I have made an eye opening discovery recently.
I am an introvert.
That’s not the discovery, I’ve known that for years. The discovery I’ve made is how it relates to worship and church.
I am an introvert trying to worship in an extroverted church.
I recently stumbled upon this blog and got so excited. I’ve been reading posts here and there and will be ordering the book. There are others out there just like me! As I’ve read a bit, I’m realizing how much the modern day church is built around the extroverted life.
I am not loud and boisterous and being around people that are exhausts me. It’s the same thing with worship. Being around loud, boisterous worshipers is kind of tiring. Some days (most days) I just want a quiet, simple, introspective sort of worship.
Would I rather worship in:
a) A big, full sanctuary filled with loud music and people clapping and jumping.
or:
b) A quiet hike through a beautiful forest, alone with my thoughts.
I think I’ll take option b.
I have my extroverted moments, and sometimes I really enjoy loud music and being with people. But at the end of a long week where I’ve already spent all day long with people, I’d rather be alone. If I want to genuinely worship, I need quiet.
It explains why I so long for quiet from the church.
It explains why I often shut down when the music gets louder and I’m told to put my hands together.
Perhaps I’ve just been hard on myself, forcing myself to be comfortable in a situation that I simply cannot be comfortable in.
Question: How do you think the church can make introverts more comfortable and offer more introverted moments of worship?
Good points, Jamie. This is exactly why people like me are still more comfortable in a more traditional church. 🙂
Glad I’m not alone.
Some music videos of worship songs really inspire worship. Maybe it would be a nice addition to worship services to play a few of those and just ask people to silently watch and let the Spirit minister to their souls. Sounds good to me, maybe it would to others, too…
hmmm… so i never thought of my introversion as relating to my worship. but i guess it really does and that answers the nagging feelings that i had all the time when i’d be in church as to whether or not i was really worshiping because i wasn’t raising my hands and clapping. those are things that i like to do in my private worship time. where it’s just me and God and there’s nothing telling me i have to, and no one watching me to make me feel self-conscious or even think i’m doing it for show. i think one thing that the church can do is just encourage people of the different ways to worship. it doesn’t all have to look the same. you don’t have to stand and clap. they can just let you know that you’re “allowed” to sit in the back on the floor quiet if you’d like.
What a beautiful idea.
I am exactly where you are/were at and struggling. As an introvert, church has become too loud and modern. I thrive on radio ministries and struggle getting connected to a contemporary church that is so outward and focuses on so much participation. What is an introvert to do?
I am exactly where you are/were at and struggling. As an introvert, church has become too loud and modern. I thrive on radio ministries and struggle getting connected to a contemporary church that is so outward and focuses on so much participation. What is an introvert to do?
I wish I had a better answer. I think one step lies in realizing that there is nothing “wrong” with us, and that it’s okay to not worship with the norm. Find what fills you up and do that. Unfortunately, we still have to endure those extroverted church moments, but I’m learning that I can quietly worship in the back without feeling like i *have* to raise my hands or jump up and down. Sometimes when it all gets so loud and overwhelming, I just close my eyes and pray.