Another Look at Worship

For years the church talked a lot about the holiness of God, the righteousness of God, and the importance of having the fear of God. And when you walked into a church sanctuary, you would have a reverent tone and a certain, respectful attitude.

But then there was a swing in another direction, where we talked more about the love of God, the mercy of God, and the forgiveness of God. And I think that was a good thing.

My question is, have we gone too far the other way in some respects? Should we not talk about both?

We should talk about a loving, gracious, forgiving Father who longs for a relationship with us, but not leave out the fact that He is also holy, righteous, and just. All of these are important. The Lord Himself says, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16 NKJV).

I love that the church has developed a culture of worship. In fact, I had the privilege of being around during the Jesus Movement, when what we call “contemporary worship” was born.

Nowadays we’re not surprised to see guitar amps, drum kits, special lighting, and all the other things we use for worship during a church service. But back in the day, you would never see those things when you went to church.

I think perhaps some of the best worship the church has ever had has been written in the last twenty years. But there is something we must never lose sight of.

When we worship, let’s understand that it’s more than singing. It’s more than praying. Worship is opening our eyes to a lost world that desperately needs the gospel.

Worship is practical. It is not only singing; it’s also serving. Worship is giving your life to the Lord every day.