“Why Worship Together?” Part II

Why Worship Together? Part II

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  – Ephesians 5:19-20

Most often worship falls into four categories, each having its own unique features. There is what I call “lone worship”, which obviously is that time we spend alone with God. It can be characterized by a scheduled reading of the Bible, praying, meditating, singing and listening. It’s just God and one lone worshipper and is customized accordingly. The worshipper is not an intermediary….he is the worshipper; prostrate before God, seeking to maintain a relationship that clearly identifies who is Creator and who is created.

Second, there is “serendipitous worship”. This is an unplanned, un-orchestrated time that springs from the moment. It might be brought on by a miracle, a crisis, or an inspirational word of another (ex. written thought in a book). Serendipitous worship might involve only one, a large group, or all numbers in between. Its main attribute is spontaneity. It is a response to God in a moment when it was not expected.

Third, there is “lifestyle worship”. Lifestyle worship is characterized by ones’ daily habits that are markedly God-oriented. One sees God working in all aspects of life. The lifestyle worshipper lives in an expectancy mode that is watching for what God will do next.

Finally, there is what is commonly called “corporate worship”. Group or corporate worship has unique characteristics setting it apart from lone and serendipitous experiences (see my post, “Why Worship Together?”). Approaching corporate worship in lone or serendipitous mode is akin to trying a “solo” worship experience among a few hundred people; or waiting for God to show up when He is already there waiting for us. 

Corporate worship calls for an interaction between the worshippers as well as interaction with God. Fellow worshippers are part of our mission. They are not obstacles or distractions to our worship, they are an integral part of it. Our embrace of God should include them.

Christian worshippers are not to sprinkle themselves across a large auditorium or strategically maneuver to a select observation point. We are to move close together where our singing, amen’s, prayers, cries and laughter are easily heard. There is an accountability in worship that requires us to be inclusive not reclusive. Just as I placed my young children on my shoulders to assure they saw a passing parade, so we should elevate one another spiritually to see the activity of God. Our responsibility in corporate worship is not to “silo” ourselves into a holy cell, but to reach out, left and right, and hold one another up to see God in all His majesty. This Sunday, bring strong shoulders to worship and lift someone up, or be prepared to be lifted up.

the friar