Rekindle the Altar Fire: Welcome God's PresenceSample

 What Worship Is Not—and What It Is

Worship is often wrongly defined. Worship services include various styles or forms of expression, including songs, praise, and adoration. People who stand and sing, believe that is true worship. Those who raise their hands think they are worshiping. People performing a holy dance before the Lord feel that is worship. Biblically speaking, none of these is worship; these are expressions of worship.

Sincere worship is encountering our holy God. In that encounter, we come to understand His holiness, purity, majesty, and character. We recognize that He alone is worthy to receive our praise, adoration, and worship. The form or style of worship is not important; standing, dancing, raising our hands, or singing does not define “true” worship, but only worship’s expression.

What is important is the reason for worship. The issue is not how we sing or dance, but why we sing or dance. In fact, if worship is based on our encounters with the Lord, this means that sometimes we have nothing to say; we are silent and still. John, for example, saw Jesus walking among the churches described in Revelation. He looked at Jesus from head to foot, at His majesty, power, and glory. Soon John was on his face like a dead man. Was that worship? Yes.

What about when David brought back the Ark of God and jumped before the Lord with all his might? Was that worship? Yes.

Neither of the men worshiped with a predetermined style or form. Both worshiped in a unique and individual way that was a natural response to his reason for worshiping—his awe, joy, and understanding of who God is.

Worship is our genuine, wholehearted response to a holy God. There is no formula for worship since true worship can and should happen at any moment, anywhere. This is part of the paradigm shift we must embrace concerning worship and the altar of God. Our focus on personal renewal—the restoring of our hearts to our Creator—must begin with this core issue: worship. The altar of worship is the foundation of a covenant relationship with God.

Questions to Ponder: Was there a time when you experienced true worship? What gave it such special meaning? If you have not experienced true worship, what do you think is the reason?