Over the past 14-15 years I have off & on tried to define worship. More times than not I've attempted to put worship in a nice, shiny box and say, "Look, this is what worship is!" At the same time over the past 14-15 years the Holy Spirit has been convicting me that I don't get it either.
This has been a subject that I've tried to compartmentalize but realistically I do know that you can't compartmentalize worship. I've read books, listened to pod casts, bought the latest worship music, all in attempt to try and get a better grasp on how I can better define worship.
Several books that have helped me, somewhat, shape a definition of worship would be:
The Unquenchable worshipper by Matt Redman
Facedown by Matt Redman
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
Worship: The Ultimate Priority by John MacArthur
Worship: The Ultimate Priority by John MacArthur
While Redman is looking primarily through the lens of leading worship for thousands of people he still doesn't let that blind him to the element of personal worship that one can't separate from one's life.
Whitney, in his Spiritual Disciplines book, looks at the different aspects of worship.
This is where I have camped out and I am going to continue to camp out for a good portion of my study of worship.
MacArthur, really dives off into more of the theology of worship. He does this is a way of drawing you in and really taking a deeper look at how we need to be more intentional with our worship.
I have come to understand that Worship is a lifestyle. For each of us it starts when our eyes open in the morning and continues through out the day with everything that we do.
Matt Redman defines worship, roughly, as : A response from our heart to God.
For one reason or another that has stuck with me over the years. Simple, yes, but it has for some reason stayed packed in my grey matter.
I definitely think that he is on to something, but I don't think that worship can be defined in a one sentence tag line. I'm not bashing Matt Redman by any means, he is by far one of my favorite worship leaders. What I'm attempting to relay is that we as finite man, try over and over again to not only put God in a box, but we try and often succeed to put our side of the relationship with Him in a box.
We say that our worship can only be a certain way, that worship songs can only be one style, or one genre for that matter. If we haven't already we have to get the notion that worship is a "thing" worship is a lifestyle. Do we worship God in every aspect of our lives?
Worship derives from the old English word "worthship". Something of great worth. Something that is worth adoration, glory.
Why do we expect God to "give" us some kind of experience when we gather corporately, if we aren't living out lives of worth for Him?
We aren't willing to give up anything most of the time. We want everything we can get our hands on, and minds wrapped around. We want stuff, experiences, knowledge,etc... but we aren't willing to sacrifice anything on our part to take in all that God has in store for us. Why?
If we get down to the meat of it, we can see the same in Genesis 3, when the serpent deceived woman, and sin came into the world. The pride of wanting, without giving something up is still ingrained in every single person on the planet.
When we come to grasps that God wants the best for us, and listen to the Holy Spirit's calling we give up the pride that we can handle this world on our own, and realize that we need Him more than ever.
When we say that we are "worthy" of anything, we are adorning ourselves in worship.
Are we worthy of an education?
Are we worthy of a good paying job?
Are we Worthy of a great car?
If we are calling ourselves children of the King, then how can we sit here and say that we are "worthy" of anything. He is worthy of all honor, glory, praise. And until we can not only acknowledge that, but practice that in our lives. Then we may have the knowledge of it, but we don't believe it.
Do I believe that God helps people get an education, jobs, and cars? Yes, but why? If the reason is for anything other that His Glory, His Worth, then we've missed the picture.
Do I believe that I've defined worship? No Do I believe that I live every aspect of my life to the Glory of God? No
But I do believe that Matt Redman is right in that worship is a response from our heart to God. We either tell Him everyday that He is worthy of all of our worship, or we tell Him something else deserves that worth.
