The Art of Worship
The dictionary defines worship as: adoring reverence or regard. We define worship every day through our reverent adoration and regard. And hopefully our worship is directed toward our God.
There is, of course, the practical application of worship. Every day life being played out: giving back to God what He has given to us, serving Him, loving Him, serving others, being a light, pointing hearts back to Him. Practical, every day worship is often over looked or underestimated. It is important, but also often over-shadowed by the more commonly known intangible worship through the arts. Being an artistic person, I am fascinated by this side of worship. Only God is worthy of such intangible, passionate expression. And I think when we truly understand worship, is when we truly understand why He alone is worthy to receive it.
Being raised in a non-denominational church, I was familiar with all of the church hymns, praise band songs, the choir in robes, the worship team standing in perfect symmetry in the front, the orchestra pit, the hymnals in the pew backs. As I grew up, I learned much about the significance of corporate worship. I discovered, through my high school pastor, what it meant to sing those words to God. It was prayer put to music! Being a musical person, I loved the thought of it!
But it’s more than that. I mean, music is a language of it’s own. Even when words aren’t present, music can and should be worshipful. The same goes for dance, and painting, and so many other forms of art.
Art is an expression of the soul. Singing aside, it really is another language…one that few people feel free to speak. And yet, I feel like it is so much more adequate than simple words. Doesn’t the Bible say that the Spirit hears our hearts when we can not find the words for what we’re feeling? Have you ever just sat in the presence of God, not saying a word, but feeling like He heard you more clearly than ever before? I have.
Last year, I attended a conference at Willow Creek Church. One night a worship dancer came onto the stage. It was in that moment that I truly felt my heart connecting with God. I was absolutely speechless. There were no words coming from my mouth, no words coming from hers, and yet so much was being communicated.
The dance was a language of its own, and I know He heard every word.
Sometimes I get discouraged when we sing a song at church like, “we stand and lift up our hands, for the joy of the Lord is our strength,” and I look around and not a single hand is raised…including mine! Wait a minute! Something isn’t right here. There is a missing connection point between what we’re saying and what we’re doing.
If you think about it, though, what ARE we doing when we lift our hands? I don’t actually know! Trying to touch God? Trying to get His attention? No, of course not. But there’s just something worshipful about taking that posture. And so we do it. Why? Because it’s another language!
What about painting? Photography? Sculpting? For many people that’s an expression of worship too! I’m just super excited at the though that there is so much more to worship than just standing there, singing a song. Worship literally consumes us! There are so many ways to live it out, and experience it day to day.
I think as a culture, our eyes are slowly being opened to true worship, the way it was done way back when. Think of David dancing before the Lord. Think of the instruments that were played for Him and the songs sung to Him. We are rediscovering the freedom we have in Christ to worship Him. We can do what ever we want to do to adore Him. We can dance in the aisles, we can stand in silence, we can rejoice, we can serve, we can give, we can express our reverence for him without worrying about anyone else or anything else.
And what could ever, EVER be more fulfilling, more exhilarating, more awe-inspiring than to speak to Him with adoring reverence in words that only our heart and His can understand?
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