The Service of Worship

It's funny that when Christians talk about the worship service we're almost always referring to our time of singing during church. The worship service is the 1 or 2 fast songs compiled with 2 or 3 slow songs and a time of prayer. And if the songs that were sung were our favorites, then it had to be a great time of worship. But I wonder how accurate that really is?

Paul talked about worship in Romans 12:1 and said, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV). But what's interesting is that a more accurate translation would be "your spiritual service of worship." And when you look at the life of Christ, you'll never find him leading a worship service in the Bible, but you will consistently find him serving as an act of worship. In Mark 10:45 it says "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So is worship in song wrong? Absolutely not. The Bible also has a lot to say about singing songs unto the Lord and using the instruments to bring glory to God. But the point is this, if our worship is reduced to music on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night then we have missed the point. Our lives were meant to be lived out in service unto the Lord and singing songs is only one small element to the service of worship. Dr. Lee Campbell puts it this way, "Worship is the response of grateful and humble people to the living God where submission, sacrificial service, praise, profession, testimony and gratitude are freely expressed in innumerable ways. This is a much richer concept than mere corporate singing and praise once each week for 20 minutes - an event that could occur without any actual worship going on at all."

So let me challenge each of us as "worship leaders" and "worshippers" not to make the worship service our main focus. Let's focus on the "service of worship."

One Body but Many Parts

This past weekend I was reminded again of the beauty and diversity in the Body of Christ. My wife and I were invited to lead worship for the Ohio State CCCA Conference, which is an interdenominational affiliation of Christian Campgrounds. So there we were, leading worship for folks young and old, some loving the classic hyms, and others ready to make a new song. We were gathered with Baptist, non-denominationals, Presyterians, Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Mennonites and more. And even though there were some raising their hands, and some sitting at their seats, together we all touched heaven.
As a guy who is used to a little more corporate exuberance in worship, it served as a great reminder to me that although we may worship differently in style, we were all worshipping Jesus, and that is what truly matters.
It was another reminder to me that we may be many different parts, but we are one body, making one song with our lives. For me it was a little reflection of heaven and the day when the walls will all be down, the little differences will be behind us, and with one voice for all eternity we will sing to the Lord.
Rev 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

Praise from the Highest Heights!

Phil 2:9 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name." We serve a God that deserves the highest praise and he made that very clear in scripture. As believers our call is to exalt the Lord to the highest place and one example of this is found in Washington D.C. One detail that is seldom mentioned in the capital is there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument
With such a battle to remove the ten commandments, etc., it's amazing that the tallest building is a testament to God. You see, on the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. , are displayed two words: Laus Deo. These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia , capital of the United States of America.Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world. So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply,
they say " Praise be to God!" Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo. "Praise be to God!"
Friends, God has always been worthy of the highest praise and that's something that will never change. Granted, not everyone can post there praise on a skyscraper, but we can all find our own way to make his praises known. Remember, you are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden and if you don't give him the highest praise then even the rocks will cry out.

All Things Become New

Since coming into this New Year, I've been leaning on a passage from 2 Corinthians 5:17 which affirms that as a "new creation in Christ, all things become new." The key however, is found in those two words, "in Christ." You see, until we come into a relationship with Christ we are in darkness, and although a person may have a natural gifting in music, the songs they sing are nothing more than songs. A person may sing a song about God and let's face it, there are many secular artists who occasionally sing crossover songs, but unless they are "in Christ" it is nothing more than a song. Worship isn't based on the lyrics of the song. Worship is based on the heart of the singer. Before entering into a personal relationship with Christ I attended church with my parents and I even sang occasional specials because it was a chance for me to highlight my own talent. I would play guitar and sing for the radio program and I would sing specials with the choir, but it wasn't about God. The truth is, it was about me. People may have been ministered to and the Lord may have used it to touch lives, but that still didn't make it an act of worship on my part because my motives were all wrong. But the minute I committed my life to Christ everything changed. In a split moment I was a new creation in Christ and all things became new, including my worship. I very quickly began to realize the gift that God had given me and that it wasn't about me. It was about Christ. So let me challenge you with this thought as well; If your heart's not in it then it really isn't worship. Let the Lord put a new song in your heart and kindle a fresh desire to bring Him glory in all you do and say. Allow the Lord to make all things new in you for 2009 and then express it to Him through the song in your heart!