How Worship is understood and misunderstood in our times?

Worshiping the Lord is one of the most satisfying gesture expressed unto the Lord. All creation and the highest heaven worship the Lord in reverence. Today we notice worship is skewed to suit the church denomination, taste of people, age group and the style of music. Before I could take this further, I wanted to draw your attention to the first place in the history of Bible where worship is mentioned.

We are familiar with the story of Abraham taking his son Isaac to the land of Moriah in obedience to God's command to offer his son as a sacrifice. And just before Abraham and his son could leave behind the servants and climb up to the mountain in Moriah Abraham asks the servants to leave them for a while, "Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 CSB. Abraham meant sacrifice to worship unto the Lord. Apostle Paul is so precise when he profoundly explains the same concept of worship in the book of Romans 12:1 "Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.".Romans 12:1 CSB.

True worship is one hundred percent commitment of your body, mind and soul. Unfortunately, today worship in most cases is limited to songs, great music and so-called worship leader's emotional status. If you carefully analyze, worship is also confined nowadays to 'feel good factors'. Worshiping silently is criticized and condemned by the charismatic Churches at the same time worship style of charismatic Churches are critically condemned by mainline Churches.

In recent decades, ambient sounds have become omnipresent in church gatherings. Meetings start with a synth swell and every song after that is connected to the next with musical glue. Synth pads play softly behind prayer, Scripture readings, song intros, communion and, in some cases, the preaching. But while music and the Holy Spirit’s presence can be related, they’re not the same thing. That’s why David’s lyre comforted Saul at one point and on another occasion led him to try to pin David to the wall with his spear (1 Sam. 18:10-11). Music is a means. God is the source. God often uses physical means to do his work. But when we start to view a means of grace as a “need” for worship, it can subtly take on the characteristics of a mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).

Harold Best warns, “Christian musicians must be particularly cautious. They can create the impression that God is more present when music is being made than when it is not; that worship is more possible with music than without it; and that God might possibly depend on its presence before appearing.” (p. 153). Let us be careful to balance at the same time worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Listen to the short video by R Stanley which clearly explains what worship is in its true sense and what it is not as mostly understood by us.

Blessings.