Defining Worship0

As one of the worship pastors at the Summit, worship is one of the most significant words in my vocabulary. (After all, it’s in my job title!) What comes to mind when you hear the word “worship”? Briefly, I want to challenge your understanding of that word…

First, we are created to worship. Yes, Chris Tomlin is right, you and I were made to worship. Shortly after God created Adam, He placed him in the garden and gave him a purpose—to work it and to take care of it. These two verbs, as noted by a prominent Hebrew scholar, can be translated “worship and obey.” So, the first charge given to humankind was to worship.

What exactly is worship? Worship is more than just music. In a single phrase—worship is a lifestyle. Check out Romans 12:1. After considering who God is and all that He’s done for us (Romans 1-11), the logical response is to offer our entire lives up to Him. When we encounter the living God and see the beauty of the gospel, is there a more appropriate response than a lifestyle of worship?

You can probably imagine the radical implications of this worshipful lifestyle. Every action, every circumstance, even every thought becomes an opportunity to worship our Lord. Previously mundane tasks—commuting to work, watching a movie, or even changing diapers—are transformed into intentional reflections upon the majesty of God. Before you know it, your lifestyle is the embodiment of Scriptures like Psalm 19:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

As a worshipper, learning to ask the right questions is imperative. If you haven’t realized it yet, there’s not a formula for every single aspect of the worshipful life. So, start by asking yourself, “How can God be glorified in this circumstance?” Or, “Am I worshipping God with the way I do this?”

I hope this post stretches your definition of worship. Hopefully, you’ll find more freedom and meaning in everyday situations as you strive to worship God. In some of my future posts, I’ll try to unpack how this biblical lifestyle of worship can apply in specific scenarios.