

We give you the honour

giving you all the praise

[4x]

Hallelujah x8

There’s nothing doctrinally wrong with these words, but then they say so little, there’s no wonder. Sometimes we sing songs about singing songs; we praise praising. The true worshipper reflects upon God’s person and character and Christ’s redeeming work; from this abundant treasury comes heart-felt and sincere worship and praise, not babbling and meaningless twaddle like the pagans. 

Flamboyant dancing:

Some jumped up and down, bopping about like kids at the Year 8 Christmas disco. Others swirled as though attending a seventies' night at the local discotheque. The more modest swayed from side to side, the more energetic moved into the aisle, perhaps to avoid inflicting injuries on unsuspecting neighbours. David danced before the Lord- the scriptural warrant is there. Yet there’s something in Glory dancing akin to putting up a sign about one’s neck upon which are the words ‘LOOK AT ME’.

Admiring Glances:

Worshippers frequently turned around during the meeting, to see what was going on. Sideward glances, full turns, gazing about. A mass of individuals bopping about like hyperactive Year 8s at the school disco is bound to attract attention. The wackier the dance moves, the more admiring the looks. One poor fellow was not receiving enough attention, having chosen to dance about at the back. He kindly moved to the front as the meeting progressed, so all might get a better view. 

Cacophonic Sound:

Every man and his dog contributed to the music. Electric organ, piano, trumpet, guitar, accordion, shofar horn. The man to my rear was beating a tambourine to within an inch of its life. These folk were making a noise unto the Lord, and it was certainly joyful. 

The Glory movement, of which this meeting was a throwback, is sometimes associated with Henri Staples, a Nottinghamshire Pentecostal itinerant from the 1950s-1990s. His biographical page on the Glory People’s website says

Henri was slain in the Spirit, fell off the piano stool, began holy rolling, speaking in tongues and was filled with joy. He couldn’t speak English for a week and was overwhelmed with love. 

Most mid-century Pentecostals would have questioned the origin of these phenomena. The page mentions his meetings at the Lancaster Assembly of God, known in the district for some of its wacky goings-on. The building is now an Indian restaurant: Ichabod, the glory has departed.

It’s easy, and sometimes all too tempting, to be sniffy about others’ style of worship. One man’s joy is another’s disrespect; another’s sobriety is somene else’s joylessness. The Lord knows the sincerity of each heart, and whether the hopping about is a carnal expression of pride, or the uncontainable happiness of a redeemed sinner. Similarly, in our quieter worship, the Lord distinguishes between the genuine and the merely formal.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay