Words are important to me. As a songwriter, I endeavour to use the right words - the best words in all the right places. I don't always get it right, but it's what I aspire to. In addition, how we define the words we use greatly affects what we believe; and what we believe determines our actions. So, the question I'd like us to consider is... "How do we define the word WORSHIP?"
It grieves me to see what we in the Church have done to this amazing word. In my opinion, we've reduced it -- downsized it -- made it less than it truly is. We've tried to cram it into a small cubicle, when in reality it needs and deserves the entire earth and beyond in order to be itself. It needs the freedom to roam free through the landscape of our lives, rather than being squeezed into a small segment of it. Worship is a big word and we've done it a disservice by making it small.
I don't think we've done this maliciously. We didn't set out to treat it poorly. I think it happened gradually over time. And now we find ourselves with a word that means less than it used to, and less than God intends. How have we accomplished this? Where have we erred? By equating WORSHIP with MUSIC.
When was the last time we used the word "worship" in a sentence and were NOT referring to a time when music was being played so Christians could sing together? Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about using music to worship God. We know that music is a powerful tool to create an awareness of God's presence and to move people in His direction. Congregational worship is a focal point of our life together as the body of Christ. But if we only use the word worship in a musical context, we effectively prevent ourselves from worshiping God unless music is present. In this scenario, we walk through life in a straight jacket: longing to worship but unable to do so until the music starts.
I would suggest to you that repentance is also worship. Prayer is worship, as is praise. Listening and responding to God's word from a willing heart is worship. AND, sharing a meal with family and friends can be worship. Resolving conflict in relationships can be an act of worship. Going on a date with your spouse can be worship. Trusting God in the midst of difficulty and hardship can be worship (Job 1:20-22). My own personal definition of worship is this: a thankful whole-life response to the God who made us. It starts with thankfulness and gratitude (Heb. 12:28) and permeates every aspect of life. That kind of lifestyle can, and often does involve music... but it doesn't HAVE to involve music.
As we cultivate this kind of relationship with our God, two amazing things happen (actually there are far more than just two, but these two come immediately to mind). The first one benefits US as Jesus' followers. As we worship God with our whole lives, we learn to live along-side the mysteries and unanswered questions of life. His ways will always be higher than ours -- His thoughts and purposes as well. He will baffle us from time to time with what He allows to happen to us. But someone once said that the trials of life are all songs of praise that haven't been written yet. It's instructive to research the histories of some of the most famous hymns and choruses ever written and discover that they had their genesis in great suffering and trial. A life of worshipping God provides fertile soil for songs of hope to grow in.
Secondly, as we worship God with our whole lives, the kingdom of God benefits as well. Worship and evangelism have always been best friends. As we live lives of worship, we help people to SEE the Good News. The Gospel should be visible to those who are looking for God. Someone once said that there are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John... and the Christian. And some people never read the first four! God is actively searching for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23,24). Some of the non-Christians we encounter in our daily lives are "worshipers-in-waiting" and God is seeking them. We can help point the way to the God who created them to worship Him.
God is a big God, and I'll say it again: worship needs to be a big word. There is no end to the majesty and glory of God, so there should be no end to our worship, even when the music stops.