I grew up in a Christian home, and attending church has always been a part of my weekly routine. I have heard many different worship bands, and many different sermons on the importance of worship. I hope that no one doubts my sincerity when I say that worship is important to me. I understand that worshipping the Lord is something that as believers we are commanded to do, and that it is an essential part of our relationship with God. I understand that communal worship is one of the highlights of the traditional church service for many people, and I do not want to diminish its value or to have what I say next to be a stumbling block for anyone. I just don’t really enjoy singing worship in church, and to be honest, I think that’s totally OK.

Nothing Wrong with Singing, it’s Good Stuff.
First, let me acknowledge a few things. We are commanded to sing praises to God. The Israelites did so after crossing the Red Sea as well as in the tabernacle and Temple (Ex. 15, 1 Chr. 6:31-32). Jesus and his disciples also sang hymns (Mt. 26:30) and Paul wrote to the church in Colossians to “admonish one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Likewise, many of the psalms were written to be sung in worship, and command us to sing God’s praises. We also learn in James that our tongue and our words are powerful indicators of the state of our hearts. What better way to use them than to speak and sing praises to the Lord? I so am thankful to our praise and worship band that invest so much time and prayer into leading our congregation in communal worship with one another toward the Lord.

Singing just because-- not so Great.
That being said, I’ve always felt guilty about my lack of enthusiasm toward singing worship at church. I was nervous that this must be an indicator of the state of my heart (and at times, it definitely is). I would watch people go from chatting with one another about their plans after church to raising their arms in worship within a matter of seconds and wonder at their ability to lie their hearts prostrate before the Lord seemingly on command. But, I’m just not there yet in my spiritual walk. Let me not judge any of my fellow believers’ hearts or intentions. That anyone else’s worship would distract me from my own is a reflection of my own sinful heart. Yet, I believe that we are called to prepare our hearts to worship.

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I come from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:20, NIV)

Even Job, who was a righteous man that in every earthly sense had been humbled, must physically and mentally humble himself before the Lord before he can come to worship God. For me, my heart is just not prepared to truly worship the Lord after wrestling with my toddler in the halls, attempting to get coffee, or chatting with friends about their stressful mornings or their cute outfit.

This, I believe, points to one of the dangers of the American church’s somewhat formulaic routine of service. We often treat worship as though it were simply music. It is as though we can simply go through the routine of singing lyrics and raising our arms, and that constitutes worship unto the Lord. Music is not worship, just as worship is not music. Music does not induce worship nor does it motivate worship. I think that as a church body, we often confuse the two. We say, “now we are going to worship”, and immediately the music begins. Music is merely one of the many means of expressing worship.

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but with their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based purely on human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13, NIV)

Let’s not be those guys. If we read further in that same chapter, we see that God really doesn’t appreciate it when his people speak the words of adoration simply because it’s part of the Sunday morning ritual.

Those Hurt by the Church and the Fake Stuff.
There is one more thing that I do want to address. As I was hashing out some of these thoughts with my husband, he brought up a good point. He doesn’t always enjoy singing in church because of some of the things that he has encountered in the church in his past. He, likely along with many of us who have been a part of church culture for even a short period of time, has encountered worship bands, worship leaders, church leaders, as well as individuals, who treat worship as a mood experience. They have insinuated that if you aren’t feeling an overwhelming sense of emotion, if you aren’t raising your arms, closing your eyes, or if you are not feeling God in some way, then you are not truly worshipping. And while we should always be sensitive toward those who have been hurt by other Christians in the past, let’s acknowledge that regardless of one’s history, there is never an excuse to not worship God.

That’s Nice. Let’s Talk Worship.
So, I don’t always enjoy singing on Sunday morning, but I do still worship the Lord. Admittedly, I am likely lacking in the singing department, but I don’t think that’s a reflection of my relationship with worship or with the Lord as a whole. I believe that worship is about our attitude and our posture before God. It is the heart going up to God in humility; full of gratitude and thanksgiving for all that He has done and will do. It is acknowledging who He is according to Scriptures, and our hearts lying prone before His glory, marveling in awe.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, NIV)

It is through meditation, prayer, and reading the word that I worship God. One of the ways in which I show my reverence for the Lord is by seeking to know Him more. How can I worship a God who I don’t know? By reflecting on the word and allowing Him to reveal His glory to me one verse at a time, I am able to prepare my heart to meditate on His goodness and to revel at His grace and love for me. It reminds me of my own tininess in the face of His vastness, and removes my old “needs” and desires to make room for His will. It fills me with truth, something so precious in our world! When I am filled with the truth, my heart desires to reach up and out to God with praises. Likewise, it is through prayer that I am able to, with my tongue, offer up adoration and awe to Him.

In addition to meditation, prayer, and spending time reading the Word, I believe that an integral part of worship is actively following the will of the Lord. It is not always simply a passive attitude, but a call to action.

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)

I’m pretty sure Paul is talking about doing a little bit more than singing a song on Sunday morning and praying for a couple of minutes.

Finally, I want to go to the book of Revelation to see a beautiful example of worship in the throne room of Heaven.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:8-11, NIV)

In this text we see constant, perpetual worship, in a state of humility regarding God’s character and what He has, is, and will do. Regardless of the methodology that I use to get there, I want this to be my goal.