What is worship? Sounds like a simple enough question, doesn’t it? In this day and time, however, it is not so simple. Worship is defined by Webster as, 1) “reverent honor and homage;” 2) “adoring reverence or regard;” 3) “to attend services of divine worship.” Our English word “worship” originally came from the Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe, from weorth, (worthy, honorable), and scipe (ship), developing later into worship (attributing worth to a thing or person). Of course, there is no one else other than God that is worthy of and is to receive the greatest honor, because only he has superlative worth. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word was hishtachawah (shachah), which literally indicates a “bowing down,” “to prostrate” oneself. The Greek word, “proskuneo,” means to “kiss toward,” “to do obeisance,” “to prostrate,” “to show deep respect.” Scriptural worship is therefore made up of certain specified, definite, approved activities in which the Christian draws near to and communes in heart and spirit with God (John 4:24). In worship “Man’s own spirit reaches out to God, Whom he praises as the embodiment and source of life, strength, righteousness, love, and grace.” Though one must worship according to the Divine pattern as given in the Word of God, that worship is not to be “mechanical” nor is it to be “material.” Scriptural worship appeals to the spirit, not the flesh.
What, then, is worship? Worship involves “knowing the greatness of God and the beauty of Jesus…deliberate focusing on God…principally intended for edification.” Worship always denotes reverence shown to one who is superior. It means to serve and signifies that God is due the devoted service of his creatures. To worship God is to exalt him as the one above all others, to assign supreme worth to Him. “The purpose and nature of worship is to exalt, laud, magnify, praise, and applaud the invisible and eternal One.” Worship sets our affections on things that are above “where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Worship is to render religious homage in observance of the rites instituted for his worship as an expression of profound reverence. Brother Dobbs says,
“We see the meaning of worship in the seraphim, ‘each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory’ (Isa. 6:2-3). They covered their feet in humility, and their faces in reverence, and were ever ready to serve God who is high and lifted up and whose train filled the temple.”5
Worship is to be rendered to a Supreme Being. No finite being can know what is due an Infinite Being, unless he is told. A person cannot presume to worship God in any way that God has not authorized and expect to be right with God in so doing. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship in truth is to follow the instructions that God has set forth for worship in His Holy (and wholly) Inspired Word. There simply is no other way for God to be worshiped. Worship must edify the worshiper and consist only of that which is clearly taught in the New Testament.
God is majestic and separate. True worship is to honor, revere Him by carefully following the instructions given in His Word. Worship is “deep respect for God and His Word resulting in praise and adoration of the Holy One, bowing before him in humility and awe, offering gifts and making requests…”
Sadly, what many in the religious world call worship is not even close when compared with the Word of God. Worship is not for the entertainment of mankind. Too often it is said by some member, “I did not get anything out of worship services today.” Brother, Sister, let’s make one thing clear. Worship services ARE NOT for YOU!!! We worship God. We do not worship to be entertained. We worship to do obeisance to God. Worship is not to center upon the crowd but on the Lord. When someone says to me, “I did not get anything out of worship today,” I have to ask if they put anything into it. My worship is to God, not man. In worship, we are to emulate the heavenly host: “And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all the things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped” (Revelation 5:11-14).
So, what is worship? Worship is to sing, pray, give, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and teach (preach) and in so doing to show your reverence, deep respect, humility, adoration and awe for the Lord God Almighty.
-Curtis A. Cates, WORSHIP: Heaven’s Imperative, or Man’s Innovations?, (Cates Publications, Olive Branch, Mississippi), p. 16.; Ibid.; H.A. (Buster) Dobbs, “O Worship the King,” in The Firm Foundation, (Firm Foundation Publishing Company, Houston, Texas), p. 3.;Ibid.