Often, people among a body of worshiping Christians will say, "We were created for worship." That is true. God created man not just for His glory but for worship. However, there are many individuals in our congregation who need to understand this concept more. For many worshipers they believe in God. However, they are in need of more guidance about Christian worship due to the varying levels of their spiritual growth and experience. If their acts of worship are going to be sustained over time in order to become disciples and kingdom builders, they need to understand some essential foundations for Christian worship. Below are eight foundations that can help foster discussions and generate a more in depth examination through small study groups with believers and those who attend our churches that want to understand Christian worship.
1. The foundation for Christian Worship is the Word of God.
The revelation of who God is in regards to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost is revealed through the Word. That revelation commands, if not demands worship. The Word of God is infallible, a historical account of what was and is to come and nothing short of the truth. It is while reading the passages and discovering firsthand just who God is, one becomes compelled to offer God praise, adoration and words that acknowledge His greatness.
2. The foundation for Christian Worship is a right relationship with God.
The phrase, we were created for worship is said often. This is true because through adoration and reverence we establish a relationship with God. God is interested in dwelling and communicating with His creation. God is interested in worshipers who offer Him glory for his majesty as creator of heaven, earth, all things above and all things below. A proper relationship with God acknowledges his qualities such as everlasting, almighty, sovereign, master, redeemer, holy, glorious and more. God desires to have daily communion with His people through His Son Jesus Christ and by His Spirit, all of which establishes a right relationship with God.
3. The foundation for Christian Worship is the belief in Jesus Christ.
Christian Worship cannot exist without acknowledging Jesus Christ with regard to his birth, life and death on the Cross for our redemption. From the Garden of Eden to the birth of Jesus Christ, God always wanted to be amongst His people. Jesus Christ was the Old Testament tabernacle in the flesh, living, and walking among the people. Through Jesus Christ and believing in Him, we have access to the Father as a redeemed people covered in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As Christian worshipers, we confess that Jesus is Lord, we worship him as Lord. We are to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. By believing in Jesus Christ, we have everlasting life in His name according to John 20:30. We have unhindered access, unlike Old Testament worship, to the Father through Jesus Christ as worshipers.
4. The foundation for Christian Worship is the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit draws people into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and makes their worship acceptable to God. "The Spirit is given to enable trust in the promises of the gospel and to bring men and women from every race into a sanctified relationship with God and with one another, in the community of the new covenant." Through this sanctification, our worship is acceptable and sanctified unto God whether it is through song, words of praise, the clapping of hands or kneeling in His presence.
5. The foundation for Christian Worship is servanthood.
In the book of Matthew, the Word states, "Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve,’" in Matthew 4:10. Jesus was telling Satan that man and God's creations are to serve God. Man and God's creations are to minister to God, render religious homage as acts of service, and to worship, or be worshipers of Him. Furthermore, surrendering and serving as worship provides opportunities to express gratefulness. “God is giving (us) grace to follow the example of Paul who said, ‘For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as our servants for Jesus’ sake.’ …we’re declaring allegiance to the Savior who came not to be served but to serve.
6. The foundation for Christian Worship is authentic worship.
"Throughout the centuries and around the world, people have tried to articulate what worship is and what worship does." To be sure that one's worship is authentic, personal importance must be placed on the fact that God searches the heart at all times. Authentic worship is always God-centered and free of a person's own ideologies, thoughts or will. John 4:23-24 admonishes that worshipers must worship God in Spirit and in truth. The worshipful act of reverencing God has to reflect what He desires and what He judges to be authentic. On the whole, worship that is authentic will reflect the depth of one's relationship with God. God desires to be Lord of His people.
7. The foundation for Christian Worship is sacrifice.
Romans 12:1-2 states, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." As living sacrifices, we are to worship God and serve others as representatives of Jesus Christ. Every opportunity to serve others is an acceptable sacrifice demonstrating worship that is pleasing to God and in alignment with living the example of Jesus Christ. We are His feet, hands and eyes when we serve and an opportunity for someone to experience salvation. As worshipers of God who live a sacrificed life, we are willing to be transformed and this change will be evident in our worship practices and in the way we treat other personally and publicly.
8. The foundation for Christian Worship is holiness.
Psalm 24:3-5 says, "...who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation." Today, that blessing and righteousness comes through the salvation of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is important because God desires his people to be holy so much so that, "we are being saved, in the present, from the power of sin. Although we shall never be sinless this side of heaven, God is at work within us by his Spirit to help us fight sin in our lives and become more like Jesus. We must certainly play our part and work hard to resist evil.
The worshiping believer needs to know that their Christian worship has a foundation. This foundation includes the Word of God, a relationship with God, belief in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. It also includes servanthood, authentic worship, sacrifice and holiness. The individuals who walk through our church doors represent a spiritual continuum. These are people are exploring Christ, growing in Christ, close to Christ or Christ-centered. For each of these groups to grow in their understanding of their created purpose, the foundations of Christian worship needs to be explored and understood.
A. W. Tozer, author of The Purpose of Man wrote, "God created man to worship. Man is the darling of the universe, the centerpiece of God's affection...God made man to be like Him so that man could give more pleasure to God than all the other creatures... Man is the reflection of the glory of God, which was the purpose and intention of God originally." There is significant truth to Tozer's statement, which is why understanding at least eight foundations of Christian worship is pertinent to the worshiping life of a believer.
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