Most times when someone uses the word “Worship”, the idea of singing comes to mind. However, worship is an extreme form of love – a reverent honor and homage to God, singing is only a part of that. 

In our society, Satan has blinded many Christians to the depth of worship that our Heavenly Father deserves and has presented counterfeits. We have become comfortable in our own definition of ‘worship’ and can even joke about it by placing so many other things above the reverent honor and homage that the Creator of the universe deserves. The Law of First Mention: Where in the bible is ‘worship’ first mentioned?

Genesis 22:3-10 (NIV)

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

This story is not a flippant, nonchalant example of ‘worship’. This was serious. 

How is it then that in our culture, we can take a Sunday morning, when we are commanded to come together in fellowship, and worship our Creator so nonchalantly?

An observation on a Sunday morning for me can look like this: People are coming in and gathering to see one another, sharing conversations and a bagel. However, only a handful are actually at church on time. For 20-25 minutes after the start of service, people are trickling in, going directly to the bagel table, stopping to talk to people, who have been there on time but are still not in the sanctuary, all while the worship music is raising the roof in the auditorium. Why so flippant? Why so nonchalant about gathering together and entering into the presence of Almighty God corporately?

Some of us do have sincere obstacles to getting in there for corporate worship (ministry responsibilities, screaming kids, diapers that suddenly need changing), so this is meant to be more of a "heart check" than a "behavior check." 

But our Christian culture has a very limited view about what is taking place around the world in countries that have been persecuted for their belief in Jesus. I am blessed to have experienced glimpses which in turn has convicted and encouraged me in my worship of God. A few examples: 

Haiti: There are families comprised of several children, who leave their 10x10 mud hut, in the dark, to walk 3 hours and be on time for a 9am worship service under a mango tree. Where they will worship whole heartily for 2 hours and, without receiving any food or drink, joyfully walk 3 hours home.

Albania: Right now in the churches there are people gathering each Sunday in buildings without heat. It is currently snowing and extremely cold and will continue to be that way until March.

And yet, we, having way too much comfort, arrive at church after it begins; hang out in the lobby to chat with others instead of engaging and worshiping the Creator of the universe in an extreme loving and honoring way.

We need to be the examples that the rest of the church will follow. If the leadership of the church does not take worship seriously enough, then we will do a dis-service to those in attendance.

Nobody is going to be enforcing any of this. Just ask yourself - do you get excited to join with others in Christ's church to worship him together? Do you have a sincere desire to express the extreme love and honor that our Heavenly Father deserves? 

This is how we will see Him move mountains, break the chains of Satan, and change hearts like we have never seen before.