Worship

I was perusing Brittany's blog the other day (linked off Josh and Geo's blog), and found her post on worship: http://alwaysdaretohope.blogspot.com/2007/05/when-worship-was-still-safe.html

I thought I'd add my own musings about worship and why I think so many of us miss the point of what worship really is.

1. What is worship?

How does the New Testament define worship. It may come as a surprise to some that it's not defined as singing and praising God. In fact, worship and praise are actually defined as very separate things. Paul speaks specifically of worship in Romans chapter 12 - a wonderful chapter about serving others. In it he says:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

So we see that, far from being about music and singing, Paul is actually saying that worship is the act of "offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." He goes on to describe what this means: no longer doing what the world wants us to do, but instead choosing to do what God wants us to do. Obedience to God!

He also doesn't limit it to a specific time and place. Rather, we are called to worship God through our obedience to His will at all times, not just in church! We become living sacrifices, giving up of ourselves in order to serve God.

And it's not just God that we serve either. When we think of the word "sacrifice", we are reminded of Jesus, sacrificing himself. This is Christ's act of worship: obedience to His Father, even unto death on a Cross. And you know what? He made that sacrifice for you, and for me.

2. How that changes our attitudes towards each other

Once we realise this, it changes us. We're no longer called to serve ourselves, but we're called to serve God and each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Look to Jesus as the ultimate example - he offered up his kingship, and ultimately his life, for us! Once we start to realise this, we can't help but follow that example - worship is also about serving each other. Paul continues in Romans 12 to explain how worship works itself out in practical examples:

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-12

3. How that changes our attitudes at church

Once we realise that we're supposed to be serving each other as Christians, at changes the way we act at church. Brittany describes that in the church, the pastor said that everyone should "worship" the way that they wanted to. She ends by saying "Worship is something between you and God. It doesn't matter what you do or how you do it. Just make it heartfelt and true."

But is this really what our Church services should be about?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

The purpose of Christians meeting together in church isn't about some kind of experience between yourself and God. Rather, it's about the encouragement, and building up, of others in the church. Once you realise this, you see that church isn't about you - it's not about what you can get out of church. Rather, it's about what you can give to the people at the church. Wouldn't it be great if everyone at church served each other as acts of worship to God!

4. Worship is about offering my body to God

…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

In the days before Christ came, God called his people to bring animal sacrifices to him. These were given to the Jewish people as a symbol of Christ’s perfect sacrifice, that would once and for all take away all the world’s sins.

Christ’s sacrifice makes sinful human beings who trust in him, totally pure in God’s sight. We don’t need to offer animal sacrifices anymore – and let’s face it, that’s a relief!

But there’s still one sacrifice that we are called to make – the sacrifice of you and I. In a way, Paul is actually saying “don’t bring a sacrifice – be one.” In response to what God has done, sacrificing his Son, offer your body, your being to Him. That’s the kind of sacrifice that God wants.

But when the passage talks about spiritual worship, it’s not talking about some sort of out-of-body experience. Some churches would have us think that worship is about getting that ‘spiritual high’ – instead of thinking they want energy, and worship is about feelings rather than mind.

But actually, the Greek word translated as spiritual in the passage is actually logikos, from which we get our word logic. Worship is something rational – in begins with the mind.

Worship requires thinking because we need to understand what God has done for us through Christ. If I switch my mind off, I stop thinking about that truth, and true worship can’t then happen.

But it’s not just about the mind. Paul uses the word ‘body’ because worship isn’t just something that happens in our mind. It’s about what I do with my body as I offer it to God – not to myself for my own gratification, but to God for his service.

Have you begun to worship God? I’m not talking about some experience of God’s presence. I’m asking whether you’ve offered your body as a living sacrifice to God. Have you consciously done that? This is worship: the offering of our whole lives to God.

5. Worship is about obedience to God

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

If we are to worship God properly, we must be prepared to stand out and be different. Anyone can sing with great gusto on Sunday, “all that I am, I give to you.” But does it really happen on Monday morning when you’re surrounded by your friends or colleagues who have no desire to worship God.

The test of your worship life isn’t to observe you in Church. It’s how you live throughout the rest of the week. Are you a conformist who fits in with the world? Or are you a true worshipper who obeys God?

How’s your relationship with yourself? Are you full of yourself? Or do you recognise that all of your gifts and abilities come from God?

How’s your relationship with other Christians? Do you make church a priority, or something to go to when nothing else is on? Are you willing to put others first, before yourself, even at times when you don’t feel like it?

How’s your relationship with your enemies? Do you forgive quickly? Or do you nurse those grudges until they become hate? Do you realise how God has forgiven you?

How’s your relationship with authority? Do you obey the law, even when no one else is watching your car speedo? Do you obey your teachers, or your boss?

How’s your relationship with God’s standards? Do you go along with the way of the world, or do you worship God?

To say I’m going to church to worship is as ridiculous as saying I’m going to bed to breathe for a bit. Worship should define the whole of my life. And how different would our church community look if we took this to heart. Worship is about obedience to God in all parts of my life.

So it's true. Worship is something that you do. And everyone does show their worship in a different way. But worship isn't just limited to an hour on a Sunday morning - rather worship is a choice that you make. It's a choice to no longer be conformed to this world, in every area of my life, and instead choosing to follow Christ.

So, am I worshipping God? Do you understand exactly what God has done throughout history, so that I can escape the punishment that I deserve? Have I responded by offering my body, my life to Him? Have I responded by obedience to Him to life, even when it might be difficult? Am I a Jane, who controls her emotions, and a John, who lives for Christ even when the pressure’s on?

No one said that true worship is meant to be easy. I fail every day to offer my life as a living sacrifice. But the wonderful thing is that God is a God of love. He offers His forgiveness.

Jesus has changed everything. There are no holy places anymore. Instead, we’re called to worship throughout our entire lives.

I adapted parts of the above from a talk I did at youth group on the book "True Worship" by Vaughan Roberts. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about what worship is really about - there is a lot more in-depth stuff there.