What is Real Worship?

 There's something about our modern church services that has been bothering me for quite some time. It's what they call "the Worship". For most churches, this usually happens at the beginning of the service and consists of a band or musician on a stage singing and playing music and a big screen where the words to the song are posted so everyone can follow along. Afterward as people are leaving the sanctuary, you may hear comments like "Great Worship today"  or "The worship team was really great today".  For some reason, comments like that have always bothered me. To me, in most churches I've attended, I would call the "Worship" more like a concert. The band and singers preform on stage, and the people in the audience watch and sing along if they feel like it. But is this what God calls true worship?

Don't get me wrong. I know that some people in the church are truly worshiping the Lord during "the Worship" .  Their hearts and minds are solely focused on the Lord and they are using the words of the song to express their love for Jesus, their appreciation. Yet, I would venture to say that most people are really not thinking about the Lord at all. They may be singing, but their minds are on lunch or the football game later on, or maybe they're thinking about how good they are singing and they hope others will notice. 

I'm not even talking about much of what is modern day worship songs, many of which focus on man and not on God. (Bring back those old hymns!)  

So what is real worship? What does God call worship? 

We know from John 4:24 that  " God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

  But what does that mean? 

First of all "truth" means we need to be sincere in Who we are worshiping and Why and keep our thoughts on Him and not on ourselves. 

In the Spirit means that we should allow God's Holy Spirit within us to guide our worship, whether it be in song, proclamations, thanksgiving, tongues, or quiet adoration. 

God has what He calls "Acceptable Worship".  If you study the word "worship" throughout the Bible, you'll see many many examples of what God calls False worship. People who honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him, along with people who worship other gods. 

  Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; Hebrews 12:28

Notice the conditions. Modesty, Pious Care, Godly Fear, and Awe.  Basically be humble, devoted, reverent and in awe of God Himself. 

But what does Real Worship look like practically?  Is it singing, lifting one's hands, being grateful. 

James gives us some practical physical examples of real external worship

External religious worship that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. James 1:27 

Interesting. So when we help the poor and needy, when we give of ourselves to others, we are actually worshiping God!  

AND when we separate ourselves from this sinful world and pursue holiness and don't purposely willfully sin, then we are also worshiping God!

These are great examples of worship, as is singing and lifting ones hands, and being grateful. In truth, however, real worship starts in the heart. You can do all of the above and not really be worshiping if in your heart you don't either know the Lord or really love Him. Giving to the poor, avoiding sin, singing, etc are all outward signs of worship, but they may or may not reflect what's in your heart. 

Here's the real test. What is spiritual worship? Worship that comes from the heart, a heart wholly devoted to God.. 

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties, as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

Real Worship is submitting all we are, all we have, and even our entire bodies to God for His service, to use as He wants. To allow Him to sanctify us (make us holy), to be Lord of our lives! Notice Paul says that after what God has done for us, doing this is reasonable. In other words, it's the least we can do!

So, is worship singing, dancing, being grateful, helping the poor, lifting our hands in praise, speaking in tongues, being kind to others, allowing God to sanctify us, avoiding sin?  Yes! All of the above and more.  But only as it comes from a person who loves Jesus with all their heart and is fully submitted to Him. 

As I studied this, I realized that many things I do during the day are worship. Every time I am led by the Holy Spirit and I obey. Every time I go out of my way to help someone or give to the poor, or visit the sick. Every time I get on my knees and thank God for all His blessings. Every moment I spend reading His Word and Praying. Every time I resist the devil and his temptations. Every time I open my mouth and share the Gospel and His love with someone else. ALL these things are worship if I truly love God!

So, don't limit your worship to a band on Sunday morning. Know that God sees all your little acts of worship throughout the week and He smiles down at every one of them!