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?

[Quix]

I'm sure I'll be blessed if and when you do contribute something--which I hope you do!

[ScubieNuc]

Psa 46:10a Be still, and know that I [am] God:

This last summer I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains with my son's Boy Scout Troop, and we stopped to eat on a meadow with an awesome view. You could see for miles and the quiet was awesome. While eating my breakfast, I just sat there in awe of God, His power, His love, and his Mercy. In that stillness I praised God in my heart, and I knew that He was God.

The other verses that that experience reminded me of was Psalm 8. I looked it up later and read it to the troop.

Psa 8:3-5 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Recoginizing God's power and giving Him the glory is one part of worship.

Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When I was in the Navy serving on a submarine, me and another very dear brother in Christ would get together, read the Bible and pray together for forgiveness, strength, and direction. While neither one of us was a pastor, the Holy Spirit of God was truely with us, ministering to us through the Word.

[Quix]

Am super blessed by your examples and testimony.

Thanks tons.

I certainly resonate with the mountain meadow example.

And also had some precious Navy experiences with others who loved Jesus. Interestingly, it was the Chaplains I worked under who were most upset over some of those! I guess God didn't get their memo.

LOL.

[Vicomte13]

My long Navy experience was less...edifying...

But even Augustine turned out alright in the end.

[Quix]

The Navy can help one appreciate David's observation that God was everywhere.

in the depths, heights, everywhere.

Sorry yours was not so edifying.

But then . . . boot camp is rarely considered enormously edifying spiritually . . . though it can be.

This is not the objective . . . eternity is.

[Vicomte13]

True.

[ScubieNuc]

My long Navy experience was less...edifying...

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

God can use those "less edifying" experiences to work for good, if we let him.

Sincerely

[Vicomte13]

Also true.

[Quix]

So far, have found this . . . would be happy for those more expert at such to chime in . . .

= = =

Greek: worship; excessively, fanatically devoted to someone or something; “service paid to the gods”).

from:

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index.php?v=info&a=view_results&s=WORSHIP

Reminds me of the Scripture about LOVING GOD WHOLLY and our neighbor as ourselves.

a Fanatic has been described as someone who belives something more strongly than you do.

How often are believers so 'sold out' to God that He really is our all in all?

If we are ongoingly and increasingly in that state, attitude, is all we do an act of worship?

[Lee N. Field]

Good questions, and I have a book on order, to start reading up on it.

Pursue the subject too far, and you may find yourself at the dreaded "regulative principle of worship". Not that this would be a bad thing, you understand.

A link, for this has been discussed before on Freerepublic: Worship: The Heavenly Pattern

[Vicomte13]

"If we are ongoingly and increasingly in that state, attitude, is all we do an act of worship?"

I wish I could remember the name of the medieval monastic saint who said that he found every act of his day, from cooking the bread to weeding the turnips, to be a devotional act, and act of worship. It's true too. But getting to and maintaining that state all the time requires a special person (I did mention that this guy was a monk, didn't I. And not just a monk, but a monk so monkish he was given the title of saint after he died.) Most of us are not so, whatever that is...devout? Which doesn't mean that we don't worship and love God! It means that we're more in this world, but without ever being quite at home in it.

[Quix]

Thanks for the links.

Was somewhat aware of the other thread . . . but hoped this one would be a more personal experience one with some refs to key intellectual, Biblical, historical factors.

Thanks for your kind post.

[Quix]

BROTHER LAWRENCE

is the name of that classic. A worthy read, for sure.

I think I am increasingly not at home in this world and longing for my true home. Especially to sit on Daddy's lap.

[redgolum]

For later. Heading to bed now to pray and sleep.

[Alex Murphy]

Let us demonstrate [perhaps most shockingly to ourselves] that we are Christians by our Love one for another as we dialogue about this topic.

A self-authored thread by Quix? You have my full attention! Will read and respond later.

[Quix]

Me too shortly.

Thx.

[Quix]

Thanks for your kind response.

night night.

[Petruchio]

I will try to answer all your questions at once, in a different kind of way.

True Worship becomes possible when it is wrapped in Prayer. Worship to me is when our heart strains to be reunited with G-d. It is the stretching out of pure Love directed towards Heaven. Prayer is when our mind is focused on joining in a line of communication with G-d.

It is the combination of these two abstractions that brings us into the Presence of the One True G-d. It is hard to put this concept into words because human language falls far short of the reality.

[Alamo-Girl]

WHAT IS WORSHIP? Loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, strength and understanding.

How do we know we are involved in worship? We are enraptured with the love of God.

How do others observe us to be authentically involved in worship? Countenance of peace and joy.

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

What factors, traits characterize worship? Concerns for self, family, friends and all such persons or things are laid aside.

What behaviors characterize worship? Getting alone with God – no matter how large or small the assembly, no matter where we are.

What priority is worship to have in the life of the beliver? First priority and never ceasing, it is the Great Commandment – nothing else compares.

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

What are the contaminants of worship, if any? Weeds of life – distractions and temptations - pride, ego, vanity, evil thoughts, etc.

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

What is the Biblical result(s) of worship? Abiding in Him

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. – 1 John 4:16

What are the Biblical standards of worship? not sure what you mean

What is the Biblical model of worship? John was in a constant state of worship for he loved God. See the Gospel and epistles of John.

What is the Biblical priority of worship? It is the Great Commandment, nothing compares:

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. – Deu 6:5

Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. – Matt 22:36-38

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. – Deu 30:19-20

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. – Rev 2:1-5

Is there an aroma of worship? If so, what is it; is it like? none

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

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

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. – Matt 6:5-7

[LiteKeeper]

My latest study of worship centers on Genesis 4:1-5. I have been teaching on this passage in Sunday School for the last three weeks. No time right now, but you might want to look at it.

Focus especially on the Hebrew word translated "respect" or "regard" or "looked with favor". It is the word sha'ah - and means "to look" either "towards" or "away from"

Strongs:
1) to look at or to, regard, gaze at or about
a) (Qal) to gaze at, regard, behold, look about
b) (Hiphil) to look away, cause gaze to turn away
c) (Hithpael) to look in dismay, gaze about (in anxiety)

The implications for worship are quite interesting.