In the past couple of years I have observed a new found desire for people in worship teams to recalibrate their thinking around “what is worship”. This caught me pleasantly by surprise as previously, I thought , maybe wrongly, few wanted to delve into the nitties and gritties of what worship is about because they experienced it each Sunday, at least corporately, and that was satisfying. Most worship teams simply want to know how to do it better – and that’s a good thing.
Yet, I can’t help but wonder if the forced removal of our normal experience of worship through lockdowns has caused us to consider what worship is. When the “trappings” of worship, have been stripped from us, it may just drive us to our knees to try and … as the worship song says… come back to the heart of worship. The song is two decades old, but more relevant than ever.
The title “What on earth is worship?” is a purposeful one. Worship is something that we will do for eternity for those who love Jesus, but till then, what do we do on earth with worship? What is worship about here on earth? I won’t pretend to definitively discuss that here, because much will be left out.
Over the last 3 decades or more, I’ve had a deepening interest in discovering more about worship, and in that endeavour, I’ve collected definitions of worship (here’s just a handful). Collecting definitions of worship may sound strange to you, but for me, it’s been a significant part of my journey and has caused me to dive deeper into what is most precious in my life.
All the definitions bring something to the table and make worship like a jewel. Every time you consider someone’s attempt to define worship, it’s like looking at worship through a different facet; a different perspective. One that’s currently holding my attention comes from the writer A.W. Tozer. Check it out below…
“True worship is to be so personally and hopelessly in love with God that the idea of a transfer of affection never even remotely exists.”
A.W. Tozer'”Whatever Happened to Worship”.
I find this perspective on worship, beautifully and completely expressed in the scenario of the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50). There’s no singing, no sermon, no praying (out loud at least), no reading of Scripture (because they were creating it perhaps!!!) and… wait for it… no offering! Yet this woman has given us a perfect picture of true worship. She did not care what others thought of her, yet intimately served and adored the One who had forgiven her of her many sins, without a hint of a transfer of affection. This for me, is a clear picture of worship without all the “trimmings”.
A crisis like we’ve been experiencing, always offers to us an opportunity. We have an opportunity to rethink worship for ourselves as individuals firstly, and for our community secondly.
I say for ourselves, because if we are not worshipping God personally, in the quietness of our own spaces, how can we possibly lead others to a place of worship? We can form up a “worship service” with all the traditions and trappings that come with that. We can say the right words, pray creative prayers etc… but truly worship… that may be another thing altogether.
So, what on earth is worship? In many ways it’s a rehearsal for eternity where we get to display and declare the affection and love that we have for our amazing God. Whilst I’m looking forward to returning to our collective worship, I personally don’t want to simply do what has become customary without thought, passion and purpose. I want to worship corporately so that the presence of God is tangible and transformative, passionate and purposeful… worship that declares the glory of Him who has called us out of darkness for this very purpose – worship.
How is your church reclaiming worship during these difficult times? Share some of what has helped you in your worship while corporate worship has not been possible.