The True Nature of Worship
by Jimmy Jividen
The changing worship styles of our contemporary religion are no more than a reflection of the culture according to D.J. Hart in an article titled “Post Modern Evangelical Worship” in Calvin Theological Journal. He bemoans what he calls “contemporary worship” as being dependent on the popular culture – from its musical mode of expression to the liturgical skits that ape TV sitcoms and even to the informal style of ministers who follow the antics of TV talk-show hosts. He suggests it might be called the “liturgy of the youth rally.”
The changing face of worship involves what is anti-traditional, experiential and pseudo-spiritual. Hart observes that as long as people are lifting up their arms, tilting back their heads, and saying, “O Jesus,” then the worship is considered genuine. Worshipping God becomes nothing more than an emotional experience.
Experiential worship first found expression in pagan worship ceremonies, was picked up by the charismatics, and now is part of most evangelical churches.
Marva J. Dawn spoke to the same issue in her book Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time. She asked the question, “Will we give away the church and its gospel power by dumbing it down or by failing to reach out?” She then stated, “When a congregation becomes an audience and its worship a vaudeville act, then the church finds itself at risk; the death of faith and Christian character is a clear possibility.
Culture wars about worship are not unique among churches of Christ. They arise from a postmodern culture that rejects absolute, objective truth, gives priority to feelings over reason, and sees Scripture as merely religious expressions from an ancient, irrelevant culture.
It is time to stop talking about the colour of song books, overhead projectors, special singing groups, arm raising, hand clapping, and a multitude of other “isms.” The discussion should be about the nature of worship, the source of worship, the means of worship. If these things are understood, then the factions of the worship wars could declare peace. Everyone should make his own worship all that it can be without cluttering it with human traditions of the past or the contemporary fads of the present. Restoration of the spirit as well as the forms of New Testament worship practices should be the timeless quest.
It is time to stop talking about cold, meaningless “church of Christ” worship traditions of others. We must start examining ourselves to see if our worship is with the spirit and understanding. Nothing is bad just because it is new. A person is fighting a straw man who talks about unmoving worship exercises so drab that there is no emotional experience. An orderly, rational, heartfelt singing of traditional songs is not necessarily foreign to genuine worship. Surely no one would say that we have never practiced “word only” worship by not thinking about the words we are saying. Not every worship assembly and not every worshiper can be rated as a number 10. We all need to learn to worship as the disciples of Jesus wanted to learn to pray (Lk. 11:1).
The nature of worship is found in the meaning of the two Greek terms that are most often translated “worship” in the New Testament. Proskuneo is defined as the ancient Eastern custom of “prostrating oneself before a person and kissing his feet, the hem of his garment, the ground, etc.” It involves a sense of awe, humility and submission before a majestic and powerful person. Latreuo is defined as cultic acts of religious service. In one sense it can be said that proskuneo is the attitude of worship and latreuoinvolves the acts of worship.
The source of worship involves the inner man. Although the inner man is described in different ways in different contexts, it is clear that three things are involved. First, there is the spirit of man, which is his will or being. It alone knows the things of a man (1 Cor. 2:11). Second, there is the mind of man, which involves his rational understanding. Worship is more than mindless rituals and thoughtless ceremonies. It involves both the spirit and mind (14:15-16). Third, it involves the heart of man, which is his feelings or emotions. Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus to sing “with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19 ASV).
The forms of worship are exemplified in the early church. Nowhere do the Scriptures use the term “worship” for what generally is called “acts of worship.” These five “acts of worship” are regarded as worship because they fit the meaning of the Greek worship words. Singing, praying, giving, observing the Lord’s Supper, and hearing the Word of God are worship by their very nature. They all involve an attitude of awe and humble submission before God and are acts of religious service.
The purposes of worship involve three things. First, its purpose is to express the deep religious devotion within a person. James said, “Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises” (Jas. 5:13). Second, its purpose is to praise God. He who spoke the universe into existence and sustains the laws that hold it together cares about me. This overwhelms my spirit and humbles my heart. I praise Him because He is God, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer and Friend. All of us have times of gratitude when, if we could not express it, we would want even the stones to cry out (Lk. 19:40). Third, when assembled with other people, one of the purposes should be to edify. What I am doing or saying should be understood by other people, done in an orderly manner, and be uplifting in content (1 Cor. 14:15, 26, 40).
It is time for the focus of the worship wars to be upon the true nature of worship, the real sources of worship, the biblically approved forms of worship, and the valid purposes for worship. Human traditions of the past and popular fads of the contemporary culture should be cast aside as irrelevant. Everyone should see worship as an expression of the spirit, not an impression on the emotions. The objective of worship is to please God, not to entertain an audience. The forms of worship are God-given, not man-devised.
Most of the controversies about worship would be settled if all who are involved would have the humble spirit of the apostles who asked Jesus, “[T]each us to pray” (Lk. 11:1). Most of us need to heed the scriptures that teach us to worship.
Can I Worship God By Myself?
by Rick Mullins
What most people mean by this is ‘do I have to go to an assembly to worship?’ Questions have been asked and statements made concerning this subject. Statements like, “Worship is just between me and God”; “I feel uncomfortable around people, so it’s better for me to stay home”; “I can stay at home because it’s an individual thing anyway”. Questions like, “Is it really necessary to go to church”? I’m sure other things have been said, but these give us a good idea what some people think about the subject. Let’s consider some of these statements by turning to the Bible for answers.
The Bible says that “every knee should bow, every tongue should confess and everyone must work out your own salvation” (Phil. 2:10-12). These are things the individual must certainly do. The Bible also says that each soul will go to Heaven or Hell based on deeds done that please or displeases God (Eze. 18:20; Matt. 16:24-27; 2 Cor. 5:10). All of these verses (and I’m sure many more) certainly show that a person does have an individual relationship with God, and each person is held accountable for that relationship.
The Bible also clearly indicates a person can worship God in a private way through fasting, prayer, and Bible study. Although God allows us to do these things in our private worship and devotion to Him, this does not make it O.K. to forsake to assemble ourselves with members of the church. I think the following verses will show that while God allows us to worship Him in a private way, He commands us to come together as a body of Christ to worship Him in a public way. Acts 2:41— after being baptized 3000 souls were added to them. Who were they? Acts 2:47— People that were being saved were added to the church by the Lord. So the people made up the church. In I Cor. 12:12-27, the Bible tells us we have individual members of our physical body and that compares to the individual members that make-up the whole body of Christ. Someone might still say all these verses deal with a person’s individual worship. Where does the Bible say I have to come to the building to worship?
We know that individual’s make-up the Lord’s church. If these individuals can stay at home to worship, why did the apostles need to go from place to place to establish churches? Why have a church in Jerusalem? Why a church in Corinth or Ephesus? Why go to all of Judea, Galilee and Samaria (Acts 9:31) to start individual churches? After Paul was converted in Acts 9:18, why did he try to join with the congregation at Jerusalem in Acts 9:26?
Just like the people in the first century, we must answer this question: Why come together on the Lord’s Day? 1) To partake of the Lord’s Supper— Acts 20:7. Can this be done at home? No!!! I Cor. 11:17-33. 2) To give of our income to the Lord’s work— I Cor. 16:1-4. If we don’t have to assemble with the local church, then why give? How would we give? Who would we give to? Who would be the needy saints Paul is talking about in verse one? 3) To love and exhort one another and to help one another to do good works— Heb. 10:24-26. If everyone thought they could stay home to worship God, then why would the church need a preacher? Who would he preach to? Why have elders? Who would be their flock? Why would Jesus shed His blood to purchase the church in Acts 20:28 if it was not necessary to be a member of the church?
The question we must answer is how, when, and where we worship God.
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