I was intrigued by an article written by Pastor Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Church in Louisville, Kentucky on the topic, “Worship isn’t about you”. Pastor Bob is also the author of the book, True Worshipers: Seeking What Matters to God.
What prompted him to write the article was a question that bothered him: “Is worship essentially an experience or special feeling associated with a special sense of the presence of God in a Christian meeting?”
For a long time, I share the same sentiment about worship as having an experience of the presence of God at the worship service. After all, when one comes to the worship service, one expects to come to meet with God through the music, prayer, offering and hearing the word of God. It is a seeking for that special moment when one encounters God in worship. The experience I envisioned was that of going from the outer court into the inner chamber of the temple and finally entering into the “Holy of Holies”
I was enlightened by Pastor Bob’s sharing on the theology of Worship which he learnt from David Peterson’s book, Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. I come to realize that worship is not just about a special moment or feeling of sensing God ‘s presence, but it is more. The essence of true worship is not centred on me; how I feel, but it is about God taking the initiative to invite us to participate in the worship of Him. From time eternal, the triune God has gloried and delighted in himself. In worship, God invites us to join him in what he is already doing. We respond to his invitation, giving glory to his name.
I quote: “Acceptable worship does not start with human intuition or inventiveness, but with the action of God. Our part is to gladly participate in the perfect worship of Jesus, who through his once-and-for-all sacrifice has made all our offerings acceptable to God.”
One striking thing that he also mentioned in his article is that worship is not defined by a musical experience. I was astounded by this point as I have always associated music and singing with worship. But he opened my mind to the scriptures. For example, Job when he hears that his possession and his children are gone, he falls to the ground and worships (Job 1:20). Jesus spoke to the Samaritan in John 4:21-24 of a kind of worship that has zero musical reference. Worship in the bible is associated with reverence, service, submission and honor. It does not mean music is not part of the worship. In fact, music helps us in the worship of God and is very much an important part of worship in biblical times, but it is never meant to be the heart of worship.
Bob provides a refreshing reminder to me on the point that worship doesn’t start and stop at the worship service. We often say we go to worship God on Sunday and we meant is that on Sunday we gather together in a place to sing, give our offerings and tithes, listen to the sermon and pray at the service. In truth, worship is more than just attending Sunday Service. When we adopt an attitude of always honouring God and seeking to do all to the glory of God, we will not stop worshipping God after Sunday service is over and we leave the place. We can continue to worship God by exalting Christ through God honouring acts in the home, workplace, school or neighbourhood .
I fully agree with Bob’s point that worship will never end. We are forever grateful to God for all that He has done for us, redeeming us of our sins and providing justification and sanctification, even eternal life through Christ. Our response to His mercy and grace will be our continual worship (Romans 12:1). We worship Him when we do whatever we do “In word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). It doesn’t require music and need not be limited to the realm of feelings, but can certainly involve both. Worship is a gracious gift from God who invites us, over and over again to find our greatest joy in him anytime and in any place. It will never end.
Deacon Lee Pak Choon
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