What is worship?

[NewCreation435]

What is worship to you? What does it include or not include? Can service be considered acts of worship? Is giving worship?

 

[Albion]

Almost all the sources, dictionaries, etc. give a definition that is close to this--reverence, devotion, or adoration offered a divine being. (That, incidentally, is one reason that I included--in the "what not to do in church" discussion--taking the time and care to be properly dressed when attending church. It's a matter of reverence or respect.)

There are some variations in the definition, but it is noteworthy that almost all have a definition that's remarkably close to the others. This, above, is essentially what the word means to me, too.

However, it can be used in a broader sense, and we find that the Bible uses this other approach as well. By this view, acts of charity and obedience that are done as a result of one's commitment to that deity could be called worship, although other sources say that such are consequences of one's worship rather than worship per se. For that reason, what we do in church on Sunday is often termed "Corporate Worship."

 

[NewCreation435]

Almost all the sources, dictionaries, etc. give a definition that is close to this--reverence, devotion, or adoration offered a divine being. (That, incidentally, is one reason that I included--in the "what not to do in church" discussion--taking the time and care to be properly dressed when attending church. It's a matter of reverence or respect.)

There are some variations in the definition, but it is noteworthy that almost all have a definition that's remarkably close to the others. This, above, is essentially what the word means to me, too.

However, it can be used in a broader sense, and we find that the Bible uses this other approach as well. By this view, acts of charity and obedience that are done as a result of one's commitment to that deity could be called worship, although other sources say that such are consequences of one's worship rather than worship per se. For that reason, what we do in church on Sunday is often termed "Corporate Worship."

Based on that answer worship could look very different for different people. If worship is an act of reverence, adoration and devotion then it is a matter of what is going on in the person's heart. A person could attend worship services all day and not truly worship at all. I could also go look at a sunset or in a telescope and see God's creation and feel a sense of awe and adoration for God who made everything.

 

[MennoSota]

To fully consider worship we must consider what it means to be in Christ; to be seated in the heavenlies with Christ.
Romans 12:1
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

 

[Andrew]

Shouting "hallelujah", lifting up our heads to Heaven with arms stretched, thanking our Lord and Savior with simplicity and dignity.
Glorifying the Almighty creater of the universe and spouting out from our lips of clay a pure language that only God knows in praise. Jumping for joy, rejoicing in the works he has made in our lives. Praying over each other and laying hands of healing unto them in Jesus name, raising the spiritually dead and speaking the Biblical truth on to the congregation.
We do not however, speak in repetitive unison, study man made doctrines, accept penance in repetitive prayer as a means of forgiveness (we baptise in Jesus name after full repentance of our sins and do so for the remission of our sins). We call no man Father, we open our homes and church and give out our numbers and are willing to pray over at any hour night and day. We dont condone condemnation (to throw a pity party) we ask forgiveness instead at the moment of sin. We fear the lord instead of fearing of death beyond repenting (you know not the hour of judgment).
We believe the eternal meaning of monotheism that our lord is not 3 persons but three offices of manifestation, did Jesus pray to two fathers or to others? No he was the embodiment of Jehovah in the flesh.

 

[NewCreation435]

To fully consider worship we must consider what it means to be in Christ; to be seated in the heavenlies with Christ.
Romans 12:1
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Romans 12:1 is saying to me that I should be a good steward of my body and live in a holy manner rather than indulging in immoral behavior.
That's different than what it means to be in Christ to me.

 

[MennoSota]

Romans 12:1 is saying to me that I should be a good steward of my body and live in a holy manner rather than indulging in immoral behavior.
That's different than what it means to be in Christ to me.

Your body is not holy and it is not acceptable as an offering to God. It is a worthless reject. The only means of being holy and acceptable is for us to be found in Christ.
If we are living in Christ and not in our fleshly desire, we will be honoring and worshipping God in every action.

 

[YESLORDIWILL]

Your body is not holy and it is not acceptable as an offering to God. It is a worthless reject.

Oh my.

 

[MennoSota]

Oh my.

Yes, we are corrupt and unacceptable as a sacrifice to God. But Christ, he is a perfect sacrifice.
The Bible says we died with Christ and are raised with Christ. Paul calls us to claim our holy position in Christ. Never do we find a holy position before God in our self.

 

[NewCreation435]

Your body is not holy and it is not acceptable as an offering to God. It is a worthless reject. The only means of being holy and acceptable is for us to be found in Christ.
If we are living in Christ and not in our fleshly desire, we will be honoring and worshipping God in every action.

I don't agree at all. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemntion for those who are in Christ Jesus. When Jesus forgave my sins he forgave them all, sees me as forgiven and has separated me from my sins as far as the east is from the west. Now, I have the opportunity to live for him. If what you were saying is true, then it wouldn't really matter if I lived in sin physically or not since I couldn't attain anything good anyway. i doubt that is what your saying.

 

[NewCreation435]

Yes, we are corrupt and unacceptable as a sacrifice to God. But Christ, he is a perfect sacrifice.
The Bible says we died with Christ and are raised with Christ. Paul calls us to claim our holy position in Christ. Never do we find a holy position before God in our self.

And I never suggested that we do before God in our self. As a believer, we are in Christ.

 

[MennoSota]

I don't agree at all. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemntion for those who are in Christ Jesus. When Jesus forgave my sins he forgave them all, sees me as forgiven and has separated me from my sins as far as the east is from the west. Now, I have the opportunity to live for him. If what you were saying is true, then it wouldn't really matter if I lived in sin physically or not since I couldn't attain anything good anyway. i doubt that is what your saying.

For those who are...in Christ Jesus. In yourself, you are still wretched. This is the whole point of Paul's dialogue in Romans 7.

Even as Christians we find that in our selves we continue to break the law of God. Paul cries out, "Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" Paul said that as a Christian. He knew that he, in himself was corrupt. But, in Christ we are made righteous.
Never fool yourself into imagining there is any good within us apart from God and his grace. There isn't anything. We are "as filthy rags" apart from Christ.

 

[MennoSota]

And I never suggested that we do before God in our self. As a believer, we are in Christ.

That is my point. But, we still sin every day. We still embody this corrupt shell. We cannot worship God, except in Christ.

 

[Andrew]

.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Your body is not holy and it is not acceptable as an offering to God. It is a worthless reject. ...

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 

[MennoSota]

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Read the rest of my post instead of neglecting context...again. Sigh...

 

[MoreCoffee]

Read the rest of my post instead of neglecting context...again. Sigh...

One never thinks of a post as holy writ so concentrating on the portion to be answered is helpful. Perhaps you missed the verse posted as my reply to your comment about one's body being unholy and unacceptable to God. "Worthless" you said it is. Your additional comments did not correct your untrue statements regarding one's body. But you did try to mitigate the bad theology present in your statement demeaning one's body. Perhaps it is wroth thinking through the latent gnosticism in the statements your posts contain; statement like "That is my point. But, we still sin every day. We still embody this corrupt shell. We cannot worship God, except in Christ." and also like "Yes, we are corrupt and unacceptable as a sacrifice to God. But Christ, he is a perfect sacrifice." Keep in mind what the holy scriptures say and you'll not go astray. Remember that "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

 

[NewCreation435]

For those who are...in Christ Jesus. In yourself, you are still wretched. This is the whole point of Paul's dialogue in Romans 7.

Even as Christians we find that in our selves we continue to break the law of God. Paul cries out, "Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" Paul said that as a Christian. He knew that he, in himself was corrupt. But, in Christ we are made righteous.
Never fool yourself into imagining there is any good within us apart from God and his grace. There isn't anything. We are "as filthy rags" apart from Christ.

I'm kinda wondering if you know what reconciliation even means? Through Christ I have been reconciled to Him. Paul has said in numerous places in scripture that he wants believer to walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord in all respects. Look in Colossians 1:9-10
"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of HIs will in all spiritual wisdom andunderstanding so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respect, bearing fruit in every good work and increaseing in the knowledge of God;. . . ."
You notice that it says "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord". Paul would not pray for that if it were not possible.

Again in Ephesians 4:1 it says, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called."

The idea of "walking" referring to how the person lives their life. In other words, because a person is saved they are to live differently than the unsaved. That is what Romans 12:1 is telling them also. To not indulge in carnal sin and sins of the flesh and to live a life that is different.

What it sounds like you are proposing is some type of Gnosticism where it doesn't matter what we do in the flesh because it can't be redeemed anyway. Which is contrary to what the Bible teaches. He didn't just redeem part of me, but all of me.

 

[Albion]

Based on that answer worship could look very different for different people.

Probably. Catholics at worship and Mennonites at worship do not look too similar.

If worship is an act of reverence, adoration and devotion then it is a matter of what is going on in the person's heart.

Don't forget an act.

A person could attend worship services all day and not truly worship at all.

Sure. Or you could be present at the worship services of some non-Christian religion but just as a curious tourist...and you certainly wouldn't be worshipping along with the people gathered there just because you were observing.

I could also go look at a sunset or in a telescope and see God's creation and feel a sense of awe and adoration for God who made everything.

As noted above, that would probably not meet the definition.

 

[NewCreation435]

Probably. Catholics at worship and Mennonites at worship do not look too similar.


Don' forget an act.

Sure. Or you could be present at the worship services of some non-Christian religion but just as a curious tourist...and you certainly wouldn't be worshipping along with the people gathered there just because you were observing.

As noted above, that would probably not meet the definition.

So your going to take what goes on in a person's heart out of the equation then and just make it about what I do. Never mind motives and intent. Really?