Simplifying Worship

Most people come on Sunday morning to a religious facility to what has been deemed as the "worship service".  You will come expecting what is normally done: announcements, a few songs, a few prayers, communion, and a message.  However, what would happen if any or most of those things were absent?  Would you have "worshiped"?  Do you feel you must include all the normal things to indicate that you actually did "worship" while you were at a "worship service"?


A few years ago, Matt Redman wrote a song called the "Heart of Worship".  It came after he, a worship leader, decided to strip down the worship time to not include any songs.  Out of that a song came and here are some of the words from the song...

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart…
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus

What would happen or how would you react if we did not have any songs the whole morning?  Would we have "worshiped" together?  Or is singing so much of our service that we would feel as if we didn't connect with God if we didn't sing one song?  I think we tend to forget that song is not needed to worship (aka "kiss toward the hand", Greek proskuneo).  It is our heart that is needed to come close to God.  To humble ourself to try to connect/commune with Him.  If your heart is not in it, then it is far from God. 


Some may know that worship is also a part of our daily lives, which is where we get the word "service" (Greek latreuo).  This is a lifestyle, not a certain act of worship (see Romans 12:1-2).  This is not about song, nor is thought about in a "church" setting.


So, are you able to still come to Him even if the music was stripped way?  After all, it isn't about what songs are or are not picked, but about glorifying and lifting up the name of our Savior.  That is what worship is all about - honoring the Godhead, appreciating them, communing with them.  Allow yourself to set aside the songs and put your heart toward God, prostrating yourself (even figuratively) toward Him.


Let's not complicate worship and simplify it by seeing what it is really all about, which is not us.  "It's all about you, Jesus!"





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