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As is true with many terms used among Christians, the word
"worship" can become a cliché devoid of significant content if we
don’t stop to consider its meaning. Our English word means worthship,’ denoting
the worthiness of an individual to receive special honor in accordance with
that worth. What comes to mind when
we think of worship? Is it a formal occasion? Is it a joyous occasion? Does it
contain certain rituals? Are you involved? Are you praising God? Are you
learning? Are you hearing from God? Are you in contemplation? Are you singing?
Are you praying? Are you alone, or with other people?
individually and corporately, by emphasizing things that may be good, but don’t
give us a complete picture of what worship entails. There are at least three
words that can describe these hindrances: pragmatism, intellectualism, and
evangelism.
Pragmatism as a hindrance to worship.
First, pragmatism has led many to find ways of getting what
they want, instead of what they need. This means the worship "customer"
is sovereign. The idea is a basic selling principle: you satisfy an existing
desire rather than trying to persuade people to buy something they don’t want.
Many churches are growing numerically through such strategies, but is worship
taking place? It’s my conviction that the answer is "No." People may
be coming, but numbers are not the issue. Worship is done among regenerated
Christians who are concentrating on who God is, not on what we want.
Paradoxically, what we truly want, communion with God, takes place when we
pursue what we truly need.
Intellectualism as a hindrance to worship.
Second, intellectualism is not a substitute for worship.
Coming from one who believes strongly in the importance of intellect in the
Christian life, this may be surprising. But I have come to realize that worship
is not a glorified Bible study. This does not mean that the preaching of
Scripture is not a key ingredient of worship, but the one who is preaching is
responsible to share in light of worship. As Warren Wiersbe has written,
"There is much more to preaching than passing along religious information.
It must reveal, not mere facts about God, but the Person of God Himself. When
preaching is an act of worship, the outline is to the text what a prism is to a
shaft of sunlight: it breaks it up so that its beauty and wonder are clearly
seen."[1]
Such comments also apply to our private times of Bible study. Our minds are to
be used in study, but what is studied includes worship of the One who has
communicated with us.
Evangelism as a hindrance to worship.
Third, evangelism is not the ultimate reason for worship.
Non-believers who are in attendance at a time of worship certainly can be
touched by the Spirit, but worship implies the believer’s response to God. A
non- believer cannot worship the true and living God. Thus an "altar
call" should not be the primary focus. Instead, the church should be
called to focus on the One who has called them into His family. Then they take
what they have heard, seen, and experienced into the surrounding world.
We must consider the place of style versus substance in
worship. It appears to me that the "style" of worship is not the
issue as much as the substance. In other words, if the people are called to
worship God with integrity and concentration on Him, the style is secondary.
This applies regardless of whether the style is liturgical/traditional,
contemporary, emerging, or something in between. But if the style overshadows
substance, true worship may be thwarted. It is a wise church that brings both
style and substance together in a manner that pleases God.
[1] Wiersbe, Real Worship, 123-124.