Balance in Worship

More than once I've heard someone say that God saved us for his glory, not for our happiness. Or that singing about what God has done for us makes worship man-centered. Or that we worship God because he's worthy, not because we as worshipers get something out of it. Or that spending time ministering to each other isn't worship. These are unfortunate and unnecessary dichotomies.

One of the primary ways we worship God is through proclaiming his glories, perfections, and works. But another equally significant way we worship God is through building one another up through encouragement and blessing. Different activities, but the same end.

Yes, we gather to worship God. But how do we do that? It's not just through songs and words directed to God.

The New Testament Christians gathered in large part to strengthen each other for the purpose of glorifying God in their daily lives. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us about "not neglecting to meet together" so we can "stir up one another to love and good works." We're to be "encouraging one another."

Paul sounds a similar note to the Corinthians: "When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up" (1 Cor. 14:26) Everything in our time together has that same purpose: "building up."

Even our songs of praise are a way we minister to each other for God's glory. That's evident from Ephesians 5:19, where Paul says we're to be "addressing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs," while at the same time "singing and making melody to the Lord."

We aren't having our own little worship experiences independent of each other. As Donald Whitney reminds us:

The thought that the Church at worship is an accidental convergence in one place of a number of isolated individuals who practice, in hermetically sealed compartments, their own private devotional exercises, is foreign to the New Testament picture.

When we sing, we're "teaching and admonishing one another" (Col. 3:16). To express that reality, I'll often open my eyes and look out at the congregation as I sing certain lines. I want to remind myself and the church that we're affirming truth together.

But the horizontal aspect of worship can be even more direct. We might take time to pray for those battling life-threatening illnesses. Someone may share a prophetic impression for older saints. We might honor an individual or specific group in the church for their faithful service or godly example.

If we pursue honor and edification for their own sake, we quickly lose sight of the One we're seeking to please. Meetings become all about what we're doing for each other, meeting people's needs, and making sure everyone is happy.

From Bob Kauflin's "Worship Matters." What a great reminder to us about what worship in the corporate setting should look like!