What is Worship?

All of life is not worship.

In the modern era of religious pluralism, when anything that is offered to God with a modicum of sincerity is considered worship, many are left scratching their heads and wondering what worship really is. Some have come to the conclusion that all of life is worship and that we reverence God every time we put on our socks, or wash the dishes, or feed the cat. If people would just read the Bible, they could tell that all of life is not worship. Abraham understood this to be the case and expressed his understanding in Genesis 22:5. Worship is something that human beings do purposefully and deliberately. But, even this realization still begs the question: “What is worship?”

“Worship” in the Christian Age.

Gospel preachers of the Restoration Movement have long preached about the so-called “five acts” of worship. Like the “five steps” in the gospel plan of salvation, the five acts of worship are entirely derived from the New Testament. While they may not appear in any one passage, as a neatly compiled list, they are no less detectable, when Scripture is compared with Scripture. There is no particular order in which five acts must be done, but they all must be done, in order to constitute “worship” in the Christian Age (John 4:23-24).

The church is commanded to sing

We know that singing, for example, is one of the five acts of worship. We know this, because the church is commanded to sing in passages like Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. We know that this singing is part of our worship because of passages like 1 Corinthians 14:15 and Hebrews 2:12. Furthermore, we know that this singing is to be done without accompaniment of mechanical instruments of music, because none of the passages that mention singing in the New Testament authorize us to do anything more or less than sing.

Prayer is mentioned as part of worship.

Also, we know that prayer is one of the five acts of worship. Christians are commanded to “pray without ceasing,” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Prayer is mentioned as part of worship in passages like 1 Corinthians 14:15. Passages like Matthew 6:5-15 teach how we ought to pray, both in public and in private.

Disciples came together and partook of the Lord’s Supper.

Additionally, we know that observance of the Lord’s Supper is one of the five acts of worship. When Jesus instituted this memorial feast, He said, “this do, in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul wrote, “For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” Acts 20:7 shows us that, on the first day of every week, the disciples came together and partook of the Lord’s Supper, as they worshipped (Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:20-21).

Giving of our means is worship.

Furthermore, we know that giving of our means is one of the five acts of worship. Ancient Christians were taught to give of their means on the first day of every week, when the church was assembled for worship (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Ancient Christians did not give “tithes” of their income, but rather they were taught to give an offering of their own free will, which might even exceed ten percent (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Preaching was part of the worship services of the ancient church.

Finally, we know that preaching is one of the five acts of worship. Preaching was part of the worship services of the ancient church (Acts 20:7). Preaching is the method that God has chosen to disseminate His message to the whole world (1 Corinthians 1:21). Whether one simply reads the Scriptures aloud, or expounds upon their meaning, it is essential that the Word of the Lord be heard in the congregation of His people.
 

The “Five Acts” of Worship:

1. Singing (Ephesians 5:19)

2. Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

3. Communion (Acts 20:7)

4. Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)

5. Preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21)

On the first day of the week (Sunday).

Apart from the five acts of worship, it is equally important for us to understand that we may worship God only on the first day of the week (Sunday). According to Acts 20:7, this was the day when the ancient church came together for just that purpose. The Bible does not authorize us to worship God on any other day. The Bible does authorize us to sing (James 5:13), pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), give (Galalatians 6:10) and preach (2 Timothy 4:2) on other days of the week, but the only day in which we may rightly do all of the five acts of worship together is the “Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).

God sets the standard.

Let there be no confusion about worship in anyone’s mind. Worship is a special event, in the lives of all of God’s children. Worship is not whatever we might imagine it to be. It is what God demands of us, and it is only right that He should set the standard of what is and is not Scriptural worship.