This issue of the Shiloh quarterly journal marks the debut of “The Shiloh Shout.” Aptly named, I believe for our Church, because of the many references to the “shout,” often made by Pastor when he preaches. How many times have we heard him say, “Shiloh, you missed it; the shout goes right there!” While it is just an expression and is in no wise meant to get us caught up in emotion, or fake worship, it is a clarion call for us to respond to what the Word of God is speaking to us through His Word, and the Man of God, through his diligent study. Nevertheless, I have been thinking a lot about “the shout,” and decided to go deeper. The word “shout,” defined as a verb means [of a person] to utter a loud cry; typically, as an expression of a strong emotion; to say something very loudly; to speak loudly. As a noun, it means, “a loud cry expressing a strong emotion; or calling attention to, or to get in touch with someone, or to talk openly about something personal.”
I have watched many Worship Services, under the pastorate of very charismatic Televangelists, like Dr. Stanley, Joyce Meyers, and Joel Osteen, even Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Dr. Fred Price, Jr., and watched their congregations sitting in silence, with almost no emotion. Maybe because they were on T.V., they were acting on “their best behavior.” It is rare that you get an “Amen!” in those settings, let alone a “shout.” So, then the question becomes is shouting biblical to do in the house of God, and is it necessary?
The practice from church to church; or denomination to denomination; or from pew to pew; or even from heart to heart; or he who has an ear, can vary greatly. Some shouts can dominate a service, and some shouts can shut the service down. Shouting in the Old Testament was usually a spontaneous expression of joy and praise for an extraordinary blessing of God. It came at a time of unusual blessings of God, such as the completion of the temple foundation; the coming of fire from heaven, or the moving of the ark to Jerusalem.
But the “shout” can take on many forms. It can be loud. It can be relentless tears. It can be a dance, but it cannot be still. When the shout goes in the “right place,” it lends itself to an expression that can in no otherwise be stated. Sometimes it is the lifting of hands. Sometimes it is the wave of the hands. Sometimes it the growl of the organ; or the beating of the drum; or the tinkling of the loud-sounding cymbal. Sometimes it’s Carol’s melodic voice as she renders authority of God’s sovereignty in a song she has written. Sometimes it’s Dr. Redmond’s two-step; or Danielle’s cry-out from the mid-sanctuary. Sometimes it Eniola’s shout from the balcony resonating all the way to the pulpit. And on occasion, it is Candy’s affirmation from the crows-nest. Sometimes it’s Pastor’s Hallelujah, in the midst of the sermon; or his excitement to get us to “come along,” with Him, as he delivers the Word.
Sometimes it the Mass Choir’s inability to get through a song, because of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the quick and powerful words of a song; or the magnificent precision of our praise dancers, as they dance in unison, and a rehearsed dance, becomes unrehearsed unparalleled worship. Sometimes it is the silence in the room when the church gets quiet because of the wisdom of the Word, and the preached Word of God pierces our soul and leaves us in awe and speechless. Sometimes it’s Mother Antrom’s low settled voice when she sings Deep Settled Peace or Beau’s beckon for us to “Come on in the Garden…” Sometimes it is Verlene’s Solo, or Susan’s, or Donna’s, or Sarah’s, or Brenda, and her “Testimony.” Shouting is not necessary for God’s work to be accomplished. The New Testament Church is never told to shout. Shouting may be the result of a great working of God in the church, and it is not the method by which He does his work in the church. It was never to be the goal of the saints, and though the word is not used, Luke 19:37 comes very close to describing a shouting church service –
“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the might works that they had seen.” Jesus came nigh. The disciples rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice.
That sounds like shouting to me. But regardless of the expression, or how we get it out, the Shiloh Shout, is our praise to an Almighty God who is worthy to be praised. He is King. He is Shepherd. He is God. Our expression of praise to the One so Awesome is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). And because we are a grateful people. Because we are so blessed. Because we are chosen. Because we are elected. Because we have been redeemed, we have no choice but to say so!
It’s better to shout than to doubt.
It’s better to rise than to fall,
It’s better to let glory out,
Than to have no glory at all!
Submitted By Deaconess Irene Gardon