NOTE TO READER:
This is an independent study for my personal enjoyment. You may draw your own conclusions from it.
Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The adoring acknowledgment of all that lies beyond us—the glory that fills heaven and earth. It is the response that conscious beings make to their Creator, to the Eternal Reality from which they came forth; to God, however they may think of Him or recognize Him, and whether He be realized through religion, through nature, through history, through science, art, or human life and character."
In general, Worship is all inclusive term for everything one says or does which is pleasing to God.
As I come across different people (though not so many), I notice that at the heart of every man is the desire to do something that is beyond himself. Sometimes we call it the “greater good”. There is also an instinctive knowledge of right and wrong (never mind the “if-it-feels-good-do-it” theory). Also, instinctively is the way we seek a higher power when we’ve reached the end of our rope. We just kind of “look up”, even without thinking about it!
The heavens, the stars, nature, the Universe, with its flawless harmony and balance tell us that there is a power that exists that holds it all together. This is GOD.
Paul, in the book of first chapter of Romans says about men who deny GOD that “…what may be known about God is evident among them for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world HIS invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse…”
So why would anyone who sees the works of God and knows them refuse to glorify God?
I can proffer a simple answer: we prefer to worship ourselves!
I know… it may sound a bit bizarre. I mean, how could I think of worshipping myself, right?
But… we do it ALL the time (Especially when you get down to the real meaning of worship)
“…It is the response that conscious beings make to their Creator”
When you become aware or conscious of your creator, how do you respond? That response is worship. Some people sing songs or paint or draw pictures, enjoy nature, explore the universe, discover new frontiers in science or in the world…the list of things we do in this response is endless!
This is why I also define worship as an art because it involves skill and creative imagination; it’s conceptual!
God does not expect us all to worship in one restricted pattern! (He actually would find it really boring)
God expects us to worship Him with our individualities, in our personal uniqueness, in our own style! That’s why a dog will bark, a bird will sing, a fish will… well, do whatever it does, and a cat will meow. If all the animals made the same sound, and there was only one season and only one personality… it would be awful!
It’s no wonder why we have phlegmatics, sanguines, cholerics and melancholies… to be beautiful in our diversity!
Unfortunately, we criticize each others’ art of worship a little too quickly.
A melancholy might expect a sanguine to worship like he does and vice versa, and then we get angry at each other and start to break up into groups whereas our Father in heaven was ‘loving’ the diversity all along!
The most important thing about our worship is who we worship.
The Bible tells us in Exodus 20:2, 3
“I am the Lord your God… you shall have no other gods before me”
In Matthew 4:10
“Thou shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve”
Who is this God?
He is the Lord who does not change; He is the ancient of days, the one who sent His only begotten son to take away the sins of the world because He has loved us with an everlasting love. Our God shows His own diversity in the different names He has revealed:
Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14), Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15), Yahweh Tsilha (Psalm 121:5), Yahweh Borei (Isaiah 40:28), El Elohi Israel (1Samuel 1: 17), YHWH Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35), Jehovah Elshaddai (Genesis 17:1), Jehovah Adonai
He shows Himself as God in every circumstance and situation because He actually has a name for every situation that we are in! If we need a healer, He is Rapha. If we need a friend, He is Shammah, if we need a provider, He is Jireh… isn’t that awesome!
So, conversely, since we can’t be all that, we can be who we are! If you are a writer, write to worship Him. If you are a dancer, dance to His glory, if you are a singer, sing to him, if you are a discoverer, discover to His glory…etc.
Worship is also defined as “To Honour” By Webster’s dictionary.
This is the part that brings in the lifestyle.
A teacher I was listening to defined honour for God as “letting his words carry weight in your life; giving Him the authority to be obeyed first in your life”
This means that God’s words carries so much weight in your life that it influences everything in your life.
Deuteronomy 6:18 reads “And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord that it may be well with you…” (New King James Version)
Your lifestyle is simply the way that you live your life, the modes that you do the different things you do and the way that you relate to people (The government, leadership, parents, friends, the Boss, e.t.c)
Your lifestyle is unique to you and God instructs that we honour him in our lifestyle.
This means that as we live our lives, doing the things that we do, we must put God first in our considerations and decisions and let His words carry weight in our lives. We know His words and His mind concerning issues as we study the Bible, which is God’s revealed word to us!
Unfortunately, most of us don’t even take the time to study the bible, and yet that is the only way to grow in our knowledge of Him.
It starts with a decision.
Decide that you will worship only God and learn how to honour Him.
It is a step by step process that actually takes a lifetime; but once your mind is set to honour God, He will give you the grace to go all the way.
