Everyone worships something. As Christians, we must seek to worship the right One the right way. Last week we mentioned that we must begin this discussion with two essential principles: True worship is for God and to God. This week we want to start with that first principle. We must begin with the most foundational question to understand that true worship is for God. Why do we exist? Because the world refuses to worship God, they have come up with the happy alternative that we are nothing more than accidents of evolution. There is no purpose to our existence. However, the Bible presents the truth that we were created by God and for God (Revelation 4:11).
God created us to be worshipers of Him. This is our purpose in life. This principle means we must live for God’s glory to fulfill our created purpose (this is the only way to find purpose, satisfaction, and joy). As we follow this line, it means that worship is for God. Paul brought this home to the church in Corinth, which was in the middle of a massive civil war on worship. Some expressed superiority because they believed they had the gift of tongues. Others expressed superiority because they were so loving they could overlook blatant sin. When they celebrated the Lord’s supper, they also had a massive meal with it. The rich would bring in vast amounts of food but would rush the table to ensure they got the majority. Some refused to work but claimed God called them to be counselors and would travel from house to house, taking advantage of other members. In short, this church was a mess. Paul wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians to instruct them in part on proper worship. And in it, he states that worship is all about God. At the end of chapter 10, he makes the statement, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (v. 31). With this, Paul repeats the statement he made in chapter 6, “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (6:20).
Since mankind’s purpose and the purpose of worship is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31; Rev. 4:11), corporate worship in the church should reflect this purpose. Further, corporate worship should train the church members to accomplish this purpose in their lives. The church’s worship on Sunday should inspire the individual member’s worship Monday through Saturday. To worship with God’s people on God’s Day before God’s throne under the authority of God’s Word is the solemn duty and distinct privilege of God’s people.
Where the church corporately and Christians individually have often gone astray is by falling into the thinking that worship is about us. When we hear a song on the radio that impacts us emotionally, we feel we have worshipped. When we leave a church service after singing our favorite songs and having our ears tickled with some moralistic devotional, we feel we have worshipped. On the other hand, when we sing songs that don’t do it for us, and the preacher exposits the Word, and it feels like meddling with our lives, we think, “Well, that really wasn’t very good worship today.” However, this thinking is due to faulty worship. Instead of worshipping God, we are worshipping ourselves. You see, true worship of God is not primarily about us.
As Paul opens the book of Romans, he comments on the decline of culture. As he presents an incredible argument for the total depravity of man, there is a verse tucked in there that has massive implications for worship in the church. “Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” (Romans 1:25). When we make worship about us (a creature) instead of about God (the creator) we are exchanging the truth of God for a lie. What is this lie? The lie is that we are worshipping God when, in reality, we are worshipping something far inferior.
The implication for the church is that worship cannot be about us. It must be about God. This is not to say that worship should never be emotionally stimulating. This is not to say we should never leave the service feeling good about ourselves and life. This is to say that if we think that good feelings are all there is to worship, we have begun to worship ourselves and exchange the truth of God for a lie.
This faulty worship was the very problem that plagued Israel just before God judged her with deportation. The problem was not that Israel was not worshipping. The problem was that Israel had made worship about themselves rather than about God. In his prophetic book, Amos informed Israel that God would judge them. He had no interest in their faulty worship. “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).
The prophet Amos addresses their worship and proclaims God’s hatred of it with words of burning eloquence. Amos uses the same words earlier to describe the attitude Israel should have toward evil in verse 15. He applies that word here to the things they think please the Lord. The routine observance of the Levitical ritual is empty because it was being done so that the people would feel good about themselves and direct God’s favor to them. He states that their religiosity is a mockery of true worship. Ezekiel echoes the reality that the very reason that God was going to judge Israel was for the impact of their improper worship. “And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23).
Since mankind’s created purpose is God’s glory and honor, the church’s worship and music should direct its members toward that goal. Worship is only for God. He alone is worthy of our worship. He is the most important audience at every service. The gathering of the church for worship is a picture and an anticipation of the heavenly gathering of God’s people. This means then that our worship gatherings should look distinct from the worship gatherings of the world. Our worship through music should look and feel different from the music concerts of the world. Our assembly should not resemble the athletic or rotary club assembly. The subject matters of our worship and music should honor God above all. The texts should drive the heart of the people to God. The focus of the service should be on God. Our worship should move the heart of God’s people to God’s throne. Most importantly, since worship is for God, we do not get to worship God any way we want. We must worship the right One in the right way.