Acting The Fool

Growing up, church was serious business.  Every time the doors were opened, we were there.  Clean clothes, hair combed, faces washed all the way around behind the ears.  We were to sit quietly unless singing, listen attentively to the preacher and, most importantly, no monkey business would be tolerated.  Church was a somber, sober time of reverence to the Lord, not a time to act the fool.

I remember the time when I was about 10 and the preacher was taking a break from hellfire and damnation preaching to talk about heaven.  He painted such a marvelous picture that I found myself smiling from ear to ear.  My Dad, noticing my exceptional display of teeth, said under his breath, "Wipe that silly grin off your face!  We're in church."  No sir, no acting the fool allowed.

King David's wife, Michal, felt the very same way.  When the Ark of The Covenant was finally brought back to Jerusalem, he took off his outer clothing, "dancing before the Lord with all his might" (2 Sam 6:14).  But when Michal "saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart" (vs. 16).  This would have risen to the level of "Tom foolery" except  there weren't any Toms yet, so it was just David acting a fool as far as Michal was concerned, and, in front of the slave girls at that!

David, however, was having none of her judgment and refused to allow her view of decorum to douse the flame of joy and celebration he felt within his heart.  Rather then feeling ashamed as her words were meant to inspire, he double-downed and shot back across the bow, "I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes  But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor" (v. 21b-22).

David danced for an audience of One.  The slave girls could see what Michal could not, the King was authentically worshipping and celebrating the Lord - an act of reverence, bounded by joy.  The apostle Paul had a similar attitude as that of David.  He knew that people looking on as he and the other apostles gave up their careers, families and positions within their communities, would see them as fool hardy.  Rather than apologize, he proudly proclaimed, "We are fools for Christ" (1 Cor 4:10).  Moreover, he challenged those who considered themselves too wise to lower themselves in such a foolish way, "you should become 'fools' so that you may become wise" (1 Cor 3:18).

David and Paul were not concerned that others thought they were acting the fool because they were not acting or performing for the benefit or consideration of others.  They thought only to honor and celebrate God.  What other might have to say had no bearing on what their authentic worship or service would look like.

I have known so many who say they would like to raise their hands in worship or shout hallelujah or fall to their knees in prayer but were constrained by their fear of being judged by others for looking the fool.  Two of the greatest men of God in the Old Testament and the New chose to appear to act the fool in the eyes of others in order to authentically celebrate and worship the Lord.  Wouldn't you say that they are a pretty fair endorsement of risking being seen as foolish or even leaving that silly grin on your face as you celebrate the Lord?  Jus' Ask'n.