IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP? (part 2)
I used to wonder about this question a lot. I wasn’t really sure there was a difference. What difference would it make anyway? Then I thought, we often hear the phrase “praise and worship” together. Why use two terms for the same thing? Hmmm, maybe there is a difference. I think we can answer those questions now (at least for me). I do believe there are several differences. PRAISE (Thanksgiving)
(1) Praise is specific. We praise God for various reasons, but songs/hymns/psalms are written to magnify a certain aspect of God or His interaction with us. It is a recognition and appreciation of God/Jesus Christ for what they are, have done, or shall do. Thanksgiving is a part of praise, but thanksgiving is also specific.
(2) Praise is offered out of emotion. It is usually presented with gladness and joy. (3) Praise is most often a group dynamic and is often accompanied with music, players and encourages participation of others (unless one is praising alone). (4) Praise is an offering , like a free will offering. It is initiated/presented by us. (5) Since praise is initiated by us, it often begins with/in our souls and eventually (hopefully) moves into our spirit (where it becomes worship). A few examples: “bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me…” Another example: “My soul magnifies/exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced…” One more: “I will pray with the/my spirit and I shall pray with the/my mind (soul) also.” “I will sing with the/my spirit and I shall sing with the/my mind (soul) also.” (6) Praise is mainly offered and enjoyed by/with others and is an encouragement to one another. Praise is an offering about an aspect or experience of God to be enjoyed as edification (building up) of the body of Christ. I know that some may think I’m stre-e-e-etching this a bit too far, but just wait and hear me out :). There may be more aspects of praise and we would welcome further input. Now let us look more closely at worship. WORSHIP
(1) Worship is recognized and accepted by God ONLY when done in spirit and truth/reality (that is a MUST)…not so with praise. (2) 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). (3) Worship is not dependent upon emotion. It can be expressed in weeping, laughing, or utter silence and stillness. (4) Worship can be alone (often is) or with others, but worship is directed to God alone. 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 during the praising, praying, speaking , listening, etc. (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. True/real worship does not begin until God is manifested in some way. In fact, it is the manifestation of God - the actual “seeing” God (spiritually) that triggers worship. (6) God is seeking true worshippers. It’s not that God just accepts or enjoys our worship to Him..He actually seeks such worshippers. God is actively seeking worshippers. It is God Himself who initiates or becomes the catalyst to bring about worship in us toward Him. God is spirit: worship happens as our spirit and God’s Spirit harmonize. “…he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” (I Cor. 6:17) More on these points in Part 3 |
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