So, What is Worship, really?
Bet you never thought two guys on a ladder repairing a roof could be worship. So ask yourself, “Why are they doing that?” They’re repairing an outbuilding at Christian camp. This camp teaches our children to be strong, loving, confident and caring individuals. They’re repairing the roof, not for money, but as volunteers. And they’re doing that because they care and because they want our children to have the tools they need to grow. Yes, we worship when we come together on Sundays to sing his praises and listen to his word, but there is so much more to worship than that.
The Bible says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Worship is an act of love. It is a demonstration of love and there are so many ways to worship God.
We worship God when we attend a Bible Study during the week. Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
We worship God when we serve by helping with a youth or children’s program. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
We worship when we share God’s word and his love with new believers at Alpha. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
We worship God when we speak out for the marginalized and the forgotten. We worship God when we speak out against violence, discrimination and persecution. The marginalized and forgotten, the victims of violence, discrimination and persecution; these are our neighbors, regardless of ethnicity, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of age. We worship God when we love our neighbors and we worship God when we recognize our past failings and work to make amends.
We worship God when we support the Cambridge Food Bank . We worship God when we support Rachel’s Home. We worship God when we give to support the construction of Sunday School classes at a church in Guatemala. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.”
We worship God when we “Run for the Cure” or we run for “The Marathon of Hope”. We worship God, when we visit a friend who is struggling, or encourage each other over coffee or tea. We worship God when we pray for ourselves, and when we pray for others. We worship God when we celebrate a birth, a graduation, or a wedding. And we worship as we mourn with those who have lost a loved one. We worship God when we share a meal and celebrate the friends he has surrounded us with.
We worship God when we support our summer food drive or when we give to support the Life and Work of Central. Life and Work of the Church is a “churchie” phrase that means everything from keeping the lights on to supporting our youth, children and families.
Paul said to the residents of Corinth, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
And to the residents of Philippi, he said “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
A church filled with love, with care and with joyful laughter is a church filled with the Holy Spirit. Worship, done properly, is a joy not a task and worship, done properly, goes beyond Sunday morning.
So, what does worship look like? Here’s a glimpse.
