Juice...
So I'm sitting here, after taking a long nap to recoup some energy drained out over the weekend, and after a wonderful, hot shower, feeling that i have to write something, but couldn't figure out what. Then something hit me. I'm sitting here eating some crackers and drinking some grape juice. THAT made me raise an eyebrow. The question that followed within me was "what makes these just crackers and juice, but the crackers and juice used in communion so much more?"
That question made me think though about something else. This was something that my girlfriend Kayla mentioned to me while we discussing something. What makes playing an instrument or singing different from creating worship and praise? I figure this would be easy, since i have seen both sides of the metaphorical coin in question.
Playing an instrument truly is a gift all its own. While some can write lyrics and accompany it with music, some people are limited to just playing an instrument. The same way a poet can express his feelings or point in an elaborate piece of poetry, a musician can get his/ her point across with a few or many notes. While some can write elaborate essays about the origins of everything, a musician can leave an impression that can make someone think and question everything.
The art of making music isn't all that rare. Notice however that I'm talking about musicians and true musical artists, not these label hyped up, garbage and nonsense lyric singing, mainstream artists. I mean people who are able to create a piece of music so deep and detailed so as to affect you. One group of musicians and composers that are a perfect example are those who make music for movies or TV shows. one day, watch a movie with the sound off and the subtitles on. If its a "scary" movie, you'll find it NOT so scary. If its a funny movie, it wont be that funny. The reason is that the composer looks at the storyboard of a movie and creates music that will COMMUNICATE to the audience the ambiance, emotion and feel of the scene through the music.
So what IS the difference between playing music and worship? Look at it this way, you can play music and it become worship, but you can worship without any music. See, music is just music. an arrangement of musical notes that when performed together, make a musical piece. Worship on the other hand, is a way of life. Worship, as defined in the dictionary:
wor·ship(1)
[wur-ship] noun, verb,-shiped, -ship·ing or (especially British
) -shipped, -ship·ping.
) -shipped, -ship·ping.–noun
1.
reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2.
formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage:They attended worship this morning.
3.
adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.
4.
the object of adoring reverence or regard.
5.
(initial capital letter) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).
) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).–verb (used with object)
6.
to render religious reverence and homage to.
7.
to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing).
–verb (used without object)
8.
to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity.
9.
to attend services of divine worship.
10.
to feel an adoring reverence or regard
So basically, worship is the act of giving honor, reverence, homage and feeling adoration to, in the case of a born again Christian, to God. To worship God is not to go to church and sing some songs, yell out a few "amens" and a few "hallelujah's". Worship is a way of life. A way of life in which you inhale air and exhale adoration for God. Its a way of life that gives everything you are and do a meaning of being done for the King, to be approved by the King, so as to please the King of kings.
Some see worship as only singing songs and the truth is that those songs are only worship when they are acceptable to God as worship. I believe it at pandemic levels the amount of "Christians" that go to church once a week and "worship" when in reality they are just singing, while there are others who walk in worship, not caring if they are in church or at work or just walking down the street. They live in worship.
Jesus made it simple in John 4:21-24. The Samaritan woman asked for clarification about the laws on where to worship and Jesus answer in such a deep way so as to answer the questions of where, how and when. You see, it doesn't matter where you worship, just that it be TRUE worship in Spirit and in truth. Its not a song, its not a place, its not a set of notes or the other. Its about giving God unending, untainted, true worship.
To end, what are the results of just singing, void of the true essence of worship? Simple, an empty, spiritless existence, empty of God and full of being ravaged not by the enemy, but by our own tryings to build a foundation without the Holy Spirit. The benefits of TRUE worship? Healing, peace, sorrow turned into laughter, pain turned into Joy. What else? Strength to overcome temptation, power to overcome the attacks of the enemy and a true understanding that no matter where you may be, you can find yourself at the foot of God's throne, sitting in his presence and Glory, where he can be with you and you can be with him.
Friends and dear readers, the time of empty, useless noise making is over. We must begin to emit TRUE worship. We must begin to LIVE worship. We must BE worship, forever burning in the fire of the Holy Spirit, as sweet, acceptable incense in God's presence.
Be blessed...
-Eli W
