WORSHIP

This entry is actually a brief summary of a portion of some recent study into the meaning of “worship”. God uses the word in the Bible, so we may as well use it, too. I was asked to define worship, and then follow up with several ramifications of that definition. The details of those ramifications, such as some very specific particulars, are not the subject here. But rather, as our family has recently delved into a fresh look at theology, that is, reading His Word and asking the question “Who is God?”, we naturally come to the topic of worship.

The words used for worship in the original languages show up in various forms and with various applications, and always with one thing in common running in the background: understanding who God is.

In the Old Testament, worship would be shown by bowing down, with an intrinsic sense of terror and awe, and even an attitude of servitude or service. Further, in the Old Testament, worship of God always carried an awareness of a holy God in the temple or synagogue, and such worship was often accompanied by praise.

The New Testament saw the service mentality carried forward, and also shows people worshiping by falling down, as in quickly bowing. A believer’s relationship to God was worshipfully shown with baptism, the Lord’s Supper and prayer, and instead of a temple or synagogue, worship was to be in spirit and truth (John 4). So how could I sum up a finite definition of the worship of our infinite God?

Worship as I see it corporately or individually publically, either way on display for the lost world around us, is this: external action(s) of internal attitude(s). It is the understanding of God’s very real presence and our expression of how we approach Him as believers. We should express our faith in giving homage (reverence, awe, honor) to our sovereign God, recognizing that He desires obedience over sacrifice. Having said that, each one of us is to pursue a very sacrificial life to live for Him, very much an external expression of an internal attitude toward Him.

Think of it perhaps this way, I can have the very best internal attitude toward this holy God we serve. If it never shows up on the outside, by way of “the externals”, how will I ever reflect the glory that is God’s? On the contrary, if the externals are all lined up, and inwardly I have a miserable attitude toward God, than nothing can be considered worship. You see, the two are related, with no way around it. Internal attitude counts for everything to God (God does look on hearts), and how we express that on the outside tells those around us, with whom we worship corporately, with whom we work and play, with whom we drive on the stressful highway, and on and on the Christian life goes, just how we really feel about God. Worship should show how we feel about Him, not how we feel about ourselves.

It is also frightening, maybe humbling is a better word, to realize that the same words for worshiping God are used in talking about worshiping idols, false gods, those “things” we allow to take the place of God in our lives.

Ouch, all of this then means that even personal relationships matter, and then it most certainly touches how we manage God’s divine ordinations: the church, the family, and even our human government. We tend to get hung up on worship topics like style, format, attire and other preferences. I believe those matter, too, and those choices are left to individuals. How closely we see the internal and external connecting will affect not only how we look, but more importantly, how we live.

Presenting our lives as living sacrifices, as in Romans 12:1-2, certainly sets the stage for what lies beyond salvation. Namely, life is worship in motion, when life is lived for God. We are to understand who God is, establish an inner attitude toward Him, and then determine how we will show it to Him, to those we worship with, and to all those we encounter during our brief stay here.

1 Peter 1:16 connects the New Testament to the Old very well. God is holy, and He tells us to be as well. Now, let’s go fill in the details.