Worship

What does it mean to worship?

During "worship time" at most evangelical Christian churches we sing songs. But are we worshiping, by definition?

Definition. Worship: The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.

And we sing "praise songs". But what is praise?

Definition: Praise: offering words of homage as an act of worship.

Homage? That's a fun word. Let's look at that.

Definition: Homage: Special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly.

So looking at book definition, worship is not necessarily singing songs to God. Rather it can be any act in which we devote solely to the Lord. Perhaps personal time in prayer, or time spent reading the Bible, or and act of obedience in an area of your life despite your personal desire. But it could include singing praise songs.

I've notice that songs we sing in church lately are loosely, if at all, praise songs. It seems to me few contain words that would be showing respect to the Lord. Rather they seem to be more inspiration -- like encouraging others to look to God. Or they are a witness to others -- like saying, hey I believe in God. Not that these are bad things but what deepens our relationship with our Lord?

I remember being part of a college-n-career church group and the leader would have us sing a variety of songs. Some were inspiration or affirmation of faith, but we always ended with a song that was purely praise by definition of the word.

In a church service I see it is the responsibility of the leader to lead the congregation in corporate worship. But also, it is the responsibility of the congregation to follow, to take on the act of worship.

There is an entire series about worship taught by TruthForLife which is probably worth investing in. In a description of what the series is about it says:

There can surely be no more vital theme for the church to consider than worship. This series of studies challenges the presuppositions and preoccupations of the "me generation" and lays out the biblical framework. Only when we are captured by an overwhelming sense of awe and reverence in the presence of God, will we begin to worship God in spirit and in truth. Then, and only then, may we expect visitors to our services to exclaim, "Surely God is in this place!"

Why is this important? It's what the Lord wants. In the Gospel of John we read about Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23,24 NIV)

Let us worship our Lord in spirit and truth.