Page 6 - Contact Spring 2015

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP Part1 A Google search of the word “worship” results in nearly 1.2 billion hits, including 294,000 hits on Amazon.co.uk alone with almost 45,000 of those being books. Though the ideas and claims about worship are plenty, as Christians our sole standard for worship must be Scripture. In the frst of two articles we will consider the Biblical perspective and foun- dation for worship. The word “worship” is often used interchangeably with the phrase “worship style”. Examples of worship style can include: • Instruments vs. no instruments • Liturgical vs. informal • Quiet vs. charismatic • Contemporary vs. traditional But what does the Bible mean when speaking of worship? Is true worship something deeper, more foundational than simply describing a style? WHAT IS WORSHIP? “Now we are going to have a time of worship.” Often this prepares a church congregation for a time set aside for singing. Is worship then a certain type of singing? Some churches even advertise for people to come along for a ‘true worship experience’. Is worship an experience? The English word “worship” literally means “worth-ship”; in other words, to declare or demonstrate worth of someone or something by what one says and does.