Why don’t we see more truly transformed people leaving churches every Sunday? Why are Christians so often seen as hypocritical? Perhaps it’s because we have settled for something less than intimacy with God. Worship is the moment by moment practice of being intimate with God.
Worship (being intimate with God) is experienced and expressed on three ‘levels’. Each is important, but not equally, and they need to be kept in their proper places. When they get mixed up, our worship stops reflecting God’s priorities and transformation is less able to happen. Let’s start with the most important.
The Purpose: There is really only one purpose in worship: transforming intimacy with God. Worship is a discipline that is intended to change us into Christlikeness and send us back into our daily lives to touch others with God’s grace and justice (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Practices: Intimacy must always be experienced and expressed. Followers of Christ through the ages have discovered certain practices that enable us to do this, including contemplation, adoration, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, fasting, solitude, Scripture reading and study. These practices, mindfully used, open us to God’s Presence and the transforming work of God’s Spirit.
The Packaging: These practices can all be carried out in many different ways, according to preferences, situations, traditions or needs. Praise, for example, can be expressed in silence or song, in written or spontaneous prayer, in choir and organ or a band. The practice of praise remains the same in each instance, but it is “packaged” differently.
Packaging is simply a container for the purpose and practices, which remain the same no matter what stylistic choices we make. Yet, it takes most of our energy and causes the most conflict! Choose whatever theatre of worship you will but make the daily practices of the spiritual disciplines key to your life.