Merriam-Webster.com defines the word worship in this way:
To honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power.
To regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.
To a Christian, the word of, “worship” can mean anything from a musical or preaching service. It can be a kind of song someone might sing or write. Maybe it's a role someone fills for a church. And none of those are incorrect. But they don't exactly paint the whole picture. Worship is more than a single event that happens weekly, monthly or yearly. It’s the ongoing life events of a believer.
The easiest way to put it is that worship places value on and shows immense love to something or someone. Both, the saved and unsaved were made to worship. Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” That thing may be God, an ancient artifact, your possessions or someone you love or idolize. We are all made to worship. That poses the question, "What are we worshiping? " Is it your career? Is it your spouse? Is it your favorite project car? Is it your station in life? What holds the top most important position of your heart?
When we worship in a church service, we are giving glory and honor to God, the one who holds the top most position of importance in the hearts of his believers. It's not just for the salvation and the love that he grants us in grace. It's also for him being the omnipotent force in all of creation who holds not only the temporal events of our lives, but also our souls, as well as the lives and souls of those around us. He holds it all firmly in his hands. What's more, he is the one who works out everything both good and bad for good for his glory.
Music as a ministry is integral in our understanding of scripture and doctrine. That in turn leads us to develop either a healthy and truthful perception of who God is and how we are to understand and interpret his word, or it leads us to completely miss the point of it all. And when we miss that point, it is usually because the focus has somehow been turned away from where it belongs, much like music found in the secular. In many ways, poorly handled music ministry can easily become a stumbling block for believers. Music ministry, same as the life of every born-again believer is to be set apart and different than that of the world. When that is not evident in the worship and music ministry it can be rather confusing and seem pointless to anyone viewing it from the outside in.
Our focus in both life and worship should always be on him. He is God. Sovereign, holy, merciful, just and righteous. So we worship him not just because it's commanded, but because it's evident that we belong to him. And for that, we express our love in song.
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