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What exactly is worship?  Is it singing, praying, witnessing?  Is it even an action.

I must confess, Marilyn spurred this thread, though she doesn't know it (until now ).  I read the other day where she wrote something like "I am a worshipper."  I think I know what she means, but at the same time, we should all be worshippers.

I believe that worship is not just an action.  Yes, we can worship, but it begins before we act.  Worship is an attitude.  Definitely singing can be worship.  But what if you can't carry a tune in a bucket, or you haven't the ability to sing.  You can't worship that way.  Worship is more than a certain kind of song on Sunday morning.  I think it has more to do with your attitude on Monday.

Unfortunately, whether consciously or not, we (meaning the Christian church as a whole) has tried to define worship as that one or two parts of the service on Sunday morning where there is singing.  Worse yet, worship is considered to take place with only certain "worship" songs.   I think we do ourselves, not to mention our Saviour, a gross disservice by doing this.

How do you worship?

More importantly, why do you worship?

Can we, like Marilyn, boldly claim, "I am a worshipper!"

Karma - I'm really glad you began this.  That's such a needy subject.  In one of our staff meetings I said to one of our two "worship leaders," "You need to lead worship, not songs!"  I meant nothing negative to him, and he took it very thoughtfully and did some things about it, such as explaining why we were going to sing certain things, etc.  As you're probably more than aware, the word comes from the two English words "worth" and "ship."  When our atitude is right we're recognizing together our Lord's worth.  It's like fellowship, except the focus is on His worth.
Well, there.  Now you got more than you even asked for.

I just can't believe all this brought out by music.  I just listen and sing Christian songs I like.  I love feeling the Lord's presence.  Is that worshiping?  Or is it Praising?  Is praising and worshiping the same thing?  

I am so confused.  

HELP!

Yes, I'm also glad that you opened this, Karma!

I guess first of all we should get a definition of...

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

When I say that, I wonder how the Puritans worshipped?

They didn't have "worship teams" I don't think.

In the church where I worship, we don't either but we all go to WORSHIP HIM and I come out of there each Sunday knowing that I did just that.  

Sometimes the service at my place of worship is very quiet but all are worshipping Christ who died to save us and take our sins upon Him on Calvary's cruel cross.

So, "What is worship?"

For me to worship means to be led into the presence of God by the words to music and the music. Led into a place where I am alone with my God even in a crowd, oblivious to anything around me. I tell Jesus how much I love Him, worship and adore Him.To Magnify the names of God and Tell my Father How much Ilove him and call upon him using His many names and thanking him for what he has done for me.

God's Names

Elohim the creator of heaven, and earth and everything on, above and below the earth.


El Shaddai the Almighty God who nuorishes, nurtures and provides

Abba Father the same yesterday today and forever

Jehovah Rapha  My healer who heals all my diseases and forgives all my sins.

Jehovah Jireh my provider who supplies all me needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

Jehovah Shalom The God of peace, who gives me that peace that passes all understanding

Jehovah Shammah Who constantly surrounds me

Jehovah Nissi my banner his banner over me is love

Jehovah Tsidkenu my righteousness he has made me the righteousnees of God through Christ Jesus.

Jehovah M'Keddesh my sanctifier who has sanctified me and set me apart for his puropses.

El Elyon the most high God, the living God ,the Loving God, the mighty, God, the God of truth, justice, righteousness and perfection.

When he told Moses "I am what I am" He is everything to everyone, whatever they need he IS.


This is what I mean be being a worshipper. I love to love my Lord.

For me it might mean music and the words but many times it might mean complete silence and I'm just silently worshiping God.

For me sometimes it might be while I'm reading the scriptures.

Many times, it has absolutely nothing to do with music.

It isn't always music that leads me into worship, sometimes it is prayer to The Word of God, a scripture..

That's kinda what I was getting at Marilyn and Pat.  Worship can be music, but it doesn't have to be.  I believe very strongly that music can be used as a catalyst to lead us to worship.  

Consider this, when person A (for simplicity sake we'll call her SuzyQ) is absolutely enamoured with person B (who is now Billy Bob), we may say "She worships the ground he walks on."  Now, obviously, that doesn't mean she is lying prostrate on the ground kissing the dirt.  What we understand it to mean is that everything he does is important to her  She thinks about him all the time, she tries to talk to him, she does special things for him, she talks about him, etc. etc. etc.

Look at your relationship with God.  Now, compare it to the relationship on Earth that you hold most dear.  For me, I will use Bernard.  I love Bernard.  I want to make him happy.  I do things for him, I talk to him.   I am actively involved in building that relationship with him.   My relationship with God should warrant even more attention.  Do I spend time with Him?  Do I try to make Him happy?  Do I talk to Him?  Do I talk about Him?  I think that is worship.

Marilyn said it well, I think,

QuoteI love to love my Lord.

Do we love to love Him?  

Sonja --  I think you have asked very valuable and important questions.  Loving to feel the Lord's presence is definitely worship.  I suppose we could get technical, and say, "No, praising and worshipping are not the same thing," and I guess they're not, but I do think they go hand and hand.  When we praise, we are worshipping.  

It's that attitude thing again.  When I say, "God, you are awesome,"  that is praise.  When that attitude resonates through every fiber of my being, that is worship.

I guess what I'm wanting us to look at, like Pat said, is "What is worship."  I would really like to see all of us grow to the point that we understand that it is not just music.  

Photography -- Worship with pictures.
Painting -- Worship on canvas.
Dance -- Worship through movement.
Preaching -- Worship through exhorting the Word.
etc. etc. etc.

Anyone want to share verses on what the Bible says about worship?

Well, the other night, I put a link in the "Link of the Day" entitled "Worship".  It was from Radio Bible Class.

I enjoyed it a lot.



Here's the first little bit...

What is Worship?

Do you view worship as a burdensome activity? If you do, your worship has little to do with God. You have yet to know what it means to appreciate the most helpful, patient, kind, loving, honorable, valuable, creative, imaginative, amazing, exciting, powerful, awe-inspiring Person in the universe!

Much of what we call worship today is not really worship at all. That's why James Pittman has written this booklet—to show us from the Word of God what worship really is.

Martin R. De Haan II, President of RBC Ministries

2nd page...

STREET TALK

If you could survey the people you pass daily on the streets of your community, you might get some of the following opinions about what worship is.

• It's a waste of time. The atheist says that worship is unnecessary because there isn't a God to accept our worship. If heaven is empty, there's no point in having a heart full of gratitude for a God who isn't there.
  
  
• It's a shot in the dark. The agnostic says, "I don't know who to worship." He finds it hard to worship someone he can't see. And if he isn't sure what he can believe about God, then he can't be sure what kind of worship will please Him.
  
  
• It's up to the individual. Some people say that it doesn't matter who you worship or how you worship. What's important is that you devote your life to serving some higher power. All religions are said to be different roads that lead to the same God.
  
  
• It's a matter of looking within. Those who accept this view say that God is in everything and that everything is a part of God. No distinction is made between the Creator and His creation. To get in touch with one's inner thoughts and feelings through meditation is to commune with deity.
  
  
• It's better on the golf course. This view says that you can be as close to God on the golf course or in a fishing boat as you can in a stained-glass sanctuary. Worship is seeing God in the beauty of the sparkling water, the strength of the towering trees, and the blue of a sunlit sky.
  
  
• It's more common than you think. Some people worship a religious leader, a special object, or an idea instead of the God of the Bible. It happens in cults when a leader receives the honor and obedience that only God deserves. It also happens when a house, a car, a job, a mate, a child, or a form of recreation is given the attention that should be given to God.
  
  
• It's all in the liturgy. According to this view, worship is following a set of repeated religious words or exercises. Emphasis is given to standing up, sitting down, bowing, or participating in some other ritual. Traditional clothing and religious phrases are also involved as key elements.
  
  
• It's something that happens at church. Some people feel they can worship only when the time and the setting are right: Sunday morning, stained glass, traditional hymns, soft organ music, and a choir. According to this view, worship occurs only in "the sanctuary."
  
  Does anybody really know what worship is all about? The following pages will separate opinion from fact as we explore what God's Word tells us about the definition of worship and what kind of worship God expects from us.
  
  

I've ordered this little booklet.  This will be my last little "offering" for tonight.  

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WHAT IS WORSHIP?

The surging power of the ocean. The breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon. The unleashed fury of a violent storm. The infinite vastness of a starlit sky. These inspire in us a sense of awe and wonder, and make us feel insignificant, weak, and limited by comparison. Surely, if creation can affect us this way, then contemplating the greatness of our Creator should cause us to explode with worship!

But what is worship?
The word worship comes from an old English word that contains the ideas of honor and worth. When we worship God, we are honoring Him. When we worship God, we are recognizing His inexpressible, indescribable, infinite value. Like the angels in heaven, all true worshipers say, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power" (Rev. 4:11). True worship not only recognizes the worthiness of God, it rejoices in it.

The Old and New Testaments have a number of words that are translated "worship." The Hebrew word used most often in reference to worship means "to bow down, to do homage" (Gen. 18:2). The most prominent Greek term for worship conveys the idea of "showing reverence" or "bowing down to God" (Jn. 4:21-24). A second Greek word means "to serve, to minister" (Mt. 4:10).


Worship, then, involves both our attitude and our action. Worship is the attitude of reverence and adoration, as well as the action of humble, loving service to the God who is worthy.

 What is worship?  
This is a very profound question that cannot be answered in a few sentences.  I think it will have different meanings for different people.  

I love praise songs, prayer, scripture and preaching for 'regular Sunday type services."  I love my "worship" of quiet times with scripture and just talking to God.  I love my "worship" of just admiring the creation of the sky, the stars, and all that God created here on Earth.  

Here is what Jesus had to say in His talk with the Samaritan Woman.

John 4:23-24 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The following chorus might just best describe my definition of Worship.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe, of You.
                     

Boots
"Rescue The Perishing"

Active worship - those moments when I am totally focused on the person of Jesus Christ and, through Him, God.

Passive worship - the glory and praise that I give to God by acting like His Son.

Corporate worship - joining with a group of fellow Christians who are "working" together to enter into the presence of God.  

Worshipful heart - the mindset of looking forward to my next opportunity to actively worship, while attempting to passively worship God to the fullest of my ability.  

Worship - exalting God to the highest point of honor in my life, whether actively, passively, or corporately.  

Worship is not about me.  It is about God.  If there is one thought of me, my agenda, my wishes, my desires, or my needs, I will have difficulty finding a true attitude of worship.  I must turn my selfish and proud inner eyes completely away from me and focus on none other than the King of Kings.

And man, oh man, do I have a long ways to go!!!!!

Hi Boots...

It's great to have you here.  I'm so very happy that Karma opened this topic where we can all join in and discuss this really wonderful and important topic.

QuoteAnyone want to share verses on what the Bible says about worship? [/size]

Well, I looked up some verses, Karma but will only share from the book of Genesis...  (These are from New King James Version)

Genesis 22:5
And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and

worship, and we will come back to you."



Genesis 24:26
Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD.



Genesis 24:48
And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.



Genesis 24:52
And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Quote from: nards656 on December 01, 2003, 11:43:37 PM

Worship is not about me.  It is about God.  If there is one thought of me, my agenda, my wishes, my desires, or my needs, I will have difficulty finding a true attitude of worship.  I must turn my selfish and proud inner eyes completely away from me and focus on none other than the King of Kings.

Boy, Nards, this really spoke to my heart today.

I read this in a daily devotional by Marie Chapian.

When we conform to the world's patterns and methods, we do not please God, no matter how good we feel about ourselves or how much other people approve of us. But we do please God when our minds are renewed. The we are able to test and approve God's perfect will.

Only when our minds are renewed can we truely worship God.  
I agree with Nard's.  We can't worship when we are thinking of ourselves.  That is sometimes hard to do.

I feel so good when I worship the Lord, I don't want to stop feeling that.  It is the most wonderful feeling ever!!!

QuoteWorship is not about me.  It is about God.  If there is one thought of me, my agenda, my wishes, my desires, or my needs, I will have difficulty finding a true attitude of worship.  I must turn my selfish and proud inner eyes completely away from me and focus on none other than the King of Kings.

I really believe that when Nards said this he said it all.  If you took each of those OT verses, Pat, and substituted the words "specially honor" for the word "worship," I think they'd fit in quite well.  The focus is God, and our activity is acknowledging His worthiness specially at a particular time, about a particular thing He's done, or concerning a particular attribute of His being.  It's a focus, an attitude, and, finally, an acknowledgement or His glory and worthiness.  
In Church services, its done corporately - all the worshippers are supposed to be honoring God together - acknowledging His worthiness regarding any particular thing.  Praise can be worship, singing can be worship, or even that time of silent meditation on God's worthiness can be (and should be) worship.

WORSHIP IS--ATTITUDE.
WE CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CHURCH SERVICE RAISING OUR VOICES, PRAISING GOD, AS WE IMAGINE, AND STILL NOT BE WORSHIPPING.
BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DECIDE TO CONCENTRATE ON HIM, OUR BELOVED, WE CLOSE OUR EYES, AND ALL OF OUR FELLOW-BELIEVERS JUST MELT AWAY, IT IS JUST US, AND THE LOVE OF OUR LIFE, GOD.
BUT THIS CAN  HAPPEN TOO,  IN OUR QUIET TIME IN THE EARLY MORNING,   ALSO  WHILE DRIVING TO WORK,  ( BUT PLEASE KEEP BOTH EYES OPEN!".
WORSHIP IS LOVING GOD FOR WHO HE IS.
AND CAN BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE WITH HIM, OUR GRACIOUS LORD AND MASTER.
PAUL SAYS " I WOULD THAT ALL MEN EVERYWHERE WORSHIP GOD LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS."
1 TIM CH 2 V 8.
I LOVE YOU LORD.
AND YOU TOO BRETHREN

Chris I am so glad you said that...

Iwas watching the 2nd part of the T.V. film of Jesus...Jeremy Sisto as Jesus.  I was in tears and then I found I was praying and worshipping.....so true worship is of the heart. Different things move each of us to worship in different ways.

Jenny.

MARGIT AND I HAVE WATCHED "MATTHEW" THE VISUAL BIBLE AND LIKED IT VERY MUCH, WE WILL WATCH THE REST SOON IT'S IN 4 VIDEOS.

QuoteBUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DECIDE TO CONCENTRATE ON HIM, OUR BELOVED, WE CLOSE OUR EYES, AND ALL OF OUR FELLOW-BELIEVERS JUST MELT AWAY, IT IS JUST US, AND THE LOVE OF OUR LIFE, GOD.
   

 Chris, you touched on something here.  I am a 75 year old man and for many years I did not understand those people who raised their hands and arms, point upward or just holding the palms upward.

A few years ago it dawned upon me that those people were in worship and unaware of anyone else around. Praise God!

The Holy Spirit (I believe) is always present in any worship, whether it be in a crowd or me alone in a quiet time.  We must worship the way we feel or are led.   Amen

We will never on this earth fully understand our Creator, but the feeling of His presence here is just a taste of what is to come.

Boots
Rescue The Perishing

WELL SAID  BOOTS .

In my Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, worship is defined as...reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also an act of expressing such reverence.  Praise is defined as to glorify (a god or saint) esp. by the attribution of perfections.

I put in 'worship' in my Franklin Electronic NIV Bible and the word 'worship' is in 35 books of the Bible.  

Boots ~ When I attended church as a youngster, it was 'be quiet'.  Just like school, go in, sit down, be quiet, listen and learn.  It took me a long time to get used to the raised arms during singing, also.  Now I love it because, like you, I realize the Holy Spirit is stirring them up and then it spreads and spreads.  

Chris ~ I think you are right on!  When we focus our thoughts on God, we are worshipping Him.  When you look at a butterfly, you see it.  But when you realize that God created that butterfly and all its perfection, then you are worshipping God.  I only realized a few weeks ago that EVERYTHING on earth is created by God.  Even that mouse you use to navigate on the web.  We say man-made material but whatever is used, it's originality was created by God.  Nothing we have is really ours.  It is God's.

I am like Sonja....I LOVE WORSHIPPING GOD!  And Marilyn, I love to love God. It is wonderful to feel God's presence.  

I'm so glad you started this, Karma.  And thank you Pat for putting the link so I could find you here.

 Chris, I have the Matthew, Visual Bible, videos also.  The way they have portrayed Jesus is the way I have known Him from the beginning.  And because I'd never been in church (since I was a lttle girl) and didn't know any Christians,  my heart was just overwhelmed with the Love Jesus gave me.     I simply responded to His love.  I see that over and over in the video.  Don't you?  

 Worship can look so different as expressed in each of us.  I was reading today in The Purpose Driven Life about the ways we each worship God.

  For me.....It is so much deeper than "special honor." (I know it's just a word thing, Al, but I wanted to say what's in my heart).  I can give special honor to anyone who I deem worthy.....but I will only worship One.   Worship has to be spirit to Spirit... and I can praise for a long time before I know that I am in spiritual worship.
I can praise in whispered words of love, or in songs of praising His deeds and character......but when The Holy Spirit draws me into worship...then no one else is even there.  I raise my hands at times or kneel.  It's all about Jesus......and we can never worship unless the Holy Spirit moves us into worship.   I will say I cannot worship unless the Holy Spirit draw me.  

And as we all agree.....music is only one expression of worship.  A God-given expression, but still one way.  Worship is more than obedience, yet includes obedience....

 In Nita words....worship is being totally in love with Jesus......and  knowing I have nothing to give Him...nothing that will impress Him or make Him love me more......knowing my worth.....and yet, because He let me, seeing into His eyes and seeing me the way He sees me......pure, beautiful and without spot or wrinkle.  So overwhelming, so wonderful, so much Love that I am undone. All I can do is cry out and worship.  I think in worship, He becomes more and we become less and less.  That's the way it should be.

   God gave me a love for music and a desire to worship Him with music and  "new songs".   So I am very deeply moved with songs of love to the Lord.  When someone sings what is in my heart, it brings me quickly to the place where Jesus can touch me.  I think that's what music is for.......it does quickly what many spoken words would do slowly.  Well, it could be.

 Sorry I have so many words here.....but I was excited about this thread.  There is nothing in my life of value except worshipping the Lord.  

I like looking at Scriptures on worship. What about Psalms?  The first time I ever read them, I couldn't believe that what was written so long ago was exactly what I was feeling now!!  It blew me away. I knew that I loved the way David thought.

 

It is always interesting to learn how other Christians worship the Lord.  Surely God will respond to the many varied ways used to honor Him.

Our current Adult Sunday School class in about RENOVATING the heart.  We can worship or praise, but without it coming from the heart, the true meaning is lost.  That means genuine change inside and out...

John 4:24 tell us, 'God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirt and truth.'

The Pastor used 'The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous' to illustrate how renovation takes place.
I was shocked to learn that God has been taken out of the new version now being used.  My understanding is that the success rate is much lower.

Thank you for all the input.  God Bless.

...and today I washed dishes, and worshipped.  I gave my kitty an extra hug and and worshipped God who gave me everything I have.

karma   Thanks for bringing up this subject.  We all have our own ideas as to what Worship means, and you have provided a place for us to read the thoughts of others and just maybe we will expand our own knowledge.  

 Pat  Thank you for pointing this discussion out in your opening comments each morning.  

I have enjoyed reading the post and then reading them again.  This is really a place for us to bare our hearts to others as to how we really understand and respect our Lord.  

This is a place to walk the walk after we talk the talk.  I often find my self parroting the phrase "we have you in our prayers".  In my opinion when we pray for others it has to be in worship with the Father through the mediator Jesus.

What I mean here is, we have to be, as Nita alluded to in her post spirit to spirit.  

Our own Jesus taught us, in John 4:24"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth".

"Holy God to whom
all praise is due
I stand in awe of you."

May you all have a blessed day.

Boots

 

I think this song expresses it pretty well:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
And it's all about You; all about You, Jesus.

I'm sorry now for the thing I've made it,
When it's all about You, all about You, Jesus.

That's all of the words I remember at this moment, but if you know the song, you understand what I mean.  Worship is so very important, and has been neglected for a long time in a lot of churches.  When I worship the Lord in song, I cannot help raising my hands to Him; not to do so would be, for me, disobedience.  It took me a while to get so I could do that when others were not, but now, I just close my eyes and it is only Jesus and me, so others do not matter.

There have been such wonderful thoughts expressed here about worship!  Thanks to Karma for starting it, and to all of you who have been sharing.

To me, "Worship" is "Worshiping".  My worship is of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and when I worship Him, I am thanking Him for having paid a debt He didn't owe, my sin debt.  My own worship is not reserved for Sunday, grace before meals, or during evening or morning prayer.  I believe my worshiping of our Lord God is during my every waking hour.  My walk and talk must exemplify my attitude toward our Lord.  If I am not glorifying Him by praying unceasingly, I am not in continual worship of Him.  My worship must be for the sole purpose of glorifying Him, whether in prayer, song, walk, or talk.  If I am not glorifying God, I am a disapointment to Him and to myself.  Something was made mention of singing and not having a good voice.  I smile here because I can't carry a tune in both hands, let alone having it come from my mouth, but as bad as I am. I know that God loves it as long as I am singing the words to HIM.  He does say make a joyful sound.

In reading everyone's thoughts on 'Worship" I am encouraged in knowing the people I share with in this forum are true worshipers of God.  I don't read phony here, I read love from the heart.  We may not all agree in our forms of worship, but worshipers of our true and loving Savior we all are.  Our Lord must believe we should be thinking about worship, because He speaks of it 110 times in the Bible, "worshiped" 50 times, "worshiper" 3 times, "worshipers" 10 times, "worshiping" 3 times, and worships 3 times.  If our worship is not Christ centered and from the heart, we are not worshiping Him, and may be worshiping ourselves.

Thanks for the forum Karma.