When we think about worship, most of us immediately picture singing, raised hands, and musical performances. But what if our common understanding of worship doesn’t fully align with what the Bible actually teaches? Like the famous line from The Princess Bride – “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means” – we might need to reconsider what worship truly means according to Scripture.
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The Biblical Words for Worship
When we examine the original Greek words translated as “worship” in our Bibles, we discover something surprising. None of these words originally had anything to do with singing or music.
Three Main Greek Words for Worship
The Bible uses three primary Greek words that we translate as worship:
- Sebasma – meaning to honor or revere, to hold in high regard
- Latreia – meaning service, often referring to the service performed during Old Testament sacrifices
- Proskinesis/Proskuneo – meaning to prostrate oneself, to bow down face to the ground
The third word, proskinesis, is used three times more than all the other worship words combined. It describes a posture of complete humility – lying face down on the ground before someone superior. This was not a dignified position but rather one of total submission and humility.
Is Our Modern Worship Missing Something?
This doesn’t mean our current worship practices are wrong, but it suggests we might not be capturing the full essence of what God desires when we gather together. The biblical concept of worship seems to encompass our overall response to God – bowing down because of who He is, sacrificing because of who He is, showing reverence because of who He is.
Worship as Response to God
Rather than being limited to singing and music, biblical worship appears to be a comprehensive term describing our response to God’s character and nature. All the different activities we associate with worship – singing, praying, serving, sacrificing – are different expressions of this fundamental response to who God is.
What Does the Bible Say About Singing Together?
Here’s where things get really interesting. When we examine what the New Testament says about singing, we find only seven references to singing or songs. But every single one of these references emphasizes relationship and community, not just individual expression to God.
Singing Has a Horizontal Purpose
Consider these key passages:
Ephesians 5:19-20: “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.”
Colossians 3:16: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Notice that Paul emphasizes “speaking to one another” and “teach and admonish one another” through our singing. While we sing to God, the context is always about how this impacts our relationships with each other.
Why Do We Gather as the Church?
First Corinthians 14:26 provides what might be the clearest purpose statement for church gatherings: “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.”
Building Up One Another
The purpose isn’t just individual worship – it’s building up the church community. Our gathering is meant to strengthen, encourage, and mature one another in faith. This is fundamentally about the “one another” relationships that Scripture emphasizes throughout the New Testament.
The Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions
While there’s always a vertical aspect to our relationship with God (prayer, praise, worship directed upward), our gatherings as the body of Christ are meant to have a strong horizontal purpose as well.
We Need Each Other
The horizontal dimension means that what we do together isn’t just about individual connection with God, but about how we can:
- Build up one another’s faith
- Encourage spiritual growth
- Teach and learn from each other
- Hold each other accountable
- Support one another through challenges
Beyond Sunday Morning
When Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to neglect “meeting together,” it’s not primarily about attending church services. The original concept of meeting together was about doing life and faith in community – gathering regularly to support, encourage, and grow together.
Rethinking Our Gatherings
This challenges us to think beyond the traditional one-hour Sunday service. How can we create more opportunities to truly be the church together? This might involve:
- Small group gatherings for prayer and encouragement
- Intentional relationships that foster spiritual growth
- Taking time to really connect with one another when we do gather
- Moving beyond just attending to actively participating in community
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to shift from being a passive attendee to an active participant in Christian community. Instead of just showing up for the “ceremony,” look for ways to engage in the “one another” aspects of faith.
Ask yourself these questions:
- How can I contribute to building up others when we gather, rather than just receiving?
- What opportunities do I have this week to meet with other believers outside of Sunday morning?
- How can I use my gifts, encouragement, or presence to strengthen someone else’s faith?
- Am I approaching worship as just a personal experience with God, or am I considering how my participation affects the whole community?
Remember, God wants us together not because we’re required to attend church, but because we genuinely need each other. True worship and Christian community happen when we recognize that our faith journey is meant to be shared, supported, and strengthened through authentic relationships with fellow believers.