What IS worship? What does it mean TO worship? Who or what is the OBJECT of your worship?
These are important questions and each can be quite difficult to answer. In fact, I bet if you asked ten people, you’d receive ten different answers (considering out of thirty total answers, twenty might be the same…). I imagine you’d receive answers like:
#1 Worship Is Singing At Church—This is true, in a sense. Churches across the blue and green planet gather weekly, some multiple times each week, spanning different days, and in a large percentage of them, there’s music or singing. Some churches have a band with lyrics projected on a screen. Other churches have a choir. And still other churches sing together out of a book (minus the band).
Yes, singing, playing instruments…music in general IS one aspect of worship. Read Psalm 33:1-3; 98:1-9; Ephesian 5:15-21; Colossians 3:12-17; Revelation 15:1-8 (yes, they even sing in heaven).
#2 Worship Is Lifting My Hands While Singing—I remember the first few times I attended church, well maybe this thought still comes to mind, but I distinctly remember the first time I saw someone raising their hands at church and thinking, “Is someone going to answer their question?” Then I saw more people doing it. Weirdos. What the heck were they doing? I was trying to read the words on the screen and instead I was looking at this lady’s giant gold rings and French manicure…I think I hear my son crying.
Yes, raising your hands is a sign of, form of, part of, aspect of (however you want to state it) worship. It’s like raising a white flag. It’s a sign of surrender. It’s acknowledging his greatness and my weakness. It’s declaring my need for his presence. Read Psalm 134:1-3; Lamentations 3:39-41; 1 Timothy 2:8.
#3 I Worship God—This will probably be the most common answer, however, you can most likely write in any of the triune names (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and be right. Whether your church is singing hymns by Isaac Watts or songs by Chris Tomlin the lyrics point to the cross of Christ, the greatness of God, his power, his presence, sacrifice, salvation…bringing people together with one voice, one purpose, one heart, OH! AND providing 3-5 minute lessons in theology.
Yes, we worship God. Read all of the previously listed verse and notice the WHO of each one.
Before I close out my thoughts this morning I want to direct you to think of a few other things, ideas, personal musings. As I mentioned above, singing is merely ONE aspect of worship. Worship also includes our time together (in the church world this is referred to as fellowship—yes, we sometimes gather together in search of the one ring), listening to and learning from sermon/ message/ lesson, praying, AND, oh dare I say it?…tithing (don’t believe me? Google it).
When it comes to raising your hands, you don't HAVE to do it…you’re just more spiritual if you do (sarcasm). Remember, you’re not the person next to you and they are not you. Someone might raise their hands, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. Someone behind you might shout out and scare the crap out of you, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. Worship is birthed in your heart, how you express it, is entirely up to you.
As discussed in #3 worship is FOR God and TO God. It’s not a matter of preference. If you think worship only takes place during the songs you like, then you think worship is about you. Remember, it’s not about you. Set aside your god-complex and worship him, not yourself.
Ok, I’ll stop here for now. What would you add?
These are important questions and each can be quite difficult to answer. In fact, I bet if you asked ten people, you’d receive ten different answers (considering out of thirty total answers, twenty might be the same…). I imagine you’d receive answers like:
#1 Worship Is Singing At Church—This is true, in a sense. Churches across the blue and green planet gather weekly, some multiple times each week, spanning different days, and in a large percentage of them, there’s music or singing. Some churches have a band with lyrics projected on a screen. Other churches have a choir. And still other churches sing together out of a book (minus the band).
Yes, singing, playing instruments…music in general IS one aspect of worship. Read Psalm 33:1-3; 98:1-9; Ephesian 5:15-21; Colossians 3:12-17; Revelation 15:1-8 (yes, they even sing in heaven).
#2 Worship Is Lifting My Hands While Singing—I remember the first few times I attended church, well maybe this thought still comes to mind, but I distinctly remember the first time I saw someone raising their hands at church and thinking, “Is someone going to answer their question?” Then I saw more people doing it. Weirdos. What the heck were they doing? I was trying to read the words on the screen and instead I was looking at this lady’s giant gold rings and French manicure…I think I hear my son crying.
Yes, raising your hands is a sign of, form of, part of, aspect of (however you want to state it) worship. It’s like raising a white flag. It’s a sign of surrender. It’s acknowledging his greatness and my weakness. It’s declaring my need for his presence. Read Psalm 134:1-3; Lamentations 3:39-41; 1 Timothy 2:8.
#3 I Worship God—This will probably be the most common answer, however, you can most likely write in any of the triune names (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and be right. Whether your church is singing hymns by Isaac Watts or songs by Chris Tomlin the lyrics point to the cross of Christ, the greatness of God, his power, his presence, sacrifice, salvation…bringing people together with one voice, one purpose, one heart, OH! AND providing 3-5 minute lessons in theology.
Yes, we worship God. Read all of the previously listed verse and notice the WHO of each one.
Before I close out my thoughts this morning I want to direct you to think of a few other things, ideas, personal musings. As I mentioned above, singing is merely ONE aspect of worship. Worship also includes our time together (in the church world this is referred to as fellowship—yes, we sometimes gather together in search of the one ring), listening to and learning from sermon/ message/ lesson, praying, AND, oh dare I say it?…tithing (don’t believe me? Google it).
When it comes to raising your hands, you don't HAVE to do it…you’re just more spiritual if you do (sarcasm). Remember, you’re not the person next to you and they are not you. Someone might raise their hands, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. Someone behind you might shout out and scare the crap out of you, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. Worship is birthed in your heart, how you express it, is entirely up to you.
As discussed in #3 worship is FOR God and TO God. It’s not a matter of preference. If you think worship only takes place during the songs you like, then you think worship is about you. Remember, it’s not about you. Set aside your god-complex and worship him, not yourself.
Ok, I’ll stop here for now. What would you add?
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