PASSIONATE WORSHIP
People have been created by God to live (eternally) in right relationship with the Creator. We’re made to worship God. This is a good thing! Worship involves a loving relationship with our Creator, a relationship that has been initiated by God, consecrated by God, and redeemed by God in Christ.
Worship is part of our created way of being. God created humans from the dust of the earth & “breathed life” into us. This essence of life (soul) or breath (spirit) is the very presence of our Creator residing within the creature. Each breath we breathe is a living doxology (praise) and worship of God our Creator, each moment, then, a communion with the Author of our life.
Worship is a human task given from the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, we see this close relationship: where people are called by God personally, by name; given instructions, and provisions (Gen. 2:15); shown the consequences of disobedience (Gen. 3).
Worship has become, however, better known as a “thing” we do at church, usually one hour per week (a lot less if it’s not convenient for us to get there). It’s better to understand “worship” as anything we do to ascribe “worth” (same root word in both worship & worth) to something else. Many of us worship “things” whether they be sports or possessions, or even people, as we invest time, resources and attention to these other things.
Worship, done rightly, seeks to offer oneself first to God and to further God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus spoke of it this way (John 4:24): “God is spirit and worshippers must worship God in spirit and in truth.”
Worship a Macedonia seeks to fulfill that very command of Christ. One way we’re doing so is to incorporate “passionate worship” in all we do. So what is meant by “passionate” worship? “Emotion. Personal feeling”? Is that all?
I invite you to comment about what you think it means.
In the meantime, consider this Wesleyan perspective from the Wesley Study Bible.
“Spiritual Worship” : John Wesley’s desire was for a religion of the heart devoted to God. Spiritual worship is worship suitable to God’s nature, which is full of power, wisdom, love and holiness. It arises from the Christian’s inward dimension of faith, love and holiness and finds expression in the service of the heart toward God. Mere outward use of external forms of worship does not constitute spiritual worship. The service of the heart is sparked by an inward delight of God to the point of desiring to imitate God’s holiness. Therefore, the outward dimension of spiritual worship involves obeying the commands of God and using the means of grace [prayer, bible study, sacraments in corporate worship, spiritual disciplines] to draw [your heart] into deeper communion with God.
Let us worship the One Who is Worthy! ~ Pastor Jason
Resources: The Wesley Study Bible, Abingdon, 2009; worship matters, B. Anderson, Discipleship Resources UMC.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Wonderful blessing today,reading your blog. Thank you. Yes….there is something different about you. Passionate about God. Set apart for God. Holy.
Deborah