Man-centered worship is typically heavily oriented toward feeling and experience. The goal is to enjoy worship, feel something and have a positive experience in worship. If these goals are accomplished then it is called good worship. And while feelings and experience of God’s presence are an important part of biblical worship, there is much more than that. God is looking for accurate worship. Worship that is rooted in truth and is an expression of truth.
Jesus points out that the Samaritan’s worship was not based on an accurate understanding of God, "You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him."
Worship based on erroneous thinking and view of God is not worship at all. So, we must first turn our hearts to the truth of God's Word as it reveals His character. If our worship is to be pleasing to God, we need to know God . . . know His character . . . see His glory. It is not enough that we worship with all our hearts if our heads are filled with wrong concepts of God. Paul points out this flaw in Israel’s pursuit of God.
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. (Romans 10:1-2 NAU)
Sincerity is not enough! If worship is based on error, no matter how sincere the worshiper, it is not true worship! And so, we must know God accurately, based on scripture’s revelation of God’s nature and character.
"Worship must be both accurate & authentic. God pleasing worship is deeply emotional & deeply doctrinal. We use our hearts & our hands . . . If worship is mindless it is meaningless" (Rick Warren)
True worship has both objective and subjective aspects, and we must maintain this balance. . . If we do not submit to some kind of objective revelation, some Word from God, then our worship is ignorant and probably false. (Warren Wiersbe)
Worship that honors God is an accurate expression of biblical truth. This expression of biblical truth in worship requires that we keep two great truths about God in mind. The worship of God is simultaneously about an infinite God who is beyond comprehension and an intimate God we can know. Worship must hold on to both these truths.
It is worship of the God of infinite glory who dwells in marvelous light unapproachable (1 Tim. 6:16). This is called God’s transcendence meaning that God is above and beyond us in every way. Our worship must recognize God's transcendence and should arouse attitudes and emotions of reverence, awe, and wonder, even speechlessness.
But it is also the worship of the God who is our Father and personal friend (John 15:14; Jam. 2:23). This is referred to as God’s immanence meaning that we can come near to God and interact with Him and have close fellowship with Him. The immanence of God arouses attitudes and emotions of intimacy, love, and passion.
Some worship tends to do well at spotlighting and expressing God’s transcendence. Some does well at focusing on God’s immanence. But it need not be one or the other and one should never outshine the other. We need to reverence God and we need to celebrate God. We need awe and we need intimacy. They should go hand in hand, be reciprocal, and complement one another.
As we will see, scripture calls us to very reverent, humble, and contemplative expressions of worship that is quiet, even silent. Scripture also calls us to exuberant, expressive, and celebratory worship that raises the roof. We need both.
Soli Deo Gloria
Next: Authentic Worship
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