Is Worship Music?

I grew up not really knowing what worship is. I thought the only way you could worship was to sing. I thought when someone sang and closed their eyes, raised their hand, or shouted "amen", then maybe that was worship. I saw the word and saw actions of Christians that were defined as worship, but not every Christian was showing that those outward signs of worship, so it wasn't really clear to me. We had hymn books with worship or praise on the front and that's the only time the word "worship" was used so it just solidified in me that worship meant music.

Today, we have a whole genre of music labeled "praise and worship". We have worship leaders, worship teams, and worship bands. But worship is not a style of music. I've been very discouraged to be around people who only think they can worship with the latest P&W hit with a guitar and drums. I've seen this happen in our church. On the other end, worship doesn't only take place with "How Great Thou Art" and a piano. If we are primarily critics of worship services, sitting back like we're watching American Idol then we're not primarily worshipping. If you're only able to worship God through singing or listening to a particular style of music, then it's likely you're worshipping the music. God is a God of diversity - just look around at Creation.

Philippians 2:2-5,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We all have preferences, but God is not concerned with style. He is concerned with the heart. If we're not worshipping from our hearts when we're singing, we're just singing. If worship is music or singing, then worship ends when the choir is finished singing. Do we know what worship is? Does God just want us to sing? Music has been a big part of my life, but I've come to realize that music is just a small part of the picture. Worship is much bigger than singing.


 

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