Estudo | Eric Gomes do Carmo - The essence of worship: a question f heart (Part 1)
The essence of worship: a question f heart (Part 1)
The essence of worship: a question f heart (Part 1)
Probably you must have read or heard something about the term worship. Some relate this subject to a specific moment of the church meetings, lead by the minister and carried out by the music artists of the church. It’s likely that most people here are not a music artist and this matter may not call their attention, unless the musical group is in tune. However, for others, who consider the artist aesthetic an essential issue, this topic may call a lot of attention. But, what do you understand about worshiping God?
Many of our doubts about worship are similar to those of the Samaritan woman. If our questions are about where and how to worship God, it’s because our vision is in the shape and not in the essence. However, Jesus gave a precise answer to the Samaritan woman, and to us as well, about the reality of the spirit and he truth that are beyond the simple form. “God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth”.
The Samaritan woman raised the popular question among Jews and Samaritan, inquiring about the correct place to worship. She tried to avoid the main theme of the discussion, but in reality, she opened a door for Jesus to reveal His work of redemption: the place is not important, only the worshiper’s heart is! We can say that the woman was talking of the best form of art, while Jesus defines what is, in fact, to worship. “Jesus said: Believe me, woman, the hour is coming, when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain neither in
First, let’s evaluate the Samaritan woman’s point of view: worship, in the Old Testament, as far as shape is concerned, began with sacrifices on alters spotted in different places. Since the old times the form/art is constantly changing and improving, but it’s not the essential target of worship.
When we understand the art as a divine creative inspiration, and a way to worship God, we will be able to contemplate, the beauty if God’s creation and be helped in praising in this contemplation. “The heavens declare the glory of God, he vault of heavens proclaim his handiwork (Psalm 19:1). God gave David the ability to build instruments and compose Psalms to worship Him: “four thousand were gatekeepers and four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments which David had made for praising Him (1Chonicles 23:5). “and the harmony between the trumpeters and singers was such that only the melody could be heard as they praised and gave thanks to Yahweh – and the singing began, to the accompaniment of trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments, and they praised Yahweh ‘for He is good, for His faithful love is everlasting’ – then the temple was filled with the cloud and of the glory of Yahweh” (2 Chronicles 5:13).
Great artists in history were incredibly talented and dedicated their form of art to God. We can quote Mendelssohn in an incredible art expression of God’s presence in the piece “Elijah”. Johan Sebastian Bach, who composed BWV80, planned an instrumental expression of the divine trinity mystery. Someone once wrote about this song; “if anyone has the heart in God, this artistic expression will do them good to understand the truth. If he’s only interested in art, he can enjoy the music, but the objective will be lost”. If we remove the attitude from the heart lead by the Holy Ghost, everything left will be just a be beautiful art expression.
Art, however, is many times demanding and it can easily take the place of God as worship aim. The vocal and instrumental art, for example, can become a religion and a way to obtain pleasure and satisfaction of the artist or the listener. On the other hand, some Christians believe that the art is not spiritual, neglecting the excellence in order to avoid falling into the trap of putting the art before God.
Indeed, the art makes no true worshipers, but the true worship can also be expressed through art. Worship is not a question of place and form, but a question of heart. “He answered: ‘How rightly Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites in the passage of the Scripture: ‘These people honors me only with lip service, while their heart are far from me’” (Mark 7:6).
How easy it is to look at the shape and not to God. It seems we need constant confirmation that worship is not, in its essence, a condition of place, environment or melody, but it is a condition of the heart. It’s we who need changes. It should not be relevant who is preaching or singing in the cult. The act of worshiping comes before the Sunday gathering and when we get together we should worship because we have already done it during the week.
But what is worship? In the Old Testament as well in the New Testament, the term worship means to kneel, to honor someone, whether to express respect or to bag. Let’s see Psalm 96: 7-8: “Give the Lord, families of nations, glory and power. Give the lord the glory due to His name. Bring an offering and enter his courts”.
Worship is an active reaction to God. God reveals Himself to men and they react to His revelation, worshiping Him with faith. However, in general, we are even good listeners, but very weak when it comes to practicing God’s word. We get overwhelmed with God’s grace, but we do not give a proper response, that is, obeying Him. I wonder if the reason for a person not be found by God as a true worshiper it’s because this person does not live worshiping as a life style, but only as a result of the moment?
The pattern of God hasn’t changed; God seeks worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth. This is sine qua non condition of worshiping: to be a new creature in Christ regenerated by God’s word. Worshiping in spirit and truth depends first of the new heart received through faith from our inclusion in Christ’s death and resurrection. God does not seek worshipers outside His reign, however, not all that are from His reign are found as worshipers.
Jesus classified the worshipers in three types: Samaritans, who worship Him but do not know Him – nobody has a good relationship with someone they don’t have intimacy with; the ones who know Him, but live in a theoretical knowledge without deep relationship; and the ones who worship Him in spirit and truth. Psalm 100:3 compels God’s people to worship Him by saying: “Be sure that Yahweh is God, He made us, we belong to Him, His people, the flock of His sheepfold”.
We can create excuses not to worship God. We can say that if the place were nicer we could worship for real. We can say that if the church had more human heat and union we could worship with excellence; if the songs were more current or traditional, then we could really worship God. What is really important: the form or the substance? “Spare me of the din of your chanting, let me hear none of your strumming on lyres” (Amos 5:23).
A boy in community asked me: How can I know if what I am doing is a sin or not? I answered: It’s not possible for a person to walk with you all the time to answer this question in any situation. If you do not have a straight relationship with God, you will not know and will not listen when the Holy Ghost talks to you. They same way someone might ask: How can I be a real worshiper? I can answer: when you have a loving relationship with God, it will lead you to worship Him in spirit and truth every day.
The main text of our meditation says: “because the Father seeks true worshipers”. Have You and I been found constantly by God as true worshipers? Let’s make a deep evaluation so we can understand what God is and what we are, therefore we can worship Him in spirit and truth.