WORSHIP AMONG MENNONITES
To start out my discourse, I am using these gleanings from individuals who had an understanding of the true nature of worship. Everything in quotes is the writings of others, except for [bracketed] comments. I was delighted to find there are men out there that can articulate a clear and concise understanding of worship. I have underlined some of the critical points below. Make sure you read them. After you carefully read these, I have my lengthy comments that reflect my agreement with what these men have stated.
As long as we are culturally bound to the unfortunate English word 'worship,' we need to keep our understanding biblical rather than anchored in church traditions. A worshipper must be a humble person who is willing to express gratitude and praise toward God.
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed to one or more deities.
The reverent love and devotion accorded to a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
Genuine worship is a direct meeting with the Holy, Almighty God and will result in life changes in the worshipper, not just an emotional experience for the moment.
True worship is a choice made by the worshipper, not something that happens. True worship is not measured by emotional responses, but by a change in the life of the worshipper.
Worship is one's heart expression of love, adoration, and praise to God with an attitude and acknowledgment of his supremacy and Lordship.
Worship is an act by a redeemed man, the creature, toward God, his Creator, whereby his will, intellect, and emotions gratefully respond in reverence, honor, and devotion to the revelation of God's person expressed in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit illuminates God's written word to his heart.
Worship is conversation between God and man, a dialogue that should go on constantly in the life of a Christian.
Worship is giving to God and involves a lifetime of giving to him the sacrifice he asks for: our total selves.
The heart of true worship is the unashamed pouring out of our inner self to the Lord Jesus Christ in affectionate devotion.
Worship is the ability to magnify God with our whole being – body, soul, and spirit.
Worship is a vertical interaction. Much happens on a horizontal level [honor and glorifying] when we praise; we speak to one another, and we declare his praise before each other. But worship is more private and is much more preoccupied with the Godhead.
“Real worship defies definition; it can only be experienced.” How true this is, for worship was never intended by God to be the discussion of textbooks but rather the communion with God experienced by his loved ones.
True worship has no selfishness in it. It knows not the act of getting, but of giving.
Many times because of preconceived ideas or traditional opinions, we miss the correct
meaning of some profound Biblical truth. Without proper Scriptural examination and spiritual revelation, incorrect beliefs and opinions continue to persist. This is certainly true concerning the traditional ideas of praise and worship.
In most religious circles of modern Christendom, the act of praising God is minimal, but it is safe to say that the meaning of true Biblical worship is seldom mentioned and that the act of worship is totally neglected. [AMEN]
No doubt the vast majority of today’s modern Christians have never worshiped God. If ever approached on this subject, their retort would be that they go to church on a regular basis, read their Bibles, and sing the hymns of praise in a congregational setting. This may be proper and good, but it is not the depth of true Biblical worship. [AMEN]
One of the natural traits of a truly righteous person should be the giving of praise to God. The Psalmist says, "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; For praise is comely for the upright" (Psalm 33:1). This word "comely" in the Hebrew language means "suitable" "beautiful" and "becoming." Offering praise unto God should be a big part of the daily spiritual experience of the righteous. The definition of the word "praise" means "to set a price on" or "to commend the worth of, to express approval or admiration of, to laud the glory of, to extol." To the righteous, praise is our response to God for what He has done. True worship is to engage oneself in the act of reverence and devotion to acknowledge the honor, dignity, greatness of character, and the high rank of Deity. It also involves a genuine expression of intense love and deep admiration for the Person of God Who is being worshiped.
No doubt much of today’s prayers and praise by modern-day Christians is self-centered and subjective in that they are either begging God to do something for them or "buttering Him up" – so to speak – in order to convince Him to do them another favor. On the opposite pole of the subjective approach to God is a purely objective worship toward God in recognition of His Person, regardless of what He does or doesn’t do for us personally. Too many times, we have been taught to use praise and worship as tokens to purchase the benefits of God, only to be disappointed.