~ Perhaps the Most Misunderstood Term in Christianity Today ~
Terminology is important. Words have meaning. Within churches during the late 1980s and the 1990s, there was a trend which greatly narrowed and restricted the understanding of worship. As a result, for many Christians today the true meaning of worship has been lost. This phenomena has crept into Christian circles in very subtle ways. A key example is the designation of the Minister of Music as the “Worship Pastor.” Another example is the term “worship teams.”
One of the tragic results of this careless use of the term worship is that many Christians, especially new ones, believe that worship is a synonym for singing! Although group singing can be worshipful, worship is not group singing. It never has been, according to the Word of God.
What Worship Is ~ Worship is the bowing down of our hearts, our spirits, and sometimes our bodies in recognition of the greatness of our God. Simply stated, worship is recognizing His worth. With that in mind, much of the singing in our churches today does not qualify as worship—but thankfully some is a form of worship.
In the purest sense, praise occurs when we lift Him up, and worship occurs when we bow down (literally or figuratively) as we understand His grandeur and majesty. For some situations praise is a form of worship. In Nehemiah 8 the people raised their hands in praise and worship and then bowed their faces to the ground in worship (verse 6).
Worship should characterize both our individual lives and our time together as a local church. Following are some examples of areas of potential worship in a church gathering.
Music ~ As we have commented already, it is possible to worship in singing but singing is not necessarily worship. For example, consider some of the praise choruses, or worse, the many congregation-centered or self-centered choruses which are sung in churches today (Ephesians 5:19).
Prayer ~ Prayer that recognizes God for who He is—His worth (Matthew 4:10), or prayer which acknowledges His mighty acts can be worship (Psalm 100:4). Me-centered or congregation-centered prayer is not worship.
The Word ~ Reading of the Word of God can be (and should be) worshipful. We find an example in Nehemiah’s day where the people stood when the Scripture was read (Nehemiah 8:5). Today this is rare—but it is quite common for congregations to stand during songs (nothing wrong with that—but interestingly we do not find examples of that in Scripture).
Preaching ~ This is, or should be, very closely aligned with the Word of God. Preaching which is not based on Scripture is oratory rather than preaching. A good preacher, sensitive to the Spirit of God, will use the Word as a sword to afflict the comfortable and as living water to comfort the afflicted. Word-centered preaching is often a form of worship.
Communion ~ “As often as you do this you remember Me” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The purpose of the Lord’s Supper is to focus on God and His great sacrifice in sending His Son to pay for our sins. As we focus on the Cross and the greatness of the plan of salvation, we worship our Savior.
Giving ~ “But this I say, he who sows little will reap little; and he who sows abundantly will reap abundantly. Every man should give according to his heart; not grudgingly or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). When giving is done out of gratitude for God and His work on our behalf, it is a form of worship.
Announcements ~ This one is more subtle. But some announcements properly done bring praise and or worship to God as they direct our attention to Him and His infinite worth.
Conclusion ~ It is our responsibility to be in an attitude of worship in everything we do whether we are driving to church, teaching a Sunday School class, fellowshipping with other Christians, singing, listening to a sermon, witnessing to those we work with, reading our Bibles, praying, or having a time of recreation. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). Solitary worship can happen anywhere at any time such as while driving.
Worship is a win-win. Worship is not only pleasing to God but brings us into a state of greater intimacy with God.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: There is much information regarding intimacy with God and how to increase it in the book Thy Will Be Done On Earth (see the TWBDOE tab at the top of this page for more information).
