what is worship?

1 Pet 4:11
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.   (KJV)

We so commonly use the term "worship" when referring to the musical and creative elements of a church service that the word has become synonymous and, for the misinformed, exclusive.  But when you're faced with the question, "What is worship?" - how do you respond? 

Worship is, by definition, to offer forth love and and devotion to a deity or an idol.  A step further shows that idols can be defined as an image used as an object of worship, a false god, or as something visible but without substance (as a Christian, I've got to love the last meaning - something without substance - but I'll save that for a later post). 

I would argue that most of us understand what everyday idols we encounter - money, fame, romance, jobs, and so much more.  Even as Christians we face them on a daily basis; but fortunately, through Christ who lives within us, we have the strength and grace to recognize that our identity is not found in these temporal illusions.  We do not allow ourselves to worship these idols, or if we do for a time, we realize that we can ask Christ's forgiveness and begin anew.  What freedom there is in this revelation! 

So as Christians, we continuously pour out our worship on our one true God and his son Jesus Christ.  Non-believers (and again, I feel called to mention even us Christians at times) might be more inclined to worship things of this world.  It goes without saying that those of other faiths focus their praise and devotion to other gods. 

My argument is that everyone - Christians and non-Christians - is created with a desire to worship!  My blog title is based on this truth - we are all a "worshipful creation" and are united in the fact that our broken, incomplete hearts long for completion.  We long to put our trust and faith in something we perceive as larger than ourselves.

So why is this so important to Christians?  Simply put - we cannot continue limiting the term "worship" to our Sunday set list.  Our praise cannot be contained to a big energetic opener, a mid-tempo song, a powerful ballad to ready us for our pastor's message, and then closing with a big response moment and an upbeat send-off or reprise.  If that's all we call worship, then we have an incredibly skewed image of the greatness... the majesty... the power of our God. 

I am not suggesting that we altogether stop using the term "worship" to refer to our singing of praise or the creative elements that come together during our church services.  It is my honest belief that when we pour ourselves out to Christ in song - in spirit and in truth - it truly is a form of worship.  As a matter of fact, earlier this week our lighting and production director tweeted a photograph of the stage at our church.  Poignantly placed toward the middle is a piano, beautifully lit with ambient lighting.  This was specifically designed to compliment a song we'll be singing this Sunday, and will create an atmosphere to allow others to enter into the presence of God.  Later, a friend re-tweeted his photograph, stating that his work is "an act of worship."  What truth lies in that statement! 

Rather than banish the word "worship" from being utilized in the aforementioned, singular way, I suggest that we redefine it in our hearts and in our minds.  Because the truth is that we worship every day of our lives, with every breath we take and moment that passes by - whether or not we realize it.  As Christians, we must remember to re-route our worship by offering up everything we do as a sacrificial act that honors Christ.  As mundane as our everyday actions might be, when we go about our lives remembering that we were created by and for God, what used to be "going through the motions" becomes so much more.  Suddenly, you're bringing glory to the one and only Creator who breathed life into your body.  You're embracing the truth that without Christ, you are nothing. 

Then, and only then, do we understand what it means to be a worshipful creation.

- Emily