Understanding Worship
The word itself comes from an old English expression of respect,as in your royal worth-ship., The Greek and Hebrew words in the Bible that are translated “worship” are a variety of expressions like sacrifice, bow down, show respect, honor, obedience, and serving. In the Bible, any deliberate and conscious expression of devotion to God is called worship.
The focus of worship is God Himself. Obviously, He is in Heaven but He has given the Holy Spirit to make his presence known and felt. When we worship, God is our audience, not other people. God wants to hear our devotion expressed. He has invited us into his presence in heaven by means of the Holy Spirit in us and by the rights adhering to the name and work of Jesus His son, if we believe.
Corporate worship: Individuals can worship any place or time, but when Christians express their feelings and thoughts about God together, that’s corporate worship. There is a special blessing and power associated with corporate worship in the Bible. God’s Spirit especially works to reveal God when we are united in praising God, in prayer, and in obedience to the Word.
A worship service is made up of multiple elements. In singing, we tell God what we’re thinking and how we feel about Him. In Prayer we tell Him our needs and express dependence. In the offering we say thanks for providing and we dedicate our material lives to Him. In the preaching, we listen to what God has for us in his word, the Bible. In communion we state our common ground as sinners saved by grace.
Music is a part of the worship experience in most churches, but singing, liturgy, or any particular form does not define worship itself. Music has two powerful impacts. It forms the vehicle for expressing the words and ideas we have about God in a united way, and music can get to the emotions while the words express the mind. This mind, emotion, and intent combination is the meaning of “heart” in the Bible. Music and other activities in a worship service are the “form” but the personal presence of God via the Holy Spirit is the “content” of true worship.
OICC: As a community church with a mission to keep the body of Christ from flying apart over taste issues, this church has a commitment to blended or variety in worship styles. Unity in Christ is more important than getting one’s own tastes met. Religion may be focused on certain styles of music or liturgy or other details, but true worship is about connecting to a personal God. That’s our goal here. Everybody gives up preferences and everybody grows in appreciating other styles. God empowers the attitudes, not the forms.
OICC Elders
