worship is ...

somehow the word 'worship' has been coopted

used to be it encompassed a whole slew of stuff
and now ...
it basically refers to the musical/singing portion of a church service

this may not sound very encouraging
and just another slap at christianity
but ...
i'm basically diss'ing this new take on worship

worship is adoration, pure and simple
and Scripture encourages us to adore God
in fact in the shema
   it directs us to love him with every aspect of our being
which is worship
   for if i give all my energy to valuing something or someone
   i am worshipping

there are times that should be set aside
   specifically for directing my attention solely to God
as in prayer, reading Scripture, reflecting and so on
that too is worship

think 'adore'

it entails blessing God
thanking him
offering him praise for the person he is
   and the things he has done
submission of my self to him
   and his desire for my life
honouring him
   by giving up my self
   my things
   and my life
   for his sake

all this is worship
and it is certainly not locked-in to music and song

so that when we 'go to church'
and a person or a choir or a group or a band
strikes up
and renders their performance ...

.... i beg to differ
but while that can be worship
the more i see of it
the more it smells of
performance
as in a concert
for the audience
for God ... not so much
maybe

when you talk to someone
and in the conversation you thank God
   for something he did for you
that's worship

when you comment
"God has been so good to me"
that's worship

when you give money to a needy person
in Jesus' name
that is worship

when you refuse yourself
   a new pants
   a dinner at a restaurant
   a new tv/cell phone/ipad
   to make that money available for God
that's worship

there's a comment by apostle paul
at romans 12
that encourages us to offer our lives
   to God
as a living sacrifice
   not a dead one
   as in throat-cut
   bleeding
   on some altar
and some translations use the word 'worship'
   for that

however you honour God
pay tribute to him
praise him

you worship him

... make it so
with all you have in you
   think 'ardently'

in Jesus' name

shalom