THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP

_______________

A Research Paper Presented to Dr. Richard T. Vann Jr. Dallas Baptist University _______________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for MAWL 6303 _______________ by Robert W. Lane 11 July 2011

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP

The spiritual discipline of worship is essential to the life of the believer. God commanded His people to worship: It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.1 This command is stated and exemplified in the Old and New Testaments. For the believer, worship is not an option. The command to worship speaks to the soul of man, which was created to worship. Human history has never lacked the expression of worship. From the earliest archeological evidence, religion can be seen as an important element in every civilization. The most basic definition of worship could be stated as the expression or proclamation of the worth ascribed to something. Both the present culture and human history attest to the fact that worship is a human disposition. It is the duty of every believer to discover the importance of the spiritual discipline of worship. Christians cannot opt out of this human predisposition to worship. Most commonly, the objects of human worship have been something other than the Christian God. The believer is not free form the temptation to indulge in selfworship, the worship of material things, or other entities, all of which become deities in the place of God. These perversions of biblical worship are not true worship as described by John: But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.2 Through understanding the importance of spiritual worship as described in the bible, the believer will be drawn into a constant and
1

2John

Luke 4:8 4:23

correct expression of Gods worth. If humans must worship, may they worship the only One worthy of worshipthe God of creation, eternal and triune.

Biblical Worship Biblical worship is modeled and taught throughout the entirety of scripture, however, many believers misconstrue its practical application. Correct application of worship is only achievable through submission to biblical truth. Foster described worship as our responsibility to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father. Its centrality is found in spirit and in truth.3 It is kindled within us only when the Spirit of God touches our human spirit.4 True worship is not always possible. There are actions that must take place in heaven and on earth in order to bring humans in contact with the Divine. Edwards stated, Many believers do not understand that there is a spiritual protocol for every believer who wants to enter into the presence of the King. Praise is only the primer. Praise sets the stage for His entrance into our midst. Praise opens the way for worship to take place. The whole time we are praising, whether individually or corporately, the Holy Spirit is using that praise to whittle away at what is wrong on the inside of us. While we are praising God, the Holy Spirit is preparing our hearts for something greater: worship and the Word.5 Through the praise of God, the believer is changed. When God inhabits the believers praise, it becomes worshipthe inexplicable exchange between God and humans. The believer, under submission to the Spirit, offers praise; however, God is the essential element in worship. Without

John 4:24

Richard J. Foster. Celebration of Discipline: The Path the Spiritual Growth (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1998), 158.
David M. Edwards. Worship 365: The Power of a Worshiping Life (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2006), 99. 2
5

God, true worship is impossible. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia makes this statement: Worship begins with God. God the creator, the rescuer and the redeemer initiates our human approach to Him.6 The action of worship is expressed in various ways, however, the means by which humans direct these actions is found in the mind. Through it, believers are given the cognitive ability to consider, praise, or worship God. Willard put it in these terms: Thought brings things before our minds in various ways and enables us to consider them in various respects and trace out their interrelationship with one another.7 The cognitive scientist, James H. Fetzer, enforces the idea that the mind is the key to action; he says, The conceptual architecture of the brain as a network of neutral propensities, moreover, parallels the conception of the character of a person as a pattern of behavior tendencies.8 It is thought that commands the voice to sing and the hands to clap. With thought, the mind is set upon God, giving humans the capacity to worship. It is the reasonability of the believer to maintain discipline over the mind. Willard states, The condition of the mind is very much a matter of the direction in which our will is set.9 God has blessed believers with the freedom to control the direction of their thoughts. Of the mind, Paul states, For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.10 By

Edgar W. Smith. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 1117. Dallas Willard. Renovation of the Heart: Putting in the Character of Christ (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002), 32. James H. Fetzer. Philosophy and Cognitive Science. (New York, NY: Paragon House, 1991), 85.
9Ibid., 8 7

142. 3

submitting the mind to the Spirit, Christians are able to worship God. The mind is a forcible tool for the believer. With the mind, the presence of God is either received or rejected. Biblical worship is facilitated through the mind of the believer; however, God is the beginning and end of the worship process. Without man, the worship of God continues. Isaiah described the constant worship of the Lord when he wrote, In the year of King Uzziahs death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Two Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.11 The worship of God is not contingent on man. Worship is to God and of God at the same time. When humans worship God, they are drawn into divine activity. Worship originates with God in its theological roots as opposed to anthropological initiation from the human side.12 God is the supreme focus and catalyst of worship.

The Historical and Biographical Perspective of Worship God has always required worship. Worship has never been a mental, physical, or spiritual tax on believers. His command to worship is a command to enjoy the very person of God. The Psalmist says, Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.13 Throughout Christian history, worship has been celebrated. The true church has never

10Romans 11Isaiah 12

8:6

6:1-3

Edgar W. Smith. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.(Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 1117.
13

Psalms 34:8 4

veered from the tradition of worship. Some of the earliest Christian writings are declarations of worship to God. Every book of the New Testament presents Christ as worthy of worship. In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul records an early Christian hymn. These verses were likely recited or sung by the early church, as a declaration of Christs divinity. During the fourth century, Augustine wrote, But let my soul praise Thee, that it may love Thee, and let it confess Thy mercies to Thee, that it may praise Thee. Thy whole creation praises Thee without ceasing14 The nature of God inspires believers to worship. The nature of God is unchanging, thus man is constantly inspired to worship Him. The act of worship has taken many forms throughout Christian history. Abraham built the first altar and worshiped out of response to Gods blessings.15 Moses worshiped in song: God I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted.16 David is said to have been skilled on the lyre. He is considered the composer of many songs and laments that were incorporated into the temple worship.17 Paul wrote to the Romans, present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.18 The acts of worship have changed throughout history. Moses did not have the temple to worship God, therefore God did not require this form of worship from him. Isaiah worshiped in the temple, but had not the

14

Augustine, Confessions. ( Nashville, TN: Tomas Nelson, Inc. 1999), 78.

Edgar W. Smith. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. (Grand Rapides, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 1118.
16

15

Exodus 15:1b

Edgar W. Smith. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.(Grand Rapides, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 1120
18

17

Romans 12:1 5

fullness of the Spirit. The New Testament Christian has the fullness of the temple through the Spirit of God, which is imparted at salvation. Carroll states that Martin Luther was conscious that he walked and lived in the presence of the Lamb.19 The fathers of the faith give testimony to the various ways one can worship God, however, the condition of their hearts and the focus of their worship is, in no way, varied. Carson said, Adoration and action go hand in hand in the worship of God.20 Hebrews provide an accurate definition of worship. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praisethe fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.21 The only worship acceptable to God is done His way and under His inspiration.

The Importance of Worship in America In 1971, Schaeffer stated, Our generation is overwhelmingly naturalistic. There is an almost complete commitment to the concept of the uniformity of natural causes in a closed system.22 This statement holds true today. American culture has become increasingly more resistant to the idea of the supernatural. Christianity is essentially supernatural. The worship of God is a supernatural process, whereby the natural becomes the supernatural. In worship, actions supernaturally affect the natural order of the cosmos. The praises of believers transcend time and

19

Joseph S. Carroll. How to Worship Jesus Christ (Chicago Il: Moody Press, 1984), 19. D. A. Carson, ed. Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 67. Hebrew 13:15-16 Francis A. Schaeffer. True Spirituality (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971), 6

20

21

22

60.

space to reach a heavenly audience. The very idea of biblical worship is contrary to American culture. Warren states that the heart of worship is surrender, which is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as submission. In todays competitive culture, Americans are taught to never give up and never give inso they do not hear much about surrendering.23 Human nature is opposition to Gods plan. Paul said, the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.24 Pauls words are cutting to a culture that idealizes the natural. The natural man is corrupt and eternally damned. Only in submission to Christ is salvation found. For this reason, the church must understand the importance of living and teaching the spiritual discipline of worship. Without the accurate expression of worship to God, the church is on the path of destruction. The church must live in submission to God. Carroll said that in order for worship to take place, the church must be in complete submission and Christ alone should be glorified.25 Dualism has become the vice of the church. Many Christians pretend to worship God as they admire the voice of the singer, the sound of the band, and the impressive multi-media production that is intended to inspire them to worship. Worship must be lived and taught on a daily basis. Foster said, To worship is to experience reality, to touch life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community.26 The supernatural

23

Rick Warren. The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 77. Romans 8:7-8 Joseph S. Carroll. How to Worship Jesus Christ (Chicago Il: Moody Press, 1984), 37.

24

25

Richard J. Foster. Celebration of Discipline: The Path the Spiritual Growth (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1998), 158.
7

26

reality experienced through worship is the churchs greatest connection to a young and powerful population segment of Americathe post-modernist. The post-modern views spirituality differently than the naturalist or modernist. With the utter rejection of established truth, the postmodernist considers experience as the only way in which knowledge can be obtained. Hiebert Said, Post-modernity rejects modernitys assumptions of its own superiority 27 The church must see the opportunity she has in the post-modernist word view. The practice of worship is timeless. Christ offers Himself uniquely to every generation. If the American Church will come to an understanding of Christs worthiness, then worship will be expressed biblically. Biblical worship always inspires others. The church must live with the realization of Christs worth, and in doing so demonstrate true biblical worship. This is how American culture will be taught to worship. The church is commanded to worship. This is not a command to be dismayed. The command to worship is God inviting humanity to enjoy the goodness of His glory. For all of eternity, God, through the persons of the trinity, has enjoyed His glory. He knows the full pleasure of partaking in His Glory. It is out of benevolence that He demands worship. Christians, as corrupt humans, can take part in proclaiming His worth. This alone should inspire believers and the church as a whole to relish in their opportunity to worship. Humans are made to worship, but only in the worship of the One true God is satisfaction found. True worship is exclusive and narrow. Humans cannot offer anything to God as worship. God determines what is worthy of worship and what is not. Believers are to rely on the Spirit within to direct personal and Paul Hiebert. Transforming Worldview: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 214. 8
27

corporate worship. The experience of worshiping God in spirit and in truth is the greatest experience available to humans.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Augustine, Confessions. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1999. Carson, D. A., ed. Worship by the Book. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Carroll, Joseph S.. How to Worship Jesus Christ. Chicago Il: Moody Press, 1984. Edwards, David M.. Worship 365: The Power of a Worshiping Life. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2006. Fetzer, James H.. Philosophy and Cognitive Science. New York, NY: Paragon House, 1991. Foster, Richard J.. Celebration of Discipline: The Path the Spiritual Growth. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1998. Hiebert, Paul. Transforming Worldview: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 2008 Schaeffer, Francis A.. True Spirituality. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971. Smith, Edgar W., ed. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988. Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart: Putting in the Character of Christ. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002.

10