What is worship? What is its purpose?

[James Nored]

I want to ask you-what do you do you see as worship?

In the Old Testament, worship was very scripted with incredible detail. Just read the book of Leviticus!

But in the New Testament there are very few passages on what we would most often think of as worship. And certainly there is no systematic outline of it as in the Old Testament.

Jesus said that worship would change.  To the Samaritan woman, ^21 Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ^22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ^23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ^24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 4:21

Worship in the new covenant would no longer be confined to a place or time, but would take place whenever and wherever the worshipper, who would have the Spirit of God indwelling him or her, found himself or herself.

Paul, while speaking of assembly worship in, say, 1 Cor. 11, alsosays, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Here the emphasis is upon worshipful living. In the New Testament, daily worship through acts of service is repeatedly emphasized. In fact worship language from the Old Testament is often applied to daily living. Note the following:

• Christians are to offer their bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1).
• Proclaiming the gospel is a priestly duty (Rom. 15:16).
• Gentiles are an acceptable offering to God (Rom. 15:16).
• Getting rid of sin is likened to getting rid of the old yeast at Passover time (1 Cor. 5:7-8).
• Monetary support for preachers is drawn from the OT practice of priests sharing food at the altar (1 Cor. 9:12-14).
• The Philippians’ service and faith are compared to a drink offering (Phil. 2:17).
• Monetary gifts are a fragrant offering and an acceptable sacrifice (Phil. 4:18).
• God’s people are collectively a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:4-5).
• Doing good, sharing w/others, and confessing Jesus’ name are sacrifices of praise (Heb. 13:15).
• Looking after widows and orphans is pure religion (Jas. 1:27).
  

So then, what do you see as being worship? What is its purpose and aim? What is the biblical emphasis?

[Eric Asante Obeng]

thanks brother James Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
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.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.John 4:21-26

[John Telgren]

One huge distinction, it appears to me, is that worship among the Hebrews involved "professionals." Even the musicians were professional musicians who sang or played to God. Unlike New Testament worship, there doesn't appear to be an emphasis on mutual edification in worship. The professional choir and band gave way to congregational singing where all could sing, the altar gave way to sacrifices of praise, and so forth. There is no longer a sacred location in the sense of the Temple, nor is there a sacred class of people such as the Levites to preside in our worship. I would not eliminate the distinction between congregational worship and life as worship. The two are definitely related (you see it in the Old Testament to, though not as sharply - daily life and worship being connected), but they are not exactly the same. One has a start time and end time and involves specific acts of devotion, adoration, etc, while the other is a life style. One is an expression or outgrowth of the other. Worship in Spirit and in Truth? I think this is another way of saying it needs to be sincere, and your life needs to reflect what you profess in worship.

[William Lloyd Cain]

At its heart, worship simply involves honoring or glorifying God. In Genesis 24:26-27, Abraham's servant bows his head and worships. His worship consisted of a simple prayer praising God for his merciful goodness and for leading him to a successful end on his journey. Abraham had sent him to find a wife for Isaac from among their own countrymen rather than have Isaac marry an unbeliever from among the Canaanites where they were currently living. Of course, this occurred long before the development of the Levitical priesthood with all its scripted details. But I think the incident clearly shows the heart of worship. Whether in life -- as husband/wife, son/daughter, employee or employer, student or teacher (and so on) -- or whether in an assembly of fellow Christians, our attitude should constantly be one of praising and honoring our God and Father in conduct, thought and speech.