Ever since I came to the Lord in the early 1970s, Christians have been fighting wars over how worship should be conducted. Lately I have begun thinking again about the question: What is true worship?
Jesus gave one answer to this when he told the Samaritan woman true worship takes place in spirit and in truth. Let’s put a capital on “spirit,” as I think he was talking about the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ answer cut right across the woman’s understanding that worship was legitimized by where it took place, not how it took place. And most of us today understand what Jesus meant by that. You don’t have to go to a cathedral to worship God. But you do have to worship in the presence of the Spirit and by honouring God’s word, the standard of his truth.
Paul had his own kick at the worship can. He said that presenting ourselves as a sacrifice which is living, holy and acceptable to God is our “spiritual worship.” The word “spiritual” is (literally) “rational” (logikos in Greek). The meaning of Paul’s statement is actually this: To present ourselves as a sacrifice to God is worship, properly understood.
Wow Paul, you just threw us a real curveball! We’re so busy fighting over styles of music and other external expressions, we’ve missed the heart of it.
The foundation of worship has got nothing to do with music, let alone bands, amplifiers and fog machines.
I think the reason we spend so much time fighting over those things is that we spend too little time cultivating the heart of true worship. True worship does not begin at 10:30 on Sunday morning. It begins the previous Monday, when we start our week. It carries on the rest of the week until we come together on Sunday morning. It is the daily offering of our lives in service to God. The worship that happens on Sunday morning is a reflection of the worship that has been happening the previous six days. And no amount of musical or technical expertise is a substitute for a lack of that true worship in the daily life of a congregation. Without it, all we are left with is a musical presentation, and what that looks and sounds like matters little without the presence of God.
The church I helped to plant in England was birthed in early-morning prayer meetings which went on every day for almost a year. They led to conversions and repentance. The prayer meetings overflowed into church. The Holy Spirit was powerfully present. People would get converted or healed during the worship times. Much as I appreciate the great musicians we had, what I remember is not the music, but the presence of the Lord.
I hear a lot of criticism going round about how other people do worship. Some of it is probably justified. But what do we have to offer in return?
I think it’s time for the church to go back to basics, to the Bible we say we believe.
And that means three things are indispensable. The Spirit. The truth of the Word. And our lives being laid down in sacrifice seven days a week.
And then, whether accompanied by a band (professional or amateur), an organ, a choir or a fog machine, or none of the above, he will come.
And then maybe some of those worship wars will end.
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AWAKENING MINISTRIES // FOUNDATION of FAITH Project
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