Sometimes we may equate “being in an auditorium” with worshiping. Sometimes we may associate “gathering with other people on Sunday” as worship. But, when we are (1) in an auditorium (2) with other Christians on Sunday, do we actually worship? That is a critical question to answer.
We have a God-given responsibility to “worship” God (John 4:23-24), to “praise” God (Heb. 13:15), to “glorify” God (Rev. 15:4), to “Give to the Lord the glory due His name” (1 Chron. 16:28-29). This requires desire, thought, effort, determination, activity, etc. There is nothing “passive” about worshiping God. I am not to be an observer or spectator. From beginning to end, my heart and body must be engaged.
However, we sometimes place the emphasis in the wrong place. It is not that some things are not essential to worship, and it is not that some things could cause heartfelt worship to be made unacceptable to God, but we must not lose sight of the real purpose and focus of our worship. Give this some thought.
You may go to worship on Sunday (not Saturday), as Scripture teaches (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2), but did you worship? You may partake of the Lord’s Supper every single first day of the week, as Scripture teaches (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; 16:1-2), but did you worship? You may sing with the congregation without the accompaniment of mechanical instruments, as Scripture teaches (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:15), but did you worship? You may ensure that you are in a place were males lead the worship assembly, as Scripture teaches (1 Tim. 2:8-14; 1 Cor. 11:3; 14:34-35), but did you worship?
You may arrive on time and stay for the entire service, but did you worship? You may give a large amount of money, but did you worship? You may stay awake through the whole sermon, but did you worship? You may sing out, follow along with the prayer and say “Amen,” and take of the bread and juice, but did you worship?
It may look, on the outside, like you did everything right and that you were worshiping God, but only you and the Lord know your heart to know if you truly did worship Him. Jesus spoke of those who misplaced the real focus of worship and said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matt. 15:8). In the next verse, Jesus said that such worship (which is not, by definition, actually worship) is “in vain” (15:9).
Our Lord is “worthy to be praised” (Psa. 18:3) and to “receive glory and honor” (Rev. 4:11). When we gather with other Christians on Sunday, let’s make sure we worship Him.