Worship is as old as mankind. Whenever there is man and deity, religion is present. Where there is religion, there is worship. Whatever you have worth for, you worship. Even those who claim the non-existence of God still have the reality of a supreme being in their consciousness and in approach have something they revere and have worth for. As I mentioned earlier; whatever you have worth for, you worship. This worth is expressed in words, act, art and writing.
What Is Worship?
According to Wikipedia, worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God or gods. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honouring. When people show honour, respect, regard, with great extravagant respect, devotion or adoration to a supreme being, they are worshipping. It could also mean to take part or perform an act of worship. In every geographical location where men exist, worship is expressed.
Webster’s Dictionary for the precise meaning of worship is to adore, idolise, esteem worthy, reverence, homage. Yet truly defining worship proves more difficult because it is both an attitude and an act. Both the Old and New Testaments admit the possibility of false worship, usually associated with idolatrous cults and gross misconduct (Deut 7:3-6). For example, the Canaanites practiced ritual prostitution and infant sacrifice under the guise of worship to gods like Molech and Baal (Lev 18:6-30; 20:1-5), while Paul found little had changed in the practice of idolatrous worship in Greek Corinth of the first century AD (1 Cor 6:12-20; 10:14-22).
Christian Worship
Psalm 96:9 (Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth). Reveals what Christian worship should be: to the Lord, in the beauty of holiness, with godly fear, reverence, and awe. Worship is not necessarily the solemn song rendered by the choir and members neither is it the amount of money donated during a worship session, nor are we to say it is a sacrificial service done for ministry or missions or voluntary work done for the development of a Christian centre. These are all good works; true expression and acts of worship. In John 4:22-24; Jesus expressed that true worship desired of the Father of whom there is no variableness of change is: of the Father, spiritual and spirit-filled worship and in truth. God even in His work with the patriarch abhorred shared reverence. His desire was that of exclusive reverence. Exodus 20:1-7 identifies shared reverence as idolatry, which has same connection as adultery. When men are found guilty of idol worship is as grave as prostitution. In this sense, it is promiscuousness against God Almighty. An act of infidelity and then guilty of strange worship. All true worshipers must worship God in “spirit and in truth.” That is, true worship takes place on the inside, in the heart or spirit of the worshiper (cf. Psalm 45:1; 103:1-2). Worship pleasing to God must be unfeigned and transparent, offered with a humble and pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4; Isa 66:2).
What Is Strange Worship
Considering the above, one can deduce: it is not that loving response in personal faith to God’s personal revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ; it is that worship that does not depict: holiness, godliness, fear of God, valuing God above worldliness and valuing God above all things. It is that worship that promotes the flesh and its lust rather than grace and the work of the cross. The Psalmist recognised the folly of such false worship, noting that those who make idols will be like them (Psalm 115:2-8). The prophets, too, warned against idolatry, a fatal attraction for the people of God (Eze 14:3-7). Sadly, the biting sarcasm of these divine messengers, who decried images with plastered eyes that had to be nailed to shelves to prevent them from toppling over, fell on deaf ears — as deaf as those of the idols, they had fashioned (Isa 41:5-7). In the end, of course, these “stumbling blocks” of wood, stone, and precious metal overlay could not save Israel (Isa 44:17), neither are they able to save today.
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)
