The Heart of Worship

Daniel Blankenship
Copyright Dec. 2002
This paper was originally written for Dr. Phillip Camp of Lubbock Christian University for credit in Church Music.

I have always heard the arguments regarding worship: “Worship is for God, not for man.” “Worship should be done in an orderly fashion.” “Worship should be reverent hymns, not those praise songs.” There are dozens of other thoughts about worship that I will not include as examples. The preceding examples were used only to state that there is much about worship that seems to overlooked by what we do on Sunday morning. In fact, some would even question whether or not any of what takes place on Sunday morning is worship. What is worship? What does the Bible say about worship? This paper seeks out the meaning of worship. It seeks to find out what singing has to do with worship. It seeks to find the significance of singing in our worship today and the cultural relevance of church music.

It should be pointed out that worship is far more than song and even far more than what takes place on Sunday mornings. Sadly worship has been reduced to one day a week by many. As Rick Warren points out, “Anytime you give pleasure to God you are worshipping Him. Today the word ‘worship’ has been reduced to a synonym for music, ritual, ceremony, or prayer, but worship is far more than that. Worship is a lifestyle of knowing and loving God.” It is obvious from the biblical account that worship is more than song and ritual as well. It is recorded in Amos 5:21-23, “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings, I will not accept them. Even though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your hearts.” Though it appears the people were bringing the right sacrifices and offerings, God rejected their songs and offerings because they “deprived the poor of justice” (5:12). God sought their heart, not their songs. True worship is not a song or a sermon, it is getting to know God by sacrificing for him. Rick Warren explains that “Getting to know God and learning to love him is the first purpose for your life. The most important thing you can know in life is that God loves you and the most important thing you can do is love him back. The Bible calls this ‘worship’ and it gives God great pleasure.” According to the definition given by Warren, if we leave on Sunday morning without knowing God more and loving him more, then we have not worshipped. If that is true, then it is possible to go to a building where the church meets and sing to God without worshipping him. As Rubel Shelly writes, “One can go to the right place, say the right words, do all the right things-yet never be in awe…never marvel…never encounter God…never be lost in wonder.” Worship is more than ritual and tradition. It is more than song. Worship is a way of life; it is learning of God and serving him. God is worthy of our worship. The English word “worship” comes from the Old English word “worth- ship,” a word that denotes the worthiness of the one receiving special honor or devotion.

Having stated that worship is much more than a song, for the purposes of this paper singing will be a major point of thought. Singing is a major component of worship. It is a natural response to God. Bob Kauflin explains "Although aware that music isn't always worship, some people mistakenly assume that music is NEVER worship. Not so. We are commanded to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). That includes making music. Music is truly worship when three things are true. First, when it is being offered by Christians. Non-Christians, and even inanimate objects -- see Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:20 -- may testify to God’s existence. This brings God glory, but it is not, by itself, worship. Second, music is worship when it's being offered INTENTIONALLY to honor God. Finally, music is pleasing worship to God when it's offered through the finished work of Jesus Christ. No amount of skill, zeal, or personal effort will ever make our offerings acceptable in God's sight. We come through the blood of Christ, or we do not come at all (Hebrews 10:19-22)."

Our worship often leads us into song. Hymns are scattered throughout the New Testament (Acts 4:24-30; Eph 5:14; and Phil. 2:6-11 are good examples). Paul encourages his readers to sing and make music in their hearts (Eph 5:19). The ISBE explains that “it is questioned whether singing formed a part of the [corporate worship] service, but, considering the place of music in Jewish religious life, and its subsequent large place in Christian worship, it is hard to think of it as absent from the synagogue.” Singing as a part of worship was obviously very important to the first century Christians. Today, singing is still a vital aspect of corporate worship. However, many problems arise in our songs. Churches have split over what songs to sing, how to sing them, and when to sing them. Many argue for tradition, saying we must sing hymns and hold on to the traditions of our heritage. Others argue for modern songs that more adequately reflect our culture and music today. Jeremy Klaszus states that “Christians sang hymns in church as worship to God. The idea behind singing hymns, for these people, was worship-the idea was not just to sing hymns. The foundational element of this tradition then is worship.” We should carry on the tradition of using song in worship, however just as culture changes, so our songs also change. It is obvious that we do not sing the same songs that the early Christians would sing and in the way they would sing the songs. Jesus spoke to the people in their culture in a language they could understand. Lynn Anderson says “if worship is to be authentically owned and offered by its generation, it best be expressed in the heart language of the worshiper. A few chapters later, Rubel Shelly states, “Worship that is not relevant is not biblical. Culturally irrelevant worship hides what is meant to be disclosed. Under a mist of tradition and culture, it obscures what is meant to be brought into view.#” Songs should be relevant to our time without neglecting the rich history of the “traditional” hymns. The hymns contain great history of the church: its doctrines, theology, and faith. While some hymns such as "Bringing in the Sheaves" may not relate to an urban society, other hymns such as "It is Well With My Soul" can reach through all cultures and offer hope to all. J.R. Briggs states, “if we’re really honest, we might admit that hymnals seem about As relevant to our lives as eight-tracks and typewriters.” However, he later points out that “hymnals can be viewed as history books of the church and its great leaders.” I must admit that I have trouble relating to many hymns. They do not speak the language of my culture, they aren’t in the language of the people I minister to. The music of many hymns just annoy me. I have no problem with the words, but the music does not speak my language. For example "Be With Me Lord" is a song that has great words, but the music makes me sick. While serving in the inner city, I asked many of the people I worked with their view on the song, and they also stated that they liked the words, but not the music. The music did not speak the language of the culture. However, reading the words without the music was great encouragement. It seems that many of the battles over music come from cultural differences rather than biblical differences. People need to be able to worship in song in a way that is culturally relevant and is able to come from the heart without neglecting the songs of our heritage. Only when we are able to worship from the heart are we truly worshipping. It is hard to worship at times when you do not feel free to sing in a way that comes from who you are. Lynn Anderson describes worship as a “human response to the majesty of God expressed in language and forms appropriate to the time and place. Both biblically and historically, authentic worship is best expressed in the natural, heart language of the worshipper in his or her own culture.”

The discussion of culturally relevant worship leads back to the heart of worship. I am thankful for our songs of worship today. They have a very Theo centric place that calls the church to respond to God. Songs such as "Listen to Our Hearts" describe the love we long to have for God in a way mere words can’t describe. "Better is One Day in Your Courts" is a beautiful contemporary song taken from the Psalms. "Open the Eyes of My Heart" discusses a longing to see God. As another contemporary song states, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, Jesus.” These songs challenge us to be intimate with God. As Lynn Anderson puts it, “Genuine worship of God begins with a hungry heart.” Augustine once said “our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Through worship in song, we are able to rest in God. We are able to prepare our minds for what God wants to teach us. Mike Cope says “In worship, let us confess our absolute dependence on Him.” Many of our songs today confess our dependence on God. The Air I Breathe states that he is our very source of breath and that we are desperate for him. We Are Hungry describes the desire to allow God to satisfy the hungers of life. Though singing alone is not worship, our songs can draw us to worship. Worship calls for sacrifice and service. It calls for a heart that is open to God. Worship calls us to individual as well as corporate praise. The Greek word that we translate “worship” literally means “to kiss toward.” When we worship God, we are kissing toward him. When we worship in song, we are singing a love song to the creator of the cosmos. Singing is a wonderful way to express our love for Christ as well as our doubts. Paul and Silas sang from the prison cell. They opened up their hearts and worshipped in the way they were able at that moment. Singing is an important component of worship. Music can lead us to worship. Worship must include sacrifice and service; it involves offering our very selves as a sacrifice (Roman2 12:1). David Morris says “times of worship should be designed to perform service for the Lord.” Many Christians today tend to neglect worship as sacrifice. Some of us are content with calling the time of singing on Sunday mornings our weekly worship without offering our bodies as living sacrifices as a way of “kissing toward God” the rest of the week. That way thinking is not a biblical view of worship. The Sunday morning corporate time was never meant to take the place of authentic worship, it is meant to be a time of drawing strength from other believers. 1 Cor 14:26 encourages Christians that when they come together, everyone should have a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Paul explains that all this is to be done for the strengthening of the church. The idea of the corporate worship was to help strengthen the church so the members would be ready to worship in service throughout the rest of the week. Sadly, many today have used the corporate assembly as the only time of service and sacrifice to God. In singing as worship to God, we are able to communicate with God in a way that involves both the emotion and the intellect. Our knowledge about God intellectually can be expressed emotionally in music. Our mind and our emotions can come together and realize the amazing love of God in a way that can only be done in song. David Morris explains “God wants to unveil our eyes in worship so we can see his kingdom-righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” In worship, we come to love God a little more and understand a little more his love for us.

A recent study conducted by the Barna Research Group revealed that more than 90% of surveyed adults said worship is very important, but they struggle to have a consistently positive worship experience. One-third said they always sense the presence of God; one-third said sometimes; and the last third seldom. If ninety percent feel that worship is important yet the majority struggle to have positive worship, how does that reflect on the church? While, I would agree with those who say it is a matter of the heart, the church should still be teaching what authentic worship is. Many of our churches corporate assemblies have been reduced to a structured time in which more time is used for making announcements than for worshipping God as a body. Many American Christians view Sunday morning as the primary time of worship, yet we look at the clock and structure a few songs with rote prayers and announcements and sermons, then expect people to leave encouraged at having spent one hour in worship (not a full hour at that). Perhaps we need to reevaluate our view of worship. Our songs may bring our hearts and our minds together, but our songs will not be worship until we are driven to serve. When we realize the Amazing Grace that God has poured out on us and respond by loving him back, we will worship.

Worship is more than a song. It is a way of life. I am thankful for the songs of worship that remind me of how great God is and how insignificant I am yet he still chooses to love me. Church music reminds us of why we worship. Music in the church teaches about God in a way we can understand and relate to. Yet music alone should never be called worship. The heart of worship is the heart. It is a heart that beats for a God who created us and loves us. He is the God we sing about. He is the God who calls us to worship. He is the God we kiss toward. As Max Lucado writes, “It’s the definition of worship. A hungry heart finding the Father’s feast. A searching soul finding the Father’s face. A wandering pilgrim spotting the Father’s house. Finding God. Finding God seeking us. This is worship. This is a worshipper.” That is what our songs are meant to do. They are meant to call us to worship the Father. They call us to serve the one who served us first. They call us to love the God who first loved us. They call us to sacrifice for the one who sacrificed far more than we could ever repay. They call us to worship.

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