The Tobo people of Papua New Guinea taught me something lately -- worship is applauding God. And they're cheering for Him with all their might.
Paulas, a new Tobo believer, was telling missionary Jason Knapp and other believers about trying to share God's Word with another group. But the people didn't like his talk and wouldn't listen. The missionary took that opportunity to explain about persecution and what to expect.
"What can man do to you?" Jason asked the men.
"Nothing!" Tingon replied. "They can kill us but we are going to heaven. They can hurt this body but they can't hurt our spirit."
Caught up in the moment, Alis started clapping, but then got embarrassed and stopped. Jason encouraged him to keep on applauding God. "God gets praise from our excitement."
At times, the cheering is not literal at all -- yet still unmistakable.
It could be heard as the story of Creation was told. The Tobo people were stunned by God's greatness and power as they looked at the pictures of tigers, lions, elephants and other animals they had never seen before. They marveled at the beauty and intricacy of God's designs as ferns and flowers from their very own jungle were passed around for them to look at. They had never really noticed them before. The applause began to thunder in their hearts.
"We just cut down trees and brush without thinking that God made this for us, and we don't thank Him for it," several commented.
It rose in volume as one newly saved couple couldn't keep their joy from escaping. In fact, others could barely get a word in edgewise. Whenever the missionaries visited their house, Welsen and his wife were talking about the Gospel with whoever happened to be there.
"We heard from God's Word the other day that Jesus has washed all our sins away," Welsen said during one visit, "and now we are clean in God's sight because all our sins were on Jesus. It is true. You just have to believe it!"
At that point, most of the people got up and left. But one old man stayed -- and trusted Christ. The sweet sound had carried.
"Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus," Welsen and his new brother rejoiced together.
It broke out afresh when the Tobo believers celebrated their first Easter together. The holiday used to be filled with superstition and dread. People stayed close to the village, afraid of trouble with the spirits. But freedom in Christ now prompted an overwhelming swell of heartfelt applause.
"The worship was tremendous as we thanked Jesus for His sacrificial death for us, singing to the tune of guitars and the beat of wooden hand drums," said missionary Chad Mankins. "Several people expressed their praise to God for what Jesus has done for them."
It also echoed loud and clear after a sun-filled day of spearing freshwater shrimp, swimming in ice-cold water and relaxing around the fire. For three hours into the night, Jason Knapp, his son Micah and two Tobo families talked through the Old Testament and the life of Christ -- discussing the stories of Abraham and Isaac, the bronze serpent, the Bread of Life and others. Above the roar of the river it could be heard -- God was being asked to take a bow.
And it erupted again as the believing Tobo women met together to talk about their new life in Christ.
"We are free now," said Daisa. "We don't have to be tied up following all the laws. We are free of all that, because Jesus has died for us and carried all our sins and it is finished!"
"When we share our burdens," said Lanisa, "it is like all of us trying to carry a heavy pig, not just one person by herself."
"We can pray anytime, all the time," she added. "We can talk to God even about everyday things -- carrying our string bag on the path, digging up the ground, planting taro and at home cooking food."
Applause doesn't fit in a box. It's too big and loud and wonderful. And God deserves it all -- no matter what form it comes in.
In the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Tobo people have discovered what worship is. It's taking every opportunity to stand up in our hearts and give God the ovation of our lives.
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