Worship Is Reverent Service

You have likely seen the radio billboard around town: “Worship through it.” There is a picture of hands upraised  in a smoky room with a band in the background. The good and true thought here is that you can get through hard times by lifting your hands in praise to God. No billboard can say everything, but this one says not nearly enough, and something different from what the apostles would have recognized as worship.

                First, a word about language; definitions are critical. The New Testament uses three main worship words. The first and most common is proskuneo, which means to kiss the hand, or to prostrate oneself. It expresses profound reverence. It is the word our Lord chose in his interaction with the Samaritan woman (John 4:22-24). The second is sebomai, and its cognates, which means reverence. A lesser used word for worship is latria, which means to serve someone, to minister to them (Phil. 3:3).

                If we combine these words, worship is serving God with profound reverence. Worship comes from a heart that is in awe of God. This is the reason that unbelievers did not usually attend the worship services of the early believers (1 Cor. 14:24). It was understood then that worship is not an exciting time in which unbelievers can participate and feel moved. Worship is not something generated externally by certain kinds of music and mood lighting. This was the way the pagans, not the Christians, worshipped.

                Worship is reverent service we bring to God. It is serving him. It comes from within, from a heart that loves him and wants to praise him. This one idea would make a profound difference in the attitude with which we approach Lord’s Day worship. Rather than, “I hope the preaching is better today,” it would be better to ask, “How can I serve my God and Savior? What thanks can I bring him? Let me think about all he has done for me this week, and bring my sacrifice of praise, as Hebrews says (13:15).” Sadly, modern worship is often a show rather than a sacrifice, rehearsed rather than reverent.

                I am not suggesting dirge or that no one has worshipped since the 17^th century. Every Christian tradition and denomination must give regular thought to improving worship by growing in Biblical piety toward God. The worship the Father seeks and accepts is a joyful service to him, from a heart that is in awe of his love and grace through Jesus Christ. Worship is not something we do or a feeling we experience when an orchestra or band plays. Worship is bringing a living sacrifice of praise to God, standing in awe before the cross and throne of Jesus Christ, and celebrating who God is and what he has done for us. Worship is serving God with praise, prayers, and preaching. This is the reason we used to ask, “Are you going to service?” Are you going to serve the Lord? More than anything else, serving God with reverence differentiates true from false worship, God’s people from the world.

                Since true worship springs from a reverent heart, we can better understand Romans 12:1. As sinners saved by God’s mercy, all that we do must be a “living sacrifice” and “spiritual worship.” Sunday may be a few days away, but we are worshipping God by our words and works on Wednesday and Friday. We are serving Him with all we do. Then, when we come together on the Lord’s Day, we have much to celebrate, many sacrifices of praise, much thankful service to give. We also serve him through confession of sin. Then his mercy flows to us from the cross, and we worship him again, and again….