Episode 3

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

I went to my first church service in Malawi yesterday, at the Evangelical Baptist Church of Malawi in Zomba. It was pretty long, and I couldn't understand the Chichewa sermon, but I really enjoyed the praise. And man, these people have the loudest (and prettiest) voices ever. During offering, everyone was up and dancing, there were drums being pounded, everyone was so happy to be throwing in their kwachas into the offering baskets. It was just a really joyous scenario. And I couldn't help but contrast it to the way I used to do it in North America. Back there, we always play a really slow, almost sad sounding song when we give offering. I looked around once, and I saw people crying, looking really somber, sad. Looking back, I wonder why we play such slow songs during offering, songs that make us want to get down on our knees and repent. When we give our offering, shouldn't it be a joyous occasion, giving back to God all that he has blessed us with? It was such a marked contrast in style that all I could do was stand there in the "pew" with a goofy smile on my face.