WHAT IS WORSHIP? spiritually, behaviorally, attitudinally, Biblically . . .

Quix | 30 JAN 2007 | Quix

[Quix]

It seems fitting in my prayerful heart and spirit this day to offer this thread for our Biblical discussion and dialogue. Let us truly dialogue instead of throw Scripture-daggars at one another. Let us learn from one another TO THE GLORY OF GOD rather than beat one another about the head and shoulders with our biases.

I was going to start this thread with my own pontifications but now believed they would best be left for much later in the thread. I hope all with any sense at all about the topic will share liberally, thoughtfully and prayerfully.

I will express that I have a bias that worship is a key issue and intended BY GOD to be a key, high priority, earnest activity of all believers.

To get us off and running, I offer the following questions to help focus our discussion. I don't pretend that such questions are absolutely complete and comprehensively encompassing. If you have other fitting questions to the topic, please offer them to our congregation on this thread.

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Please consider, prayerfully ponder how you each might contribute to such a thread from your own Scriptural, personal experiences.

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

How do we know we are involved in worship?

How do others observe us to be authentically involved in worship?

How does God detect that our worship is authentic, with heart passion after Him?

What factors, traits characterize worship?

What behaviors characterize worship?

What priority is worship to have in the life of the beliver?

What are the hazards of worship, if any?

What are the contaminants of worship, if any?

What is/are the purpose/purposes; goal/goals of worship?

What is the Biblical result(s) of worship?

What are the Biblical standards of worship?

What is the Biblical model of worship?

What is the Biblical priority of worship?

Is there an aroma of worship? If so, what is it; is it like?

Is there a spirit, attitude of worship? If so, what is it like?

Is there a false vs authentic worship? If so, how so? Is there a behavioral difference or is the difference deeper?

[hosepipe]

Thanks for the ping.. interesting subject.. very..

As a hard agnostic it was not easy for me to come to/seek the Lord.. Actually it took a miracle for me to accept there was a Lord as a God..

Even after I did reading the bible put me to sleep like knock out drops.. After some prayer and a miracle the bible opened up to me and became personal and real..

(1) In the beginning I approached God in a way like "worship" meaning he was God I was some kind of "servant" or believer or some other word..

(2) At some stage... the worship thing went away and I felt closer and a more personal relationship.. Not like he was God and me a mere creature bowing and scraping to one so omnecient and powerful..

(3) At another stage, I don't remember when, the relationship progressed to a kind of friendship.. At least I thought of it as a friendship.. No worship but a lot of praise and awe.. for a SuperHero like of friend; I was proud to know.. Like I knew God personally a little.. The word father was not real to me yet.. But I was extremely happy to have the relationship I had.. Even though I could not use the word father in a real way yet.. And did not feel deprived..

(4) The next stage, was a closer friendship yet.. Like a friend.. a real friend.. My prayer became a conversation.. sometimes one way but a conversation nevertheless.. You don't worship a "friend".. To be honest stages 1,2,3,and 4 still happened sometimes but I knew the difference.. and preferred and sought after (4)...

(5) After that stage the thought came to one day while praying that my human body had a human father as a father ; but my human spirit has my heavenly father as a father.. One father for my body another father for my spirit.. So then, I had two fathers in a real way.. There is scripture that indicates "the Father" knew me/us before we were born.. That settled it to me.. Easy now to address my father as my father.. Couldn't/Didn't do it before this.. You do not worship your father you just love him..

(6) I would have say I do not worship God anymore.. I just love him.. True that I cannot even concieve totally whom and what my father(God) actually is but then I cannot totally concieve of whom I am either.. because of it.. I see that as progress.. With a father like that who knows whom and what I am.. Know what I mean?...

(7) Marantha Jesus..

[.30Carbine]

I am in tears over your testimony. I can't find an adjective lovely enough, large enough, to describe it. Thank you so much for sharing this experience here in such an easy to understand way, with such simplicity and humility and grace. I am moved beyond words, dear hosepipe.

[.30Carbine]

I praise God for your testimony and that you loved me to ping me to it. How amazing it is, I could have written those very words, my sister in Jesus Christ, even down to this LOL! -

What are the hazards of worship, if any?
Others may say you’re so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good.
LOLOL!

[Quix]

Exquisite answers.

Thanks tons.

I think that the Biblical standard of worship is probably best depicted by John as you illustrated . . . and by Christ's utterly Father focused life to the exclusion of all other influences--by comparison.

Practically speaking for most mortals . . . probably that standard is something like Brother Lawrence's focus in all he did, on God.

I believe that there is an aroma of worship which sometimes Father provides by His Spirit which could also be called an aroma of Heaven. It can vary in specifics but is typically difficult to artiuclate though has some similarity to the incense of the Old Testament. Incredibly wonderously sweet and enlivening in its character.

[Quix]

Very moving. Thanks.

I think you make very wonderful, touching and valid as well as Biblical distinctions.

I think sometimes HE IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP AND HIS TRAIN FILLS THE TEMPLE. . . . when only abject prostration in whatever internal &/or external posture is workable.

At other times, He is Daddy with us on His lap or leaning on His breast or walking in the cool of the evening.

Is Worship, in essence, intense COMMUNE-ion?

[Quix]

You put it much better than I did. Thanks.

[Quix]

INDEED.

I think the hazard is NOT to worship.

But in a sense, there is the wonderful 'hazard' that all that is not lovely, all that is not good, all that is

NOT

Holy

will be burned out by the fierceness of His Love, His Purity, His Holiness.

Perhaps as basking in the warmth of a late spring noonday sun burns out the vestiges of a winter's stiffness and coldness.

[Quix]

Thanks tons.

The Scripture:

. . . able to keep him in perfect peace who's focus is Him. [rough paraphrase]

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You. KJV without thee's/thou's

= = = =

Isaiah 26:3 New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
= = = =

Isaiah 26
Stretch the Borders of Life
1-6 At that time, this song will be sung in the country of Judah:
We have a strong city, Salvation City,
built and fortified with salvation.
Throw wide the gates
so good and true people can enter.
People with their minds set on you,
you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
because they keep at it and don't quit.
--THE MESSAGE

[Tax-chick]

ping for review

[Quix]

Good idea.

I think there have been some very moving, apt and edifying additions to the thread.

[Tax-chick]

Good morning! My son was playing a game last night ("Persian Gulf War") and I didn't get back to reading the thread, but it looks like it's full of interesting content.

"Edifying" is one of my favorite terms, too :-).

[Quix]

LOL about your son and the game.

Yeah, the thread is really blessing my heart, spirit and mind.

I LOVE IT when believers can 'cross pollinate' one another's spiritual seeds and understandings . . . enlarge on each other's insights and growings. I guess edify seems often to be the most fitting word for such and I sure love it when we can be such caring assists to one another in and by HIS SPIRIT in the Love of His Spirit. PTL.

I HOPE THIS GOES ON AND ON for some signifitcant time and distance yet. I think we have just begun to plumb the depths and heights of what we can bless one another with through such a dialogue.

[DungeonMaster]

John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

So what is Spirit? It can be summed up pretty easily, it is not physical. No physical aspect of worship is Spirit therefore there is no physical aspect of worship that God is seeking.

It's interesting to know how few times the word 'must' is used in the bible regarding what Christians must do.

[Quix]

Great point.

External behaviors can be such a trap vis a vis worship. The attitude of the heart/spirit seems utterly crucial, vital, key, essential . . . the whole of it.

imho.

[norge]

Some pretty profound stuff here, Quix. You got me thinking about worship, and by golly, that's a good thing.

I see worship in so many forms:

When my heart and soul are filled with absolute joy and wonder at the concept of God loving me and choosing me, and I can barely contain myself (That's when the hands go up and I want to shout!);

When I am filled with humility at my inadequacy and the overwhelming power of His Grace (That's when I am on my knees, sometimes in tears, grateful for His love for me);

When I am driving along and suddenly and simply think about Him and feel GREAT!!).

It is a fantastic word to ponder, and like you, I love the song Worthy Is the Lamb, especially the way it begins, reverently, then building powerfully to a crescendo of praise.

"We love each other as a result of His loving us first."

[Tax-chick]

"Edify" is appropriate because it means "to build." Christ's disciples should build one another up in faith, hope, and love, in every possible way. If everyone who takes a look at this thread comes away with one idea that adds to his experience of loving God, then that's a lot of building up!

Although I haven't had time to read all the posts yet (everyone needs a turn at the computer ...), I do agree that dance is a Biblical form of worship, which engages our body, mind, and spirit, and should be directed to God.

In fact, I'd suggest that all our dance should be God-honoring, even social dancing. Spouses dancing together should be building up their godly love for one another. Those who are not married can be expressing Christian friendship, while partaking of healthy exercise.

If (to go on longer than I should :-), we define "worship" as "the correct relationship, in all things, of a creature with her Creator," then everything we do can be an act of worship, if our hearts are rightly oriented.

[hosepipe]

[.. At other times, He is Daddy with us on His lap or leaning on His breast or walking in the cool of the evening. Is Worship, in essence, intense COMMUNE-ion? ..]

Ah! oneness.. communion.. At one ment.. Good question..

The Apostles once communed with one another who would be greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens.. Jesus took a mere child to his side, and said, "one of these is the greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens".. This lesson is missed by some, probably..

Could be that proper worship is having fun in the spirit.. with the Spirit?..
God having fun, WITH Us?.. maybe...

As a daddy and grandfather what a blessing it is to participate in the fun my children and/or grandchildren are having.. Their words and activities can be precious.. Them, Including ME in it(the fun) is a precious honor..

Would God(the father) be any different?.. Probably not..

[Alamo-Girl]

What a wonderful testimony, dear brother in Christ! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Maranatha, Jesus!

[Alamo-Girl]

I thank God for you, dear sister in Christ! Truly we share in the mind of Christ so alike that it would be hard to tell us apart by our words alone.

[Between the Lines]

Here is something I found:

I. Biblical words for "worship"

A. Hebrew word shachah - "bowing down before an object of honor"
Neh. 8:6 - Israelites "bowed low and worshipped the Lord"
Ps. 95:6 - "let us worship and bow down"

B. Hebrew word abad - "service or work for God"
Deut. 6:13 - "fear the Lord your God and worship Him"
Ps. 2:11 - "Worship the Lord with reverence"

C. Hebrew word segid - "showing respect" or "doing homage"
Dan. 3:5-18 - "worship the golden image"

D. Greek words gonu and gonupeteo - "bending the knee"
Eph. 3:14 - "bow my knees before the Father"
Phil. 2:10 - "every knee should bow at the name of Jesus"

E. Greek words sebo and eusebeo derived from sebas - "fear or reverence"
Acts 18:13 - "worship God contrary to the law"
Acts 17:23 - "worshipped in ignorance"

F. Greek word proskuneo, derived from pros, "toward" and kuneo, "to kiss"
Matt. 4:10 - "You shall worship the Lord your God"
John 4:24 - "worship Him in spirit and truth"

G. Greek word latreuo, derived from latris - "servant"
Rom. 12:1 - "spiritual service or worship"
Phil. 3:3 - "worship in the Spirit of God"

H. Greek word leitourgeo, derived from laos, "people", and ergeo, "to work"
Acts 13:2 - "ministering to the Lord"
II Cor. 9:12 - "ministry of service"
I. Greek word therapeuo - "to heal"

Acts 17:25 - "God not worshipped by human hands" (KJV)

J. English word "worship" derived from old Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe, meaning "worth-ship"; "to ascribe worth to someone or something."