A Biblical Basis for Praise and Worship
In the christian world there are many different "worship styles". You see some churches and even whole denominations who have a great reverence for God and there is a lot of kneeling, (Some churches even have special rails for kneeling on) but not much lifting of the hands. In other churches, there is a lot of lifting of the hands, but never very much kneeling. Other churches have a lot of dancing a celbration and waving of the arms but not much knowledge of why they are doing it. And even other churches have no music whatsoever accompanying their praise and worship.
Some people feel that your praise and worship is a personal thing and that people express their praise and worship each in a different way. Others outlaw various instruments for use in corporate worship and forbid certain musical styles. The other extreme seems to allow any type of music from whatever source at all. Others still, feel that praise and worship has nothing to do with church but it is how you live your life. And more often than not, there are people who think that 'praise-and-worship' is some sort of hyphenated word describing the 20 minute warmup before the church service really begins.
Is there a balance in all this? How does God feel about the praise and worship being expressed to Him? Is it really only our heart attitude that is important or should we back this up with what we do in our praise and our worship? Isn't praise and worship just singing songs to God?
I belive that praise and worship to Almighty God transcends all these issues. The musical style, instrumentation, denomination, body language and even personality become completely irrelevant when you base praise and worship on the same thing as everything else in your christian walk: the WORD OF GOD.
My prayer is that the following articles dealing with aspects of biblical praise and worship will be 'truths that set you free' to 'worship in Spirit and in truth'.
- What does Hallelujah really mean? - a look at the word Hallelujah and what God says it is all about.
- Thanksgiving - the basis for praise - The bible says that we "Enter His gates with thanksgiving..." (Ps 100:4).
- Worship in Spirit and Truth - What does it mean?!
- God's presence - What is it? Why do you want it? How do you get it? And other practical questions are answered.
- No Word, No Praise - God will only inhabit your praises as much as you inhabit His word.