What is the Art of Worship?

You may be asking yourself, "What is the Art of Worship?" Before we can answer that question, we must answer several others…

What is worship?

What do you think of when you hear the term "worship"? Many of you may think of church or God when you hear this term, but it can be applied generically to any deity. Here are a couple of formal definitions:

wor·ship¹

noun:

the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
the acts or rites that make up a formal expression of reverence for a deity; a religious ceremony or ceremonies.
adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle.

verb:

show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites.
treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity.
take part in a religious ceremony.

As you can see, most of these definitions revolve around religion, but could be applied to any object, person, or principle that we hold in high regard. Even in the Bible, people worshiped many things including demons, idols, the sun, moon, and stars, kings, and their own desires.

Why do we worship?

For followers of Christ, we are called to worship God and God alone, because He is the only one worthy of worship. If you are not yet in a place to believe this, don't worry! You are in the right place. Young Templar is here to provide the information and evidence you may be seeking to allow you to experience the true love and peace of our God!

The Bible has many passages explaining WHY we should worship God. For me and many Christ followers, worship is in response to all that God has done and continues to do. He is the creator of all things. Worship is an act of admiration and thanks to the One that has provided everything. As Jesus stated in Luke 19:40, "if we keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

David also beautifully describes why we should worship in Psalm 146:

Psalm 146 (NIV)

Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.

How do we worship?

This is where things get interesting! For many, the act of worship is based around worship music. Many churches describe the musical part of a service as worship. For me personally, as a member of a worship band, leading worship through music is the point where my passion, talent, and the Holy Spirit convene. However, worship through music is just one of many ways to respond to God. The description of true worship is described eloquently on the GotQuestions.org site:

True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.²

There are MANY ways to worship! The key is to do so with your full body, heart, soul, and mind! Worship should not be an obligation, instead it should be a passionate response to the wonder and majesty of God!