A Theology of Worship

In Luke 5, Jesus sees Peter cleaning his nets and asks him to put his boat into the water. Through this encounter with Jesus, Peter hauls in an enormous catch of fish. But Peter’s response is what is most important in this story. When he realizes the power and glory of Jesus, he begins to worship: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Jesus reaffirms his faith, and then gives him a new purpose: fishing for men.

At its core, Luke 5 demonstrates true worship. Often we are too tired from work, too preoccupied with other things, or too wrapped up in our own problems to truly encounter God. Yet he has a fundamental way of showing us his glory in the midst of these difficulties. As we encounter the glory and the presence of God we become aware of our own insufficiencies and our unworthiness. When confronted with Jesus, Peter cries out because of his sin. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is ushered into the throne room of God, where he beholds God’s glory and might. Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!” (Isaiah 6:5) Through worship we encounter the glory and presence of God, and we are reminded of our smallness and our unworthiness when confronted by his awesomeness.

What amazes me most about these stories, however, is God’s response. In Luke 5, Jesus redefines Peter’s direction and gives him a mission, calling him to be a disciple and a “fisher of men.” In Isaiah 6, God cleanses Isaiah’s sin and gives him a new calling. Isaiah’s life is transformed, and he emerges from this experience as a prophet for the LORD. Our encounters with God should fundamentally transform us, reminding us of our sin and yet reminding us of the grace that God has bestowed upon us sinners. And through this encounter our lives should be fundamentally changed, and we should come away with a new purpose or a redefined vision for our lives. Worship had the power to transform us, to define us, and to shape us into the image of Christ.

We lose sight of what worship is, however, if we simply confine it to the Sunday experience. Worship is not a one day, once-a-week affair; rather, it is a way of life. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds them, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, emphasis mine). This passage follows Paul’s admonition to live in harmony with one another and to worship God with gratitude and thanksgiving. He then reminds them that every aspect of their lives can be worship to God.

Worship is not just about what happens in the corporate assembly. Instead, worship becomes a way of life that defines who we are. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1). Worship is a lifestyle. Through spiritual disciplines (praying, fasting, reading, celebrating, etc.), our hearts are aligned closer to the heart of God. We worship the God who created and sustains us, and we begin to listen to God’s prompting in our lives. These disciplines then prepare us for the corporate assembly, where we worship God together and encourage others to do the same.

The danger in worship is that it often becomes selfish. We must always remember one thing: Worship is not about us! Worship is given to God, because he is the only one worthy of praise. Worship is not about our preferences or our desires. Instead, worship is about praising the LORD of Hosts! We must lay aside our own personal preferences in order to worship God, because it isn’t about the songs we like or the length of the prayers. Through worship, we praise God for who he is and what he has done. And through corporate worship we encourage one another in our spiritual journeys. Our own desires rank below these other two facets of worship. Worship brings us into communion with God and fellowship with one another. Worship allows us to fulfill God’s mission in the world, to be with his people.

God’s ultimate desire is to be in relationship with his people. Through their sin, Adam and Eve removed the perfect communion we experienced with God. The rest of the Bible is the story of God restoring that perfect communion through Israel, through Jesus, through his Spirit and through the church, his Body. Worship, whether corporate or individual, gives us a glimpse of this perfect communion. No matter how great the singing or the impact that worship has on us, it is nothing more than a glimpse in a dim mirror. Rather, it reminds us that a time is coming when we will experience the full glory of God. The time is coming when we will gather with the whole heavenly host to worship God in word and song, to partake in the final banquet, and to live in perfect communion with God.

Our worship today exalts God and humbles us. Through our worship, and through our individual spiritual disciplines, we are reminded of the greatness of God and our own sinfulness. Yet we also are given hope, because God has cleansed us and made us his own. And our worship empowers us with a vision and a mission to reach the world for His glory.

*** Please do not use without the express consent of the author.***