What Ever Happened to Worship?

Pew Research conducted an online survey from December 4–18, 2017. Their survey sought to answer the question of why Americans go (and don’t go) to religious services. Here are the ten main reasons people gave for why they attend church:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel obligated to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
10. To please their family, spouse, or partner. (16%)

Although 81% of respondents said they went to church to become closer to God, it is amazing that no one specifically mentioned they did it to worship God! They defined becoming closer to God in church as building their relationship with Him, having a moral foundation for their children, self-improvement, and finding comfort in tough times. There is no question these things are important. But what ever happened to worship?

A.W. Tozer said, “To great sections of the church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the ‘program.’ This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.” As always, Tozer gives us quite a bit to ponder as we think about worship.

To understand biblical worship, perhaps we should begin with its definition.

True and Genuine Worship

William Barclay said: “True and genuine worship is not to come to a certain place; it is not to go through a certain ritual or liturgy; it is not even to bring certain gifts. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God, who is immortal and invisible.” Although Barclay elegantly provides us with a theologically profound definition, true worship cannot take place until we understand the greatness of our God.

True Knowledge of God

John Stott said, “The true knowledge of God will always lead us to worship, as it did Paul. Our place is on our faces before Him in adoration.” When we truly understand the greatness of our God and what He has meant in our life, worship becomes a no-brainer. It brings us to a realization of His worthiness, which creates in us an appreciation for Him and a willingness to praise Him.

The Bible says, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) When someone recommends for us to try a new food or restaurant, we check it out. If the experience is as reported, we go back and exclaim to our friend how great it was. In fact, we might even tell someone else! The psalmist is saying that we can try the Lord and see that He is good! When we have such an experience, we are led to worship.

Worship doesn’t stop there, though. Dr. Tony Evans talks about a wonderful thing that happens, “As God rubs off on you, He gives you grace, peace, and power for all of life.” [1] The more we encounter Him in our worship, the more our worship leads to His praise.

The writer of the 150th division of Psalms understood this as he exhorted us to praise the Lord:

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,  5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Ordering Well

Why not take a few moments to think about your church attendance. Why do you attend (or why not)? Could God be leading you to rethink your motives for attending? Perhaps He is calling you to take your relationship with Him to the next level. It’s difficult to have a sense of awe about someone of whom we know very little.

At any new restaurant, our experience will only be as good as the food we order. If we want to have an experience with God that we’re proud to share with others, then we will need to order well!

Many years ago, a fast-food restaurant ran a commercial with a woman who had an oversized hamburger bun, but the burger was a tiny beef patty. The woman looked at the tiny piece of meat and said the now-famous line, “Where’s the beef?” Well, as we participate in our churches, let’s make sure God doesn’t have to say, “Where’s the worship?”

Article by Dr. L.W. Edwards

[1] Evans, Dr. Tony, Our God Is Awesome, pg. 30, 1994, Moody Press.