Part IV: Scripture and worship
Corporate Christian worship is the most important event that brings a Church family together. As I wrote before it is the second most important thing, besides doctrine, in choosing a Church. So I decided to post a little series on worship, especially since it has become a renewed focal point in our Church.
We already covered a quick definition, the importance of the multi-generational aspect of worship and a liturgical approach. In this final part, we’ll get into perhaps the most important and difficult one. What do the Scriptures teach us about worship ?
A pretty quick word search in my ESV for the word “Worship” returns a whole sleuth of hits. 198 to be exact. Which should be no surprise to us. And it would take more than just a small blog post to cover all passages with an in-depth study. But even a cursory glance provides us with clear instructions to worship. We are commanded to have a day of rest and keep it Holy (Ex. 2:2-17). In Exodus 34:14, when God renews the covenant with Moses, He clearly instructs us to worship no other Gods. Continuing throughout the Old Testament we are provided with examples of worship. Likewise, in the New Testament we see examples of worship in the Temple, accompanied with prayer and fasting. (Luke 2:37). The teachings of Jesus Christ clearly are pointing us to the heart of worship more so than the rituals that many Jews were accustomed to. We are called to worship the Father and the Father alone (Matt 4:10, Luke 4:8). And worship Him in truth (John 4:24).
Especially in Revelation, which contains no less than 25% of the worship references in the New Testament, we are given a purview of what worship will be when He returns. We are once again called to worship only Him and to lay down our possessions at His feet. Once again, we are being reminded that worship is sacrificial where we give what we have over to Him.
I find it interesting to note, that very often worship is accompanied with sacrifice. In the Old Testament we are provided with directions for animal sacrifices and in the New Testament we see examples of praying, fasting and giving up our earthly possessions. So what do we do with that ? Now granted, we don’t sacrifice bulls, sheep, goat, rams or doves during our modern worship times anymore. Neither is it realistic to consider giving all your earthly possessions away since one usually has a family to provide for. So what can we sacrifice during worship ?
I believe we can sacrifice three things:
- Time: Time is precious in these modern days. There’s always something else to do, some other obligation, some other activity. Taking the time to put God first and coming to worship Him is a sacrifice. It may mean not watching that late movie to be able to get up in time on Sunday. Or it may mean not watching the football game. But time is something we can freely give and that He deserves we sacrifice
- Ourselves: We can sacrifice our own ego, our own preferences, our own likings for His sake. It is not about what music we like or whether we like the person sitting next to us. It’s about Him and how truthful and sincere we are in our worship of Him that matters.
- Materials gifts: It should be no surprise that material giving or tithing should be a Christian discipline we should hold dear. It was often an effort in Old Testament times to be able to afford the animal sacrifices. And they weren’t “surplus” either. They were the best of the flock. The best grain, the best bull, the best sheep. In the New Testament, remember the old lady who quietly gave (Luke 21:1-4). It is not a matter of ostensibly giving large amounts. It is sacrificial giving.
In conclusion I believe that our weekly worship should be focused on Him and Him alone, sacrificial in nature whether it is time, our own ego’s, material giving or, preferably, a combination of these three.
So go ahead, turn of the TV a little earlier on Saturday, focus on Him and perhaps forego that Starbucks to give it all to Him who is worthy.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. (Jude 1:24-25)