Many would respond that the worshipping of God is best defined by one's church attendance complete with the singing of a few songs. Where do we get that notion? Admittedly, modern Christianity is now what we've made it to be, though it looks very little like its original model. Whereas the original church didn't have bibles, preachers, musicians and choirs (Lydia's house church, for example), I fear most modern Christians wouldn't have a clue as to what they should do were they expected to worship God WITHOUT all the modern church trappings.
A case in point, I attended a church where a new worship leader joined our ranks and, at their first Wednesday night rehearsal with the Praise Team, the first instructions they received were, "Put down your instruments; we're going to worship God."
They didn't know what to do; some cried.
Not saying other gatherings are evil or wrong, but this is why I am such a strong advocate of Simple Church, two or three gathered in His Name, anywhere, anytime. That could describe you and your spouse, a roommate, your kids. Are we loving one another, preferring one another, submitting to one another, fleshing out the many 'one another's' of the New Testament? Does worship have anything at all to do with spectating, that is, listening while others are singing songs or while we hear sermons?
While I was serving as a Chaplain after the West, Texas explosion, a nursing home in nearby Whitney had taken-in a 96 year old Resident from the nursing home in West. The Director of Nurses called me and asked if I could get a Catholic priest to visit her on Sunday morning. I answered I was headed back to West on Sunday and would stop by and visit her myself. She was sharp but her hearing-aid exploded when the plant exploded. I wound up holding her hand, cheek-to-cheek, and shouting and praying in her ear. We were being and having church. She cried and God's presence was tangible.
I contend that, if God dwells within His people, the best way of showing our love to Him would be by the love we show to others. After all, He created them and Jesus died for them. Frankly, the tell-tale signs of our worship of God are revealed by our checkbooks and our calendars, how we spend our money and our time.
For far too many, Christianity can be summed up by church attendance and however we define what 'being good' is (often, we grade on a curve).
I don't believe God is interested in habitual, mechanical, rote forms of worship or memorized hymns and prayers; He is interested in a heart that cries out to glorify Him wherever and whenever the unction presents itself. True worship boils down to a life that honors Him; we were created to do so. Sadly, our lives are so filled with distractions, setting aside an hour or so to worship God at a church meeting is the best many Christians are willing to muster. Truth is, it's about a lifestyle of holiness, not merely an hour. Jesus was our example.
Here are a few
Scriptural references regarding worship of our God from the New Testament. The key is to do so as the Spirit leads, NOT because we're supposed to or those are the songs we rehearsed:
-We are to proclaim the Word of God (1 Tim. 4:13)
-We are to respond gratefully to the truth of the Word of God (Ex. 24:3).
-We are to remember the Lord's sacrifice through the celebration of communion (1 Cor. 11:24, Acts 2:46, 47).
-We are to live godly lives (1 Cor. 11:2).
-We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19).
-We are to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18).
-We are to present ourselves to God (Rom. 12:1).
-We are a Kingdom of Priests and are to offer a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15).
-We are to confess the Name of God (Heb. 13:15).
-We are to do good things (Heb. 13:16).
-We are to be generous and share with others (Heb. 13:16).
These verses simply name a few of the ways in which we are to worship God. Let's get started, remembering you are ALWAYS The Church and, therefore, it's OK for you to blend the sacred with the secular.
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
Founder, The Church @ Work
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