WHAT IS WORSHIP?

by Roy Todd

Worship is an important part of the life of the Junction Church Leicester & Loughborough.

When it comes to styles of worship music, some Christians like pipe organs and choirs. Others prefer something that’s more current and contemporary. At the Junction Church, we unashamedly do the latter. Our worship vibe is passionate & upbeat. However we will never criticise or demean those who prefer a more reflective way of worshipping. It’s not that one is right and the other is wrong. They’re just two different expressions of the same thing – worship.

Ultimately though, worship is about far more than just music. It’s how we live our lives.

Jesus elaborated on this when he taught about the kind of worship that pleases the Father. In John 4:23-24 he says,

“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

So what did Jesus mean by ‘spirit’ and ‘truth’ here? Lets think about both of them:

Worshipping in spirit

What spirit is being referred to here? Is it God’s Spirit or our spirit? The answer is both. In John 3:6, Jesus explained, ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’. So to worship ‘in spirit’ is to capture and imbibe the essence of who God is. This can only happen when our lives are truly submitted to God’s Spirit. The more this happens, the more we grasp the sense of who God really is. Therefore, worship that truly pleases God is birthed in a revelation of God’s character. Everything God does happens because of who he is. He doesn’t act outside of his character. So as we submit ourselves to the Spirit’s work in our lives, our spirit grasps and inhabits something of who God is and what he desires. This ultimately challenges how we live. To know God’s character is to understand his heart. This is a huge privilege and responsibility.

Worshipping in truth

This is not necessarily referring to doctrinal truth (though what we believe is important). Worshipping in ‘truth’ is the follow on from the previous point about worshipping in ‘spirit’. It’s where ‘the rubber meets the road’ so to speak. It’s the challenge of living an authentic, God pleasing life. It implores us to live a life of integrity. But it goes far beyond being true to ourselves. This is about being true to God. We express worship when we are true to God in our daily decisions. We convey worship when we maintain a good heart and attitude in the midst of life’s pressures. We demonstrate worship when we choose to love and forgive instead of holding hate and bearing grudges. We engage in meaningful worship when we decide to live a pure & honest life rather than yielding to the temptations of impurity and deceit.

Ultimately, authentic worship is the response of our heart to God’s heart – the heart and soul of faith – the courage of living according to who God has called us to be – the overflow of a heart of love for God. This is worship.

Don’t forget to check out the JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER