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| Are Praise and Worship the Same? |
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This is something to think about. I don’t know if all will agree, but I do believe it is worthy of further study and discussion. (condensed from a series of 4 previous blogs on worship)
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP?
PRAISE (in our soul)
(1) Praise is specific – exalting an aspect or experience of God to be enjoyed as edification (building up) of the body of Christ Songs/hymns/psalms, instrumentals written to magnify a certain aspect of God or His interaction with us
(2) Praise springs forth out of emotion. It is usually presented with gladness and joy
(3) Praise is most often a group dynamic But it also can be alone for our pleasure
4) Praise is an offering that can be enjoyed by all Praise is for our benefit to strengthen us and our faith
(5) Praise is initiated by us and comes forth from our soul (not our spirit) Praise is intentional
WORSHIP (in our spirit)
(1) Worship is non-specific At any moment, an event, thought, word, activity, revelation, etc. can trigger worship
(2) Worship is not dependent upon emotion It can be expressed in weeping, laughing OR in stillness and silence or awe
(3) Worship can be done anywhere, anytime, any place, but more readily done outside the constraints of time and place and for varying degrees of duration (from milli-seconds to hours).
(4) Worship, whether in a group or alone, is still one-on-one There may be 1,000 people praising God, but only 3 worshipping God, or 997 worshipping. It depends on who is in spirit
(5) Worship happens It is NOT dependent upon us initiating it. We may begin to praise the Lord, but until a spiritual connection is made, worship has not happened. It is God Himself who initiates or becomes the catalyst to bring about worship in us toward Him.
What sets worship apart from praise is listed above, but the main difference is that worship MUST be in spirit and truth/reality (Jn. 4:24). Notice closely Eph. 5:19 “…speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and making melody with your hearts unto to the Lord.” Notice the difference? Our speaking and singing is to one another, for our enjoyment and encouragement/edification, ah, but the Lord hears and enjoys the sweet melody of our hearts. We enjoy the music, the tempo, the harmony of our voices; God hears the heart. Col. 3:16 says, “…teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Again the teaching and singing is for the saints for our - encouragement, but our hearts are toward God. God is spirit. We commune, worship, connect with God in spirit. Our souls manifest something outward that others can see and even participate in. Our spirit (and heart) is something hidden that only God sees; it is our personal spirit link to God. “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (I Cor. 6:17)
One further point: man can manipulate, enhance and influence praise (through music, audio and visual tools, pauses, crescendos, etc). All of that is enjoyable to our souls and can be very uplifting and may usher us into worship. However, worship cannot be manipulated. Worship happens. {In the book of Revelation, John was on the Isle of Patmos, but he was in spirit when He saw the Lord}. Worship is not something we can willfully control. We can quickly slip in and out of our spirit and into our soul (or even our flesh). Worship is a spiritual connection that can happen unexpectedly and end abruptly. When we transcend to a higher plane in spirit (the soul caught in the middle, between body and spirit), we are resonating in spirit with God alone. That is spiritual worship. In Lk. 1:46-47, Mary says, “my soul magnifies the Lord…” Elizabeth could see that and could join in with Mary in praise, but Mary also said, “…my spirit rejoices.” We may be rejoicing in spirit and no one knows, but God does. We may be grieved in spirit, troubled in spirit, rejoicing in spirit but outwardly no one could know, but God certainly does. Hannah was pouring her heart out to God, but Eli thought she was drunk. Hannah said she was oppressed in spirit (I Sam.1:15). Another important aspect of worship is that God is actively seeking true worshippers. He is longing to have an intimate mutual relationship with us. That is why He wants to connect with us in spirit and worship is a way of doing so. It can take the form of prayer, song, meditation, or a spontaneous revealing of Himself in some way at any moment in our day to day life. It could be through nature: a sunset, rainbow, a tree, an animal. God is very creative in how He surprises us, but when He manifests Himself in whatever we He chooses, and we “see,” at that moment worship happens. God set it up and initiated it, and we became drawn and connected with Him in spirit in that instant. That “worship moments” might last a few milli-seconds or hours. God wants us to be connected in spirit so much that He comes seeking worshippers. Some may just hear thunder, others (in their spirit) hear God. Isn’t that wonderful? Every day brings new opportunities for us to watch and listen for Him to seek us out and manifest Himself to us in a hidden way so we can worship. God is seeking worshippers. |
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| Charlie, in response to your blog, I am copying an exerpt from mine...a very similar one...would you go to a doctor for advice on auto mechanics. Only in the Christian world do we authorize one person as a supposed all-subject matter expert. Biblically it isn't so. The only people who had any say over what went on in the temple was those that were over the temple and each area within the temple, including the temple praise and worship leaders (sons of asaph, etc), were the experts in that field. Pastors and laypeople alike preach and teach on this matter as if they have some new knowledge but my question to anyone who steps up to this plate is have you spent the time (years of agonizing training) to master any instrument (vocal even) and I am not asking if said person has sang in a choir. To be authorized to step up to this plate you must understand what makes a real musician tick and it is downright insulting when someone who has not spent the time (or money) I have tell me what they think. We can make any opinion we want and find Biblical verses to back it up...but that doesn't mean it is correct. I once was ministering at a local church and the pastor took me aside and said he wanted to mentor me for a minute...the words still make me sick. He had no musical history yet was going to instruct me on its application. He told me he did not want a concert...Here are the facts, praise is simply exalting God. Worship is serving Him in reverence...the two co-exist but are not the same. Praise cannot be done without worship and worship is a from of praise...even when it is slow. Praise is usually thought of as fast music and worship slow music but that is incorrect. I love this subject and am thrilled you bring it up because so many people are misled in this area. I have heard pastors say they only want three praise songs and two worship songs before the sermon...is the sermon not a form of worship and is not the people reverently receiving it a form of worship. Is not the fact that people are ignoring their life's problems and focusing instead on exalting God (praise) worship? Does not God's children coming before Him in revernece and service whether in a church service or in their normal day to day lives (worship) not praise? I think this is an issue that requires much more attention but if people are going to get an accurate understanding, it needs to be from someone who is more than just a person who enjoys a worship service... |
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| Greetings brother, my thoughts were certainly not from a "professional" standpoint. I'm glad you responded cuz I'd like to hear more from your perspective, especially in your daily life. I think worship should reach much further into our lives than "worship services." I can't think of specific example in the Bible that speaks of "MUST be in spirit" outside of worship. Can you?
I'm looking forward of hearing more of your thoughts as well as others. I've got a lot to learn and I think this is a major area in our lives where we can make practical application and find a deeper more intimate communion with God through out our day.
Charlie |
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| I had a plumber in our church come out to my house the other day after work...he gave me about three hours of his time with his family to help me because I needed it...that is the essence of worship.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. The phrase "reasonable service" is directly translated: rational Spiritual worship [logikos latreia (who speaks latin?)] In the moment he made his gifts and time available to God by serving man in this case, he was worshipping in Spirit. These testimonies should be taking place everytime we gather corporately as believers and should be a major part of our "worship service" as we call it...I am an ironworker by trade...most skilled laborers today feel they have no place on Sunday...and most churches make no place for them. Yet Biblically, they are all you hear of when considering the building and upkeep of the temples and they worked hand in hand with the temple worshippers. In todays church we bid out our jobs internationally settling to pay for slave labor while our contractors have to comb the nation for jobs that can keep their workers paid. It is a great injustice while we have our musical services. You hit the nail on the head when you said worship should reach furthur in our lives that "worship services" In fact, it is quite the opposite. What is supposed to make a "worship service" powerful is when we gather as believers with testimonies of how our constant availability to God in whatever we do (worship) and minister before Him to eachother giving eachother hope that we are not doing this in vain (spelling?). Corporate worship is powerful only when it is a collection of individuals living before God. Music is only to bring us on the same page collectively and should merely be considered a tool. Music is not worship...one would be foolish to change a tire with a tire right? Don't get me wrong, we have powerful services...but that is because we collectively understand all of us have reasons not to be there on Sunday morning and that there are many other places who can provide better facilities and activities than our little church plant...but we gather anyways seeking God knowing He has called us and are excited to bring to the table what has happened since we last met. You are a cool dude Charlie.
Hazard
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| Thank you Haz :), for sharing more. I can identify with what you said about contractors..I be one. I fully agree about "worship" in Rom. 12 also. Mike n Laurie mentioned on their blog "When Do You Stop Worshipping" that worship is a way of life. You have given some very good practical examples.
I like what you said about what makes corporate worship powerful is how much we have been LIVING before God thru the week. I like to think of corporate worship and as the "firstfruits" offering (top most portion/early harvest) to the Lord for that week.
Charlie
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| And you would be a welcomed addition to our local family...going back to your blog about whether it is important to be involved in a church body...the church today needs people like you who will stand during this time of liberallity in the faith (allowing open sin to flow freely "in love"...that is the stand I make and bro, there are families of believers who are like minded...finding them is important. As iron sharpens iron...is quoted everywhere. But the truth is both lose in that action. We cannot be afraid of that...if we are dead to this world but alive in Christ...what do we have to lose anyways if He who has begun this work in us will be faithful to complete it. I promise He won't be caught by surprise. |
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| Amen, we are NOT alone! Here's a quote from the book, "Velvet Elvis" written by Rob Bell: "Whatever those things are that make you feel fully alive and like the universe is ultimately a good place and you are not alone, I need a faith that doesn't deny these moments but embraces them. I need a spiritual understanding that celebrates these kinds of transcendent moments instead of avoiding them."
He is speaking of a daily experience of worshipping God. I call these "God moments" in our day to day lives that bring us closer to God and then..WORSHIP HAPPENS. Those kind of daily experiences help us bring those "first fruit" offerings to our enjoyment and worship together.
Charlie |
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| I believe you just left my cognition level...I could not understand his quote (the first part)...but am enjoying the mess out of this topic |
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| I see what you mean. I think I may have misquoted that first part. Anyway he is saying what we have been talking about. What I call "God moments" of worship, he calls celebration of transcendent moments. It's easy to miss those precious moments.
Sometimes watching TV or a movie, something will touch me, and I just bow in worship at the kindness, awesomeness, mercy or love of God I see in that moment.
I live in the country and I love just kicking back and observing nature. Seeing and hearing the wind in the trees or watching animals interact with one another. Then I think about us humans, we really aren't that different. I see animals also have personalities and certain behaviors that are different from others, but most seem to get along. I don't know why, but for some reason when I sit and watch things like that it just brings up worship in me. I see God in His creation .. bingo! Worship happens.
Charlie |
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| His creation is supposed to leave us in awe. I believe it was Charles Darwin who in the height of his evolution campaigne admitted that the human eyeball scared the wits our of him. In his evolution theory, he had no way to validate how the billions of cells in the eyeball could fall into place at random...it is mathematically impossible. Look at teratoma tumors. They have hair, nails, and teeth. They are random spurts of uncontrollable life that have no soul and kill the body. Nature screams the awesome power of God...it is why so many worship dvd's include so many videos of nature. The two flow hand in hand. As far as animals getting along...well I raise some and I would jokingly disagree...but jokingly only. They do seem to eat eachother for no reason (not even hunger always)...I guess we do that as well though. |
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| webyouthpastor,
your comment about creatures eating each other reminds me of Gal. 5:15 (NIV), "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
Sorry, I feel like I've just cheapened this awesome blog. ~mike |
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| Mike, if humor cheapens anything its a sour mood. I dug it. |
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| Well Mike and Weby, like I said, we really aren't that much different than animals :).
The big difference in us is WE are created in God's image and after His likeness AND we have the Spirit of God living in us so we can fellership. |
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| And we can spell...just joking. |
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