The true meaning of worship is one of the most overlooked aspects of our walk with Christ, yet is one of the most important ways in which we honor and reverence God. Most of us who attend church services, conferences, etc. view worship as a part of the musical portion of the service. We entitle this portion “Praise and Worship”, where we sing songs such as “Oh How He Loves Us”, or “Here I am to Worship” to name a few. The piano, the guitar, the singers, all the elements of what we have called “worship” is one of the biggest misconceptions in the church. I must admit it, I am also guilty of incorrectly defining worship. Because this is just a GLIMPSE of what true worship is.
In John 4:24, Jesus answered to one woman saying that those who worship God must worship Him in “Spirit and in Truth”. What kind of worship is Jesus referring to? Worshipping God “In Spirit and in Truth” means that we must worship Him according to what is said in the scripture. Therefore, adding our own ways of worshipping God may not be acceptable, and at the end of the day if God does not see what we may be doing as worship then we need to be aware of that because it is Him whom we want to please, not ourselves. Even if we may feel that our “worship” is good to us, it would not make any difference if it is not honoring God. Also, worshipping God must be in the Spirit. This is very, very important. Because true worship is pure, holy, spiritual worship, one that comes from the heart and not just from the lips. Matthew 15: 8-9, Jesus says “These people draw near to Me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me”. Therefore singing alone or praising God with our mouths is not worship, if our hearts are not in it.
One the most important components of worship that is rarely mentioned in our church today is worship being a lifestyle. Our lives are total worship. My pastor said something powerful one sermon; “when worship begins, it never ends”. From when we wake up in the morning, to sleeping, working, having dinner, the decisions we make, the conversations we have with others, what we watch on television, what music we listen to, etc. all constitute ways of how we ought to worship God. Now if we look at it that way, that should stir up some thoughts in our heads and make us wonder, wow, what have I done today that was worship to God. When somebody treated me rudely, did I not lash back and confront them with respect? If yes, that was worship to God. When I had a conversation with my unsaved co-workers, did I share with them the love of Jesus Christ? If yes, that is worship. Here is a good one, when I ate lunch today did I decide to eat a healthy salad and drink juice instead of eating a greasy burger and drinking soda. Yes! That is worship. When we take care of our bodies we are showing God that we honor His creation. Deciding to stay a virgin until marriage is worship. Trusting in God in difficult times as well, these all constitute as worship.
Also, very importantly, music cannot produce worship. The origin of worship is not music. Rather music is just another form of expressing our love and adoration to God. We must be very careful not to confine what we believe worship is within the walls of the church because that is not the case at all.
So why do we worship? Why is it so important? Not only is this question important to ask, but the answer to it should be our motivation to why we present our daily lives to God as worship. God is a merciful, graceful God, whose attributes are holy, loving, just, and so much more. Just for who He is alone should motivate us to want to exalt Him and love Him in everything we do. When we worship God in Spirit and in Truth we seek Him through His Word and continually renew our minds and allow His Word to transform us. We sacrifice ourselves and live our lives not as if it were our own but the Lord’s (See: Romans 12:1-2). We worship God because He is deserving of our lives because He sacrificed His own for us (John 3:16). Therefore, living a life sanctified and set apart from the world, a life holy and acceptable to God is what is defined as true worship.
Therefore, the next time we think about worshipping God, we should think about what we are doing now at this very moment and continuously after that. Reading this blog is worship. Why? Because you are investing the time in learning more about God through this literature. The comments you write can be worship, if written from the heart and if it reverences God. The more and more we think of our lives as worship, the more it compels us to live obediently for God.
Tammy Charles
Tammy Charles is the new leader of Black Campus Ministries at the University Of Tampa and for a long time was a leader in her gospel choir. Her heart has been molded and shaped to show the African American community the love of Jesus. Her passion and need to know Jesus in a real intimate and personal way has sprung her into being one of the most influential leaders on the University campus.
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Tammy never disappoints.. even in the multi-cultural discussion.. i like this..
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