What Is Worship? Part 1
Musical worship has been a part of the church’s liturgy from the earliest days, with Paul speaking about using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5. The question of how to practice worship is where denominations and individuals disagree. Can we only worship in one way? How do I know if my worship is pleasing to God?
Over the next 4 weeks, we will discuss what worship is and how the tasks, or directions, of worship (vertical, horizontal, inward) are accomplished in a corporate church environment.
“Worship isn’t just singing. It’s a lifestyle formed from our habits and the inward meditations of our heart.”
Worship Is More than Music
Worship is an action taken to show reverence, awe, and dedication to something. We’re always worshiping something, whether that is God, ourselves, or any number of other things. Worship isn’t just singing. It’s a lifestyle formed from our habits and the inward meditations of our heart. Everyone worships what’s most important to them. So, what does it mean to worship God rightly?
We must recognize that God is worthy of worship to begin with. He is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 22:13). He is the Creator (Gen. 1:1). He is the Light of the World (1 John 1:5). He is all these things and more. God is worthy of honor and respect because He is the creator of all things and is above all things (Col. 1:17). Worship is the action of recognizing the majesty of God and putting Him above all else. With this definition, worship is indeed not just singing. Prayer is worship. Doing good, honest work in every part of your life is worship. We worship in all things when God is placed on the throne of our hearts and our actions reflect that reality.
Worship is Congregational
However, verbal, musical worship does have an important role in focusing our hearts on God and understanding who He is. Musical expressions of worship are one of the central ways that the church can communally come together in literal and symbolic unison. Joining the voices of a congregation together (yes, even if your voice is more of a “joyful noise” than one that’s in tune) powerfully binds the church together. Because worship should be pointing toward Christ, who is the one who holds us together.
Worship is Participatory
In Worship Matters Bob Kauflin says a worship leader’s role is to “magnify the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God’s Word with music, thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God’s presence, and to live for God’s glory.” If this is the goal of the worship leader, then it should also be what the church strives to achieve.
Our worship should be leading us to proclaim the gospel, cherish God’s presence, and live for God’s glory. This can only happen when we’re actively engaged in worship, not simply singing the words projected onto a screen. Worship is not a thing that we do, it is who we are. If we are not in communion with Christ already, true worship that is pleasing to God is impossible. Whether you sing with hymns only or with contemporary music, it’s the heart of the worshiper that is pleasing for the Lord.
Worship is Theological
In pursuing the goal set by Bob Kauflin, we must recognize that worship is a theological task by nature. John 4:24 says “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The thing to recognize in this verse is the word “truth”. Truth is important to God. It’s impossible to give him pleasing worship if the way we worship isn’t built upon truth. So, practically, we have to examine the songs we sing and the things we do. Are they founded on truth? Do they speak about the glory and the righteousness of God? Or are they too focused on the self to say anything meaningful about who God is?
Over the next three weeks, we will continue to discuss the specifics of worship, and how various kinds of music or lyrics can put us into a place of recognizing what God has to say to each of us in the moment.
Zach is the Minister of Worship and Students at Redeemer and joined the team in early 2022. He and his wife Madison live in Terrell. You can connect with Zach here.