Worship: Starting with Questions

What kinds of songs are we singing? 

I broadly categorize songs as being praise, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, or worship. 

I operate in a world with strict definitions and distinctions between categories. There is a difference between a song of praise and a song of intercession. Songs of thanksgiving and songs of petition clearly separate. Worship is different from intercession or petitions. 

While my mind categorizes these songs differently, most worship portions of church services do not. Many songs sung during the worship portion of a church service seem to be asking for things instead of worshiping God. We are not reflecting on what we are singing or why we are singing that type of song. We are singing the songs because we are told to sing them without reflecting on what we are saying, promising, or asking.

The 5 W's of Worship

What is worship? 

On one hand, it's easy to give a definition from an online dictionary: Worship. I'll let you follow the link instead of worrying about correctly citing to avoid plagiarism. 

Worship can be a noun (5 definitions), a verb (paired with an object) (2 definitions), or a verb (without an object) (3 definitions).

On the other hand, this is something that scholars and theologians have debated through the centuries. This is a huge question over which many books have been written and sermons given.

Who do we worship? 

We are worshipping God. He is the subject of our worship. He is the object of our worship.

When do we worship?

Technically we can worship anytime, but most Christians specifically worship during church services. 

Where do we worship?

Technically we can worship anywhere, but most Christians specifically worship at church buildings. 

Why do we worship? 

We worship, because the Bible tells us to worship and we worship because that is our natural response to encountering God, well after the fear that is.

How do we worship? 

This is the tricky bit. The Bible is surprisingly vague on the specifics of worship. This is the bit that changes from church to church and from worship leader to worship leader.