A Brief Explanation of Worship
To begin this examination of worship we must start by looking at the definition of worship. I would define worship as the act of giving God the chief place in our life and to continually act in subservience to him. My reasoning is as follows, the Greek word commonly translated as worship is defined in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible as, “prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to adore)”. This hearkens back to the times of absolute monarchies where to demonstrate one’s extreme separation in position they would stretch themselves out on the floor before a monarch who is standing tall. While there are some Christians who as a form of worship integrate prostration into their meetings this is not a universal practice. The reason for this is that physical positioning is not necessary for true worship.
An important descriptor of what worship is for the Christian comes in John 4:24 where Jesus says, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our worship must be more than skin deep but an inward spiritual posture before God. Within our innermost being we are called to recognize and act in accordance with God as ruler and we as willing slaves. So, while someone may prostrate themselves before a king yet when they leave his presence they act in defiance, we are called to keep that posture at all times. This fact is coherent because we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us (1 Corinthians 3:16) so as Christians we are never out of God’s sight.
The question may be raised regarding how do I go about worshipping in a constant day-to-day manner? The reason for this question is reasonable because we for the most part understand having set communal times of worship on Sundays. Yet now we must have those times of worship always? What James K. A. Smith says in regard to what our attitude should be when an intentional communal time of worship ends gives a good starting point where he says. “Historically, Christian worship doesn’t just end with a dismissal (“That’s all folks! See you next week!”); rather, worship culminates in a benediction that is both a blessing and a charge, sending us out into God’s world as His image bearers…So the “end” of worship is a sending. We are gathered before God’s Word and Table in order to be nourished to carry out the mission of being human.”
To worship daily is to carry forth in obedience what God has given us into every facet of our lives. The very act of being human doing necessary human things should be wrapped up in obedience and subservience to God therefore naturally producing Worship.
According to R. C. Sproul this would be an incomplete description of worship without discussing the role of Jesus our Great High Priest. This is because if we did worship through our own powers and abilities it would be unacceptable before God because “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6). There is no good in us except for what Christ sanctifies in us for Hebrews 10:14 says that “by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” This sacrifice is the sacrifice of Christ so that we are now seen positionally perfect and capable of true worship fully due to Jesus.
In all of this do not mistake me for saying that corporate worship is unnecessary for we are told not to forsake “our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews10:25). While this passage does not specifically deal with worship it does expect us to regularly gather with other believers and if we are to be always worshipping then naturally, we should ensure that our time with other Christians is a time of worship.
There are many benefits to worshipping in this manner the first benefit is seen in the previously mentioned Hebrews 10:25 which is encouraging each other. In the context of worship, we could see this as encouraging each other to grow in God through our worship. The previous verse in Hebrews 10:24 lists more reasons to gather as being to, “stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” which again doesn’t specifically mention worship but our gathering should be entirely worshipful so the love and good deeds we stimulate each other to can be an outpouring from our worship and our act of love and good deeds must be an outflow of worship. This is because only true love and true good deeds can be done with a proper spiritual posture before God.
I do not mention the mechanics of worship because we must first ensure that our heart posture is worshipful. Once we ensure we are worshipful inwards then we can seek to find what mechanics improve, aid, and encourage us in our worship. This is where discussions surrounding art, music, dress, and actions take place in determining what best serves as being an outward demonstration of an inward posture.
References
Strong, J. (n.d.). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. The Old-Time Gospel Hour.
New American Standard Bible. (1995a). . Foundation Publications.
Wax, T. (2020, June 4). Why the form of worship matters: A conversation with James K. A. Smith. The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/why-the-form-of-worship-matters-a-conversation-with-james-k-a-smith/
Sproul, R. C. (2021, December 2). Acceptable Worship: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx5pMpfgwVA