What is Christian Worship It’s Not What You Think


Biblical truth worship is God-centered worship, which means whatever you sing or say from your mouth as you confess. The primary reason for worship is to honor God by putting him in the center of your life.

Many Christians including myself do get caught up in where they should worship, which music should they sing, or even the style of worship. Unknowingly we sometimes seek more for that emotion and feeling during worship than actual worship to God.

Worship should never be only about getting that emotion or feeling that somehow gives you the impression you are near God only when you have those feelings. Are you able to be with God without those feeling or emotions, of course you can!

In fact, worship is not limited to only singing.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth..” – John 4:23-24

We worship God from our heart that’s the way God created us to worship God. Worship includes praying, reading God’s Word, singing, participating in communion, or even serving others. Worship should not be limited only to singing, but it is done when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right places serving and honoring God.

Can You Worship God Without Music?

Of course, you can, in fact, during the early church in the 1st century, there were no musical instruments played during worship to God. It was only around the 10th century that Western Christians introduce the organ.

What’s interesting is the early Christians worshiped God through scripture, hymns, spiritual songs, edification, and encouragement. Early Christians would often meet in private in homes, or in the synagogue and temple.

Here’s a detailed account of how we should worship God from the Bible

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? 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.” – 1 Cor 14:6-26

The thing about worship is not only just to honor God but also should be done in way that built up one another in the church.

What is Worship?

The Greek word for “worship” is “proskuneō” which means “to encounter God and praise Him.” For many years during the early churches, the people of God do encounter God as they worship Him.

The Jewish people used to do them in the temple but because of Jesus and what He has done for us, we today have the freedom to worship anywhere, praise God for that!

God should always be at the center of every worship for He alone is worthy of worship (Ps 96:4-5). Worshipping God means crediting to Him your time spent is worth it for Him alone.

The Issue of Today’s Modern Worship

Sadly, today’s modern worship is so far from the true worship that we read in the Bible. That is because Christians cares more about the feelings and emotions they receive than actually honoring and praising God.

Worship songs today sadly sometimes are designed to encourage a certain emotion. Like some songs, would make you feel happy or sad emotionally. But you got to ask yourself is that really God you are feeling? Can you feel the same day singing the same song without the music? What if you do not sense any feeling? Is God still with you?

Therefore, the issue that we have in today’s worship is Christians seeking these emotions and then a deeper understanding of who God is and honoring God.

Worship God Only

It is important to take note that worship is reserved only for God as only He is worthy and not anyone else. You should not worship saints, pastors, angels, false gods, Mary or any statues. True worship is felt inwardly and then is expressed through our actions.

God does see your heart and intent when you worship Him and God is able to see through any hint of hypocrisy in your reason to worship. So ensure you are right with God when you worship Him today.

So I pray you will learn to understand what worship is today and focus on worshiping only God today. Amen.