What is This Thing Called Worship? March 2006

by Dick York

Language is very important. Contracts are written in very technical terms in order that a precise meaning might be applied to all terms and concepts within the agreement. The scriptures are no less exact. It is important that the language of scripture be precisely translated in order to preserve the message. But over time, language changes and words take on new meaning. Inevitably, therefore, the same words spoken in different eras convey a different message. This, of course, could mean that the meaning of a word or phrase spoken a hundred years ago could be totally different than of the same words spoken today.

One word that has evolved into something different than its original definition is “worship.” Originally, it carried the idea of obeisance, bowing down with humility before a being perceived to be august; or rendering homage; humbling oneself in the presence of deity. If the worship was corporate, it may involve prayer, praise and adoration, including with music and/or voice. In every case worship was designed to please and revere the object of the exercise; it was not for the pleasure or entertainment of the worshiper. The entertainment value of the worship for the worshiper, therefore, was not the determining factor of how worthwhile it would be to participate, nor should that be the case today.

The act of worship is an offering to the Lord, a sacrifice. It is made spontaneously and out of a pure heart, otherwise, it is not acceptable. According to Proverbs 21:27, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?”
A recent “Christian” bookstore catalogue advertised, “Popular hymns performed in a contemporary worship style by kids for kids. [Company name] worship for kids. The next generation of music from [company name]…developing a heart of worship in every child. Each CD features twelve modern worship favorites. Eighteen awesome, upbeat, and remixed worship songs that will have kids singing, dancing and praising. Ten danceable club versions of top worship hits and three bonus tracks for sing-a-long fun.”

This is how we package and advertise entertainment, not worship. The new definition for worship is “music.” Although worship may, in some cases, include music, music does not define worship.

Is there something wrong with kids songs and choruses? Not at all! But is this indeed worship? It may be uplifting or encouraging or, as the ad says, “Fun”; but is it worship? Perhaps to the contemporary religious mindset it is; but sadly, it is merely preparation for the new adult version of “doing church.”

A Community “Revival” committee mailed out a brochure recently advertising the program for their special meetings. The music groups were advertised as follows:

“Sunday: Worship by [name of group], Front line worship team from Arizona.”
“Monday: Worship by [name of group] worship team.”
“Tuesday: Worship by [name of group] worship team.”
“Wednesday: Worship by [name], international evangelist.”

It seems clear that “worship” means something quite different today than what that word would have conveyed to the woman that brought her expensive alabaster box of ointment to pour on Jesus’ head (Mat. 27:6), or the other woman that washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:38). It is probable that our “fun” songs and contemporary concerts would have seemed impudent in the temple where Isaiah saw the seraphim crying “Holy, Holy, Holy,” as they covered their faces in humility and their feet with their wings lest they offend in that holy presence (Isaiah 6); or the prophet Habakkuk, who said, “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence.”

It was worship when Daniel opened his window toward Jerusalem and prayed to Jehovah, offending the world, not entertaining it. True worship does not divide the Church. Worship is not a concert presented by hot musicians, who may be lukewarm Christians, that offends the old and entertains the young. Worship is for the Lord, not something designed to please the flesh. They that would worship the Lord must worship him in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit of the Lord is refreshing to all those who have the Spirit of the Lord.
There has been a contemporary redefinition of worship. Today worship means music. Its new purpose is directed at the audience. It is tailored to the taste of a certain segment of the congregation with a view to stimulate a desired emotion, an atmosphere conducive to religious experience––to stimulate a mood of reverence within the “worshiper.” Or perhaps not reverence, but exhilaration. All of this is accomplished by a form of music that currently appeals to the flesh of the contemporary Christian as well as to his worldly counterpart. It is a “concert” to enhance the appeal of an evangelistic meeting to the unconverted we have invited in. It is designed primarily to please the people. We hope the Lord will like it as well.

One of the most offensive aspects of modern “worship” music to the older saints, and the most appealing to the younger, is the employment of drums. There was a time in the very recent past when drums and electric guitars were never heard in evangelical church services, while, even then, they were the basic sounds of the world’s music. It has been many years since I, as an unsaved youth, was an aficionado of worldly music. But I can remember reveling in the exhilarating effect of the prolonged drum solos by such idols as Gene Krupa or his imitators. Our emotions would be stirred and our pulse quickened. The stimulation was purely carnal and emotional.

When I and others of our time came to Christ, those things were left behind; they the carnal stimulation of our fleshly emotions would be counterproductive. Those sounds, which through ill-advised “evangelistic” compromise have crept into the church’s repertoire, are a part of something that was long ago left behind.

Wherever one travels around the world the sound of drums dominates heathen worship. In the oriental worship of Buddha, the spirit-worship of the jungle tribes of South America, North American tribes worshiping the Great Spirit, or the demon-worshipers of Belize, all beat the drum to communicate with their gods. But that is missing in the Bible. No mention is made of drums in the worship of Jehovah.
The argument is made that it is simply part of our modern culture, and therefore simply a matter of taste. If people today like drums, why should anyone’s aversion to them be indulged? Perhaps it should be acknowledged that for many generations in our culture, while the world’s musicians beat their drums, it was never a part of the Church’s worship, or even of its music. What spiritual advantage has been gained by the addition of this carnal emotional stimulant?

Why should the Church be guided by the world’s choices. Our “worship music” endorses the world’s decadence by imitating it. It has been said that imitation is the purest form of compliment. We imitate what we admire, and, in reality, what we imitate is what we worship. The reason many churches have divided their “worship” services into “traditional” and “contemporary” is because the so-called contemporary music is offensive to many people who have walked with the Lord for many years. Rather than seeing the division that has been forced upon the church as impairment to its unity, we glorify the rift as an asset valued to lure the unsaved. We try to worship the Lord with what is appealing to the flesh. That is precisely what Cain did, and the Lord rejected his offering.

There is obviously a place for music, and although worship may include it, music is not worship. Worship is often silent. It is the bowing of the heart before the awesome holiness of Almighty God. In true worship, the flesh is not entertained, it is broken and humbled before the majesty of Omnipotence. The burning flesh of the sacrifices that we read about in the Old Testament was a sweet smelling savor to God. He is pleased when the flesh is consumed, not entertained.

There is no such thing as contemporary worship or traditional worship, young people’s worship or old people’s worship. Those terms apply only to the music, not the worship. Worship is timeless and changeless. It is not generated by a program. It is the product of our recognition of the Lord’s presence.
In the modern church, there has arisen a phenomenon that has erased the distinctives of most congregations––a homogenizing agent: the worship team. It is a product of the Charismatic Movement and has changed the way many congregations conduct themselves. True worship is frequently interrupted by the insistence of the worship team to impose its agenda in an effort to generate a desired atmosphere. We are led by the musicians instead of by the Spirit.

We may worship the Lord with our music, as evidenced by scripture. We may worship him with our prayers and with our praises. We may worship him with our tears or with our sacrifices. But all of these are true worship only when they are accompanied by our obedience. Although music may control our moods, it doesn’t produce worship, but worship may produce music.

The sales catalogue that was quoted earlier, and the ad for the “revival” meeting, made “worship” and music synonymous, leaving the impression for many that having been entertained and stimulated by the band, I have experienced worship. Could anything be farther from the truth?

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