What's That?

We're all familiar with this...

But what's going on here?

I think the answer to this question describes some of the differences we see in philosophies of worship in our churches today.

Let me explain...

I recently read Louie Giglio's book, The Air I Breathe, in which he describes what he believes to be true worship.  In this book, he talks about the excitement displayed in an audience during a concert or a crowd at a game.  He says:

"Some of the purest forms of worship are found outside the walls of the church and have no reference to the God of all creation.  All you have to do is drop in on a concert at the local arena or go to a sporting event at a nearby stadium to see amazing worship...the same expressions of worship that God desires and deserves."

Someone taking Giglio's point would argue that such an audience is doing what they were naturally created to do: worship.

Natural conclusion: we need that type of excitement, expression, and abandon in corporate worship.  If an audience can worship a rock artist with that much passion how much more passionately should we worship our God?

Here's my problem...

I agree with Giglio that worship is natural to the human being.  I also agree that when audiences attend a concert, they tend to act in a way that agrees with their nature.

But I also believe that unregenerate man is naturally sinful.  I have a hard time seeing unregenerate man's expression of worship (whatever he/she may be worshiping) and saying it is "the same expression of worship God desires and deserves."

Should our corporate worship include emotion?  One hundred times, YES!!  But will we express it in the same way?  Probably not. (Psalm 51:17; Psalm 29:2)

So...should our worship look like this...

or like this...

or is there a better way?

These are some of the things that have been occupying my thoughts over the past couple days.  It helps to write them down.

Any ideas?  What should our worship look like?

"Religion versus Worship"

Probably by far my favorite author on the subject of worship is A. W. Tozer.  Right now, I am reading through The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship.  If you are skeptical about the book, I would advise you to start with chapter 5 and I think you will want to read the rest.

In this book, Tozer describes the origin of religion as coming from Eden.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they formed coverings for themselves of fig leaves.  What Tozer calls "Fig-Leaf Religion" is man's vain attempt to correct his relationship with God by external means.

In chapter 5, Tozer further evaluates misguided religion:

"If we do not know how to worship through Jesus Christ, our Lord, the human heart will break out somehow like a flood that pours over the riverbanks and it will worship.  If it does not get going in the right direction, it will go in the wrong direction but it will worship."

So countless religions are born from man's observation of the world around him and worship of it exchanging God's glory for images (Romans 1:21-25).  Religion is stuck on the externals because that is man's confused response to God's revelation of Himself.

Christ taught that true worship is in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  This is the right response to Who God is.  "God is spirit; therefore God is everywhere, and we do not worship in places any more."

Today I went outside and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen.  I worshiped God for His beauty, majesty, and incomprehensibility.  I didn't have to make a sacrifice or bow to an idol.  I didn't even have to run to the church and conduct a "worship service".  I just had to be in awe and worship in spirit and truth.

That's what God made me to do.

What is Worship?

"Worship..."

It's a buzz word in our Christian culture.  We are bombarded with terms such as "contemporary worship", "traditional worship", "worship wars", "worship music", and this list goes on.  But despite the popularity of these catch-phrases, I fear we are still often at a loss as to what the true nature of worship is.

We go to church and sing, pass the offering plate, endure 20-30 minutes of preaching, talk to our friends and go home unchanged and unaffected.  We do all these things because that is what church is supposed to be.  Why?  Because that's how we've always done it.

The rest of the week is no different.  We crack open our Bibles for 10-15 minutes before eating breakfast and forget it all as soon as we get into the car and turn on the radio.  At work, everyone knows we are a Christian, but we never have the courage to talk to them about Christ.  We don't want to offend anyone or lose our reputation with our coworkers.  We get home, turn on the TV, and turn off our minds.

Isn't there more to being a Christian?  What distinguishes us from those that are perishing without Christ other than our "ticket to heaven" Christianity?

Here's the clincher... what sets us apart from the world has to be Who we worship.  Humans are worshiping beings.  From the moment we were born we were worshiping something or someone--most often, ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-3).  When we were born again by the Spirit of God, the object of our worship changed.
  
¹ Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1,2 HCSB

Paul described to the Corinthians what their response to God's mercy shown in salvation was to look like.  The Christian's spiritual act of worship is to affect every aspect of life: thinking, talking, loving, desiring, doing.  A true Christian must be characterized by worship of God.

So what is worship? Worship is a lifestyle, not a music style.

Here's a working definition...  Worship (of God) is the Christian's response to Who God is (His divine attributes) and what He has done (His divine works) that ascribes ultimate worth to God, delights in Him alone, and involves every aspect of his/her life.