What Proper Worship Entails!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 NIV
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1 NLT
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. Romans 12:1 NKJV

According to the dictionary's definition of worship--worship is reverence and adoration of a person or object.

Stacked against the three versions of the same passage of scripture and reviewing what some of us do in church, is what we do in church services--proper worship?

Unfortunately, for many of us, we have been brain-washed as to what true worship is within our religious services. This is what happens when people do not exercise care in their study of The Word or even "a word" and how it should be interpreted versus how we choose to promote things.

First of all--we confuse the terms and acts of praise and worship. In many churches, praise is loud and fast-moving, excites people and drives the momentum in a service. In its place, that's all well and good. However, worship should never be confused with praise since worship should not be "an act to excite" but a lifestyle that honors God.

Now I know there will many who disagree with what I've said and that's their prerogative. I don't have a problem with people disagreeing with me, but I refuse to sit idly by and allow people to believe untruths--whether perpetuated intentionally or unintentionally.

How do I conclude my position? By understanding The Word--knowing that presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable--our reasonable service--choosing to live in a way that honors God--that is what true worship entails--promoting a lifestyle that honors God, even if it means we're unpopular with people. This is a view of public worship--living according to The Word. Private worship would entail spending time with God--reverencing Him and adoring Him for all He does.

So, the next time you're in service and someone says, "Let's worship The Lord," stand or sit quietly, reflecting upon His goodness and mercy, without the shouting or the dancing that is truly reserved for praise. True worship in public venues such as a church, should usher in the praises when people are allowed the time to truly reflect, reverence and adore God. If we ever get past traditional "orders of service" and allow Holy Spirit to guide us, there would not be enough room in a building to contain all Holy Spirit touches when true worship is practiced.

Enjoy the day and  all The Lord has made possible in your life!