Posted on 01/30/2007 3:08:19 PM PST by 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?
I do not construe this as a charismatic caucus thread because I truly want all true belivers in the Lordship and Saviorship of Jesus Christ to contribute meaningfully to the dialogue.
It may be that prayerfully pondering the questions above would foster responses to each of them or one of them or a handful of them. Whatever is fitting to you, as you prayerfully consider them, is fine with me.
Beloved, start your fingers . . .
END TIMES, DREAMS, VISIONS, PROPHECY
Ping list.
Please pray about contributing to this thread. It will be diminished by your absence and enhanced by your participation.
Blessings,
You have asked, and I will answer with my own answers.
I have numbered your questions so that they stand out from the answers.
(1) WHAT IS WORSHIP?
It is the deeply reverent, even abashed, mental and emotional state one has when one consciously seeks the presence of God, or the aspect that mind and emotions take when one suddenly finds one's self in the presence of the Almighty.
2) How do we know we are involved in worship?
By that sense of reverence and feeling of awe.
3) How do others observe us to be authentically involved in worship?
Often, they don't. When we are out in the world and our minds and hearts turn to worship, it is not generally externally visible, unless there are certain gestures and rites we perform in order to help us induce the worshipful state (for example, making the sign of the Cross, or bowing one's head and folding the hands). When we are in a place of worship and doing these things, it is more visible to others that this is what we are doing.
4) How does God detect that our worship is authentic, with heart passion after Him?
God knows everything, all the time, so He doesn't need to detect anything. Every hair on our head has God's full attention. (I wish He'd stop turning mine white, but I am grateful that He doesn't pull them out!)
More to follow, later.
Thanks.
Well put.
Now, am headed for an overdue and needed restorative . . . NAP. Still not up to speed on energy etc.
I rarely venture into the religion side of things, but...
The term "worship" in English comes from the Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe, later worthship, which means "to ascribe worth to someone or something." Worship means "reverence or veneration paid to a being or power regarded as supernatural or divine; the action or practice of displaying this by appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies" (The Oxford English Dictionary, 1933, 12/319-21).
(5) What factors, traits characterize worship?
Silence. Stillness. Listening. Waiting expectantly for that feeling of connection with God and the Angels.
(6) What behaviors characterize worship?
Other than whatever mechanical means we have developed as the short-cut to achieve the worshipful state (i.e.: making the sign of the Cross upon ourselves, or bowing the head and folding the hands, kneeling, etc.), turning inward with the mind, and generally turning downward or upward with the eyes. Stimulus to the eyes distracts. To be silent requires not making noise. To be still means not moving. To be able to hear the voice of God and the Angels within us requires us to dim the overpowering sense of sight. When you want to truly hear music, you close your eyes. When you want to truly remember something, you close your eyes. There is a literal neurological reason for this: eyesight takes up a lot of the brain's attention. It is not the closing of the eyes and standing still that makes for worship, but it gets the body into the background to allow God's voice to come to the foreground. Entering worship is, I suppose, entering hypnosis expectantly.
(7) What priority is worship to have in the life of the beliver?
Once one has been touched by God and heard God, one can never disbelieve again, not convincingly to one's self. And once one has been in the presence of God, one seeks it again. And again. And again. Like a plant's roots seek the water.
(8) What are the hazards of worship, if any?
Too much focus on the world of spirit can detach us from the world of men, in which we very much live and are present, and which is just as important as the world of spirit. After all, God thought this physical world was important enough to inject every single one of us into it. His purposes are inscrutable, and our souls go back to Him when we die, but for some reason God wants to dip our souls in Earth, muddy them up a bit. Perhaps we are works of art which cannot be finished pieces without being dipped in the dyes and fired in the kiln. Whatever the image we use, we must always remember that the real world is real, and God intends us to live here. This world and the next are both important. But, of course, worship will teach you that, because God will remind you of that.
(9) What are the contaminants of worship, if any?
Substituting things for worship. Texts are the biggest problem, because they can very easily engage the part of the mind that likes to sequence things, which is to say the game-playing part of the mind, and the part of the emotions which like to WIN at competitive sports. Texts can be an aid to worship, but they need to be used lightly. Rites, too, can become a distraction and an end in themselves.
(10) What is/are the purpose/purposes; goal/goals of worship?
To communicate with God and enjoy His presence (and, hopefully, He yours), and to remind yourself that He's THERE, when you don't necessarily need his aid, so that you will know where to go when you do.
(11) What is the Biblical result(s) of worship?
There is only one result to worship: to be in the presence of God.
(12) What are the Biblical standards of worship?
I don't know. I assume that the clergy have studied these details carefully and know what they are doing. They seem to.
(13) What is the Biblical model of worship?
To listen. To hear. To obey.
(14) What is the Biblical priority of worship?
Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our Lord! The Lord is One! And you shall love the Lord with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.
And you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.
(14) Is there an aroma of worship? If so, what is it; is it like?
For me, there is not.
(15) Is there a spirit, attitude of worship? If so, what is it like?
Silent, open waiting for the contact with God and Angels.
Once IN contact, it is a different thing. Adoration of God, yes. But also challenging God too.
(16) Is there a false vs authentic worship? If so, how so? Is there a behavioral difference or is the difference deeper?
Probably. But I don't know what it is. The hypocrisy of others can appear to be false worship, but who can know the inside of another's heart and soul and mind other than God?
Example: When Henry IV said "Paris is well worth a Mass!" and converted from Huguenot Protestantism to Catholicism in order to become the King of France, it is assumed that this was a completely cynical act, to go with his completely cynical words. Perhaps. But perhaps he was already open to the idea but dared not let anyone know. Perhaps he later became persuaded. Perhaps the experience caused him to see both sides benignly. Who can say? Only God knows.
comment later
Bumpttt.
I don't have anything to contribute at the moment, but I'll look forward to seeing what others say.
Another characteristic for worship is to dance like King David danced.
THANKS TONS ONE AND ALL.
Am contemplating eating something and returning with more energy later . . .
Am deeply touched by the earnest replies so far.
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE the Hebrew and Greek and Aramaic experts give the robust AMPLIFIED meaning of the root words of worship in those languages.
Please and thank you.
LUB,
LOL.
Agreed. Did that once.
Though in the very private privacy of my own home! LOL.
Seemed like Daddy smiled.
WORSHIP
I will speak of where my heart and mind are before I speak of what worship means to me. My life verse is
+* +* +* +* +* +* +*
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
+* +* +* +* +* +* +*
For me, to KNOW that SURELY goodness and mercy will be part of my life every single day of my entire life is a matter of FAITH and of certainty. Beyond that, I GET TO DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.
Oh, glory, glory, glory, joyous expectation. I so look forward to being in the house of the Lord. And to think He will have us there with Him FOREVER.
FOREVER.
Many seasons of life have come and gone for me, some difficult and some wonderful. To see the wonderful seasons come to an end has been challenging. Fond memories. Grateful awareness of His provision always in all ways. But to know that the most wonderful season of all, dwelling in His house, will last forever. Sigh. I am edified by that thought.
Since without faith it is impossible to please God, part of worshipping Him is having faith in Him. Though Psalm 23:6 is a very simple verse, my faith is strengthened when I think about it, when I hold its dear truth close to my heart.
On Sunday morning, I go to church, and during the singing, I open my heart to the Lord, with love, and with trust. Whether I have had a "good" week or a "bad" week, this is HIS time. I am glad to be there, to be with His people, to stand in His presence, and to receive from Him, and to minister to Him. ' ... joining our voices, with angels and archangels and with all the company of Heaven, who forever sing this hymn, to proclaim the glory of Your Name, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of Your glory ...'. We worship Him as we sing, as we love one another, as we listen to the sermon, as we receive the Lord's Supper, as we give our tithes and offerings, as we pray, as we read the Bible. Worship is a heart attitude, as in oh, Lord, You are good, You are lovely, You are loving, You are beautiful, You are kind, You are majestic, You are strong, You are faithful, You are wise, You are compassionate, You are merciful, there is none like You dear Lord.
Music touches our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our spirits. I am freed to worship and inspired to worship by music, not just on Sunday morning, but all week long.
The words to songs cause my heart to soar in rapture toward the Lord, I have many favorite songs and hymns. The melodies, the harmonies, the lyrics cause me great joy and my heart responds with worship for the Lord. How can we listen to glorious music without worshipping Him?
Those on my email distribution list know I send round words to songs "just because". I get so happy by the words I just gotta share them.
Here's what I sent around 9/9/2001, two days before "The 9/11" --
Subject: O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus; text S.Francis, music Thos
Williams
To: xxx@altavista.com
From: xxx@altavista.com
Date: 9 Sep 2001 17:58:05 -0700
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
text Samuel T. Francis, music Thomas Williams
1. O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as
a mighty ocean In it fullness over me, Underneath me, all around me, Is
the current
of Thy love; Leading onward, leading homeward To my glorious rest above.
2. O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Spread His praise from shore to
shore! How He
loveth, ever loveth, Changeth never, nevermore; How He watches o'er His
loved ones,
Died to call them all His own; How for them He intercedeth, Watcheth
o'er them from
the throne.
3. O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Love of every love the best; 'Tis an
ocean vast
of blessing, 'Tis a haven sweet of rest, O the deep deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n
of heav'ns to me; And it lifts me up to glory, For it lifts me up to
Thee. Amen.
### end ###
Beautiful. Wonderful. Sweet. Thanks.
I look forward to your additions.
I greatly enjoyed the substance in each of your answers. Quite edifying. Thanks.
Pax.
later worthship, which means "to ascribe worth to someone or something." Worship means "reverence or veneration paid to a being or power regarded as supernatural or divine; the action or practice of displaying this by appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies"
= = =
Wonderful.
The song . . . WORTHY IS THE LAMB comes to mind . . . as well as some others.
HE ALONE IS WORTHY also.
WORTH . . . such an awesome thing . . .
. . . can it be that thou should'st die for me . . .
Hope we get some HEBREW, GREEK AND ARAMAIC scholars on here soon to inform us of the root word studies in those languages.
Much appreciate your kind post.
Wonderful meaty answers which resonate deeply with my heart and spirit.
Thanks tons.
Am restraining myself from more detailed responses until we have more inputs from more people.
Please, please remember to come back and comment--hopefully at length. I'm eager to read your persistently constructive edifications.
Psa 46:10a Be still, and know that I [am] God:
Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
= = =
YES, INDEED! QUITE INDEED!
Do you have some specific experiences illustrating each of those verses which would amplify your points?
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