Worship

The word “worship” in the original Biblical languages means “to bend the knee” or “prostrate oneself”. The posture signifies submitting and giving honor to a greater authority. Inevitably, we all worship something we think is worthy of homage, even if it is the human advancement “god” of the secular mindset. In the modern era, many bow in worship to science and technology. We do not seem to be able to get away from wanting a god to save us.

As Christians, Paul says we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, which is our service or worship to God (Romans 12:1). Our homage and subjugation to God in practical daily life (which is why he says “bodies”) is how we worship God. This directly opposes our ego and is an act of profound humility. When we gather as the church to worship together, we corporately acknowledge God as Lord. Through the acts of worship we rehearse the way we understand things to be, that God is over all and we need to submit to his care, knowing we are beloved children. Our constant daily worship is punctuated by times of gathering together for communal worship.

Foundational to a Christian understanding of worship is Jesus’ statement that God is looking for those who worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). This may be misunderstood as referring to a heightened emotional experience. If so, then we think that when we are filled with emotion and fervor we are really worshipping God.

This understanding of worship as an emotional “high” has been the basis for much of the recent emphasis on “worship experiences” designed to encourage these feelings. This is why “praise and worship” has come to refer only to the music portion of a service. An emotional response can be good, but it is not the essence of what it means to worship.

Jesus himself identifies the human spirit as the part of us from which we will to do certain things. He says to his disciples, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).  From our spirit we make the ultimate choice of what we want. Of course, godly desires elude us unless our spirit is filled with God’s Spirit.

To worship in spirit and truth is not about experiencing great emotional enthusiasm, but to choose with clear resolve to prostrate oneself before God. That does not always feel good. Striving to humble oneself goes against the instincts of the ego. The elation we feel is in being his sheep (Psalm 95:7), which means acknowledging our utter dependence.

Worship is not simply going through the motions of “bowing” before God, but authentically acknowledging God’s preeminence. The true will to worship God is what Jesus says God seeks. How easily worship practices can feed the ego rather than challenge it. True worship is both a daily mindset and gathered experience. In both, our worship is in spirit and truth when we are intentional about humbling ourselves sand confessing that God is worthy of all praise. Sometimes we experience great joy in worship, and at other times struggle to submit.