Let’s Worship Together

What do you think of when you hear the word worship? 

Often times in our Western American culture, the word “worship” brings with it images of a body of believers gathered together in a church with a band on the stage playing “Christian” music. Everyone is singing together. Sometimes people might raise their hands or sway side to side but there isn’t a lot of variation other than the actual songs that get played. 

If you go to Africa however, this word brings a different picture to mind. This picture still includes music and singing, but it now also includes lots of dancing. Dancing where you stand as well as dancing in a large circle in the front of the church almost like a fully connected conga line. With each culture around the world comes a different perspective on worship. In Peru, the worship in churches included everyone praying aloud all at once.

While there is nothing wrong with the American form of worship (or any other cultures forms) I do think that we can get boxed in by one form of worship. Many times while worshipping at church, I have the desire to drop to my knees and worship God in the physical posture of bowing down. I would never do this though. I was afraid people would think I was weird. I saw plenty of jokes about the different ways christians lifted their hands in worship so I definitely didn’t want to be made fun of for kneeling. 

During my first training camp with the world race, we would worship together every night. As I looked around I saw people doing all kinds of things I hadn’t really seen in a church before. I saw people jumping. I saw people waving their arms. I saw people laying on their back or on their stomachs. I finally felt safe enough that when the desire to drop to my knees came over me, I did it without hesitation. I felt so close to God in that moment that it is now my favorite posture to take while worshipping. 

There were other moments during training camp where I experienced newness in the way I worship. From journaling, to praying over someone, to sitting quietly and just listening for my Father’s voice. Each moment brought me closer to God’s heart and shaped my perspective about who God is. 

This year, I had the opportunity to join a session at my launch about worship. I got to learn from one of AIM’s worship leaders and discover even more sweet things about worship. A couple things she said in that session have really stuck with me: 

1. Worship literally means the quality of ascribing worth to God. 

2. There is only 1 function of worship, but there are countless forms. 

Nowhere in that definition/function are there limitations on how worship can be done. You don’t need to have a guitar or a piano. It doesn’t have to have music at all. In fact, you don’t even have to sing. It doesn’t have to be in church or with a body of believers, you can worship God in private whenever and however you want (so long as it brings Him glory). 

There was a day last year on my race when I had a lot of negative thoughts swirling around my mind. I had been spending a lot of times in Philippians that month so when the bad thoughts weren’t leaving I decided to journal out some good thoughts based on Phil 4:8

“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”

I wrote down each word from the verse and next to it wrote one or two things that fit the adjective. I didn’t know it at the time I was doing it that this is a form of worship. Here’s another definition of worship I heard recently: 

“Worship is declaring the reality of Gods love that trumps the thoughts that are in your head and trumps the voice of the giant that has taunted you for way too long” -Jonathan David Hesler 

This is precisely what I was doing in my journal. I recognized lies in my mind and journaled the Truth. Through written worship, I declared the reality of God’s love by listing things He created that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. 

None of these revelations of the diversity in worship has made me enjoy “typical” American worship any less. When I go to church, the worship before the sermon is still my favorite part. I absolutely love music and I love singing with my brothers and sisters and I cherish the times with my squad when we gather to sing together. All these revelations did was open my eyes and heart to thinking outside the box with worship. They inspired me to be more creative in my relationship with the Lord and not get stuck in thinking I have to do the same exact thing every day. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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 3:15-17

Blessings, 

Kaci