Janelle Esker Oh, what a tangled web we weave and how quickly we can get distracted (I am speaking to myself here). What is the true meaning of worship? If I’m honest I think that most people have a skewed idea of what true worship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit actually looks like. I know I did at one time.
This past week after church service my daughter (rather loudly) asked me why they let that one woman sing in the worship band. She has a terrible voice! She sings off-tune! We gently explained that the worship band isn’t for us. Its purpose is to worship by singing praises to God in order to let Him know how much we adore Him.
The woman on the worship team is a godly woman who joyously serves Jesus! Her life is a testimony of Biblical womanhood. She should absolutely be allowed to be in the worship band. When the worship team or choir becomes entertainment then true worship has ceased. However, we often mistakenly think that singing praises are the only form of worship.
What Is The True Meaning Of Worship?
I love C.S. Lewis’s quote, “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell. It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men. To love you as I should, I must worship God as Creator.”
Basically, worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for the one true God. In the case of describing worship, words seem to fall short, to minimize the gravity and joy involved in worshiping in spirit and in truth. Worship is about love. John Piper rightly states; “True worship is based on a right understanding of God’s nature, and it is a right valuing of God’s worth.”
What Is The True Meaning Of Worship?
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Psalm 96:9
Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! Psalm 99:5
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Luke 4:8
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:28
What makes worship so important to understand is that we are capable of worshiping things other than God. When we worship anything other than Jesus it leads to idolatry. Idolatry simply occurs when we love something or someone more than we love God. Things like appearance, personal reputation, sports, money, and even family can become idols without the truth of God’s Word and our
Ways to Worship
- Thanking God for who He is
- Spoken praise
- Praying The Hours
- The reading of God’s Word
- Listening to a sermon
- Going on a walk in God’s created world to worship the creator, not the creation
- Private worship is like daily devotions, Bible reading, sitting in silence, and listening
- Choosing Faith over Fear
- Singing worship songs. (You may want to check out Julie Elias’s Album, “The Dreamer“) We are GIVING AWAY an album and t-shirt to promote the album!
- Meditating on God’s Word
- Obedience to God’s Commandments.
- Learn the Names of God
- Practice the Christian Disciplines
True worship occurs in the heart. You can just as easily engage in these activities and not worship God at all. You can sing praise and worship songs all you like but if your heart is not in it is NOT worship. Why not ask Jesus to give you a worshipful heart, so that all that you do and say will be worshipful in His eyes?
YOUR TURN…
What is the form of worship that most resonates with you?
Blessings,
Janelle
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