What is Biblical Worship? Part 1

BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Bible has a lot to say about worship. The goal of this blog is to give the reader some biblical and possibly spiritual perspective on worship so they can grow closer to God. Our purpose on this earth is to serve, bring glory to God, and to worship Him in communion (Mark 12:29-31). Acceptable and unacceptable worship will be focused on while using the Bible as the source of truth, and the Spirit as the discerner of that truth.

Not all worship is acceptable to God (Matthew 15:9). Hebrews 12:28 tells us that we must “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear”. In Greek “serve” is a form of the word “worship”. Worship is intertwined with service to God. In order to worship, we must serve God with reverence and respect. “Paying homage” and giving honour can also be translated as worship (1 Corinthians 14:25, Romans 1:25).

On an individual level, true biblical worship is a way of life; it is not just when people get together to sing. That is only a small part of it. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”—this means obedience—“holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” We do this by “[Not conforming] to the pattern”—pattern is also translated as sequence and is an ‘A leads to B’ mentality for self—“of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”—re-dedication, repenting, and learning a Godly, spiritual perspective. Verse 2b continues: “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”—and thus, further worship in obedience. In other words, this passage tells us that we need to be obedient to God in all walks of life, and not follow the “sequences” of the world which is in opposition to God. This passage is a call to sacrifice our wills and life to God daily; to take up lifestyles that live in obedience and thus worship God. Only when we do this can real unity exist among believers; otherwise they are simply disconnected from the source: God.