WHAT IS WORSHIP?
Bill Becker
America is “discovering” something that kindles spiritual energy and fulfillment: worship!
God takes note of that, so do we. Guess what? So does Satan! He would like to corrupt
even this most cherished communion. You can see Satan’s influence in four of the five
kinds of worship described in the New Testament.
Ignorant Worship (Acts 17:23). The whole city of Athens turned out to worship their
‘gods’ but, lest they missed one, included “the Unknown God” in their devotions. Paul said
“him whom you ignorantly worship do I declare unto you.” Should he have done that? If
their feelings were genuine, did it really matter that their’s was ignorant worship? Yes!
Creature Worship (Romans 1:25-28). Certain Gentiles “changed the truth of God into a
lie, worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator.” Their worship led them
to disregard boundaries God placed on human sexuality. Women “changed the natural use
into that which is against nature” and men “burned in their lust toward men.” There is no
better description of Humanism. Humanists refuse to acknowledge a being superior to man
and reject “sin” or “moral absolutes” as superstition. Like those spoken of here, they do
not “like to retain God in their knowledge” (v. 28).
Vain Worship (Matthew 15:9). Christ said to the Pharisees “In vain do you worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The Pharisee worshipped the true God
of Israel, but his worship was vain because he taught for doctrines the commandments of
men. Could it be any clearer that God alone claims the right to declare what is doctrine and
what is not? Those advocating that “Silence of the scriptures is permissive authority”
should consider the implications. The Pharisee could have said the same!
Will-Worship (Col. 2:23). Some Christians at Colosse practiced “will worship” (worship
one devises and prescribes for himself) which manifested itself in various ways. Angel
worship came into vogue by the influence of philosophy (2:8). Faithful angels, however,
refuse to accept the worship of men (Revelation 22:9)! Also, some Christians were being
“judged” by others for not keeping the sabbath or new moon (2:16). Others tried to force
ascetic practices (cutting of the flesh, extreme dietary laws, etc.) upon church members
(2:21-23). This “worship” was not accepted by God. Why not?
True Worship (John 4-22-25). Why did Christ tell the Samaritan woman “You know not
what you worship” (v. 22)? Was he just being “negative”? No! He positively pointed her
to God and His way when He said “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth” (v. 24). Christ wanted her to worship Him as Messiah
and follow His (not the Samaritan) way.
What is Worship? Every case presented here, true or false, involved the heart (mind-set)
and actions (what was done) of people. This is always true of worship. When our hearts
(mind-set) are willing to do (actions) what God has asked, for the reason He has asked,
worship is in “spirit and in truth.” The New Testament reveals the mind of God with
respect to true worship in two ways.
Daily Worship. Paul said Christians “present their bodies as a living sacrifice.” Rather than
conforming to the world, they are “transforming and renewing” daily (Romans 12:1-2).
This is evidenced in changed lives that become “quiet and peaceable in all godliness and
honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2). Christians grow in knowledge, grace and dependence upon God
(2 Peter 3:18).
Lord’s Day Worship. The early church met on the first day of the week (Sunday) to
partake of the Lord’s Supper as a means of communing with God. Paul, taking advantage
of this, preached to the church at Troas “until midnight” (Acts 20:7). Likewise, he set in
place an orderly means of collection (contribution) to be taken on the first day of the week
at Corinth (as he had already ordered churches in Galatia to do – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34;
16:1-2). Prayers were lifted up in churches for a number of reasons (Acts 12:5; 1
Corinthians 14:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 3:1, etc.) and Christians lifted their voices in hymns
and songs to praise God and “teach and admonish one another” (Ephesians 5:19 cf.
Colossians 3:16). As all of these are commended by God’s word, they are worship He
prescribes, not man. When people worship in “spirit and in truth” they:
1. Don’t seek to define worship, they seek divine worship (John 4:24).
2. Don’t go to church, they go to worship (1 Corinthians10:16 cf. Hebrews 10:25).
3. Don’t hurt until they give, they give until they hurt (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).
4. Don’t say they can’t serve, they serve where they can (Matthew 25:14-30).
5. Don’t keep names on a hit list, they keep them on a prayer list (James 5:1).
