Worship

Worship - the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a divine power or supernatural power (Webster's Dictionary)

There is something missing from this definition...does anyone spot it?  Let's see if you can pick it up as we go along.

Here are some expressions of worship that I have been apart of:
1. The singing of contemporary Christian praise songs from a power point with full guitar and drum accompaniment
2. Singing contemporary songs from a power point with people dancing and fainting in the aisles
3. Singing hymns from the hymnal with an organ
4. Singing hymns from a power point screen with a piano
5. Singing hymns from memory with and without musical accompaniment
6. Singing contemporary songs with clapping and raised hands
7. Singing hymns without moving any part of the body other than your mouth
8. You get the picture

Depending on where you are demographically, economically, and culturally, you and your church will have different definitions of what worship is.  Each church or group worships through methods 1-7 and beyond because they believe that that is the best way to express their adoration.  Some reference Scripture and others tradition to support their preference.  Long story short, there are a lot of ways that Christians express the reverence for God.  In fact, churches have split over things such as the style of worship which is silly but that is for another time.

Look at the above list.  Any similarities?  If you figure out the similarity (which connects all generally accepted manners of worship), compare it with the previous Webster definition of "worship".  Figure out what is missing yet?  To late, here it comes:

The similarity with all the variations of worship that I listed above (again, these were gathered from visiting several different churches and their description of their worship time) is "singing".  Almost every good Christian will say that worship time HAS to include singing.  That is the best and only way to show God how much you adore Him.  Right?  The missing thing from the definition (the secular definition) is "singing".  No where in the definition of worship does it say "Thou must sing".  So what does this mean?  It means that we are going to ignore the correct amount of bodily movement and instruments that should be allowed during church services (David danced naked to the blare of trumpets...just saying 2 Sam 6:14-15), and focus on how to worship.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
¹ 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.
² 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.




Our spiritual act of worship is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.  I am not saying that we are not to praise God with our words and songs, Scripture repeatedly calls for it.  What I am saying is that we get out of focus.  Us living...is worship.  Us using our blessings (intelligence, breath, health, money, property, skills) while giving Him credit...is worship.  Us obeying His commands...is worship.  Us loving our enemies...is worship.  Us not getting upset when we get cut off in traffic...is worship.  Us respecting our bosses and professors no matter the jerkiness...is worship.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
⁷ Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.




Jesus lived to die.  He was a living sacrifice.  His power came not from His singing or instrumental skill or hand raising but His death.  The offering of His life was His worship to His Father.  Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice because He was perfect, without blemish.  Cleanse yourself and become clean so that your life can also be accepted as a living sacrifice to God.

He demands your all.  He wants more that just singing from your mouth.  He desires to hear the beautiful noise coming from your obedient hands and reverent heart.

Live to die as a sacrifice to God.  Live to die in your worship.  Live to die.  Live worship.