Praise and Worship

Those who call themselves conservatives may shy away from the term “Praise and Worship” to separate themselves from those who have hijacked this term and have changed the idea of it into an episode of gyration, loud music, and flashing lights. The Bible commands all believers to praise the Lord and worship God. Because of these commands, we should not be ashamed to uphold the Biblical definition of true “Praise and Worship” by defining it through its correct application. To correctly apply the term “Praise and Worship”, you must first know the Biblical definition.

What is Biblical Praise and Worship?

Praise: To express gratitude; to do honor to; to display the excellence of.

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”  ~Psalm 40:3~

The act of praising God is an outpouring of thanks and gratitude for who He is and for what He has done. “Praise” has nothing to do with who we are but everything to do with who God is. Praise is the act of pointing others to God and not drawing attention to ourselves. If we are to display the excellence of who God is, we will have to do so in a manner that reflects the character of God. He is holy, pure, and righteous. If the style of our music does not reflect these characteristics, then we are not truly “praising” God.

‘ …I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.’  ~1 Cor. 14:15b~

Worship: To perform acts of adoration; to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.

Old Testament worship was centered around sacrifices, holy days, and sacred feats. True worship was the act of reverence to God through obedience to His Word. Although some of the practices of worship may look different in the New Testament, the principle of worshiping God through obedience still stands strong! The aspect of worship in a song service starts with the believer coming to God with a clean heart and mind because they have been living out the commands of God in their life. With a clean heart and mind, the believer is now ready to bring the sacrifice of praise due to a Holy God.

What Music Should Be Used for True “Praise and Worship”?

If true praise and worship should be directed to God, then it is on His terms and conditions that the praise and worship should be displayed. If He is the object of our praise, and not we ourselves, then we should not be as concerned about the music meeting our standards of want but being sure it meets the standard of what God wants. With this in mind, here are some elements to consider when choosing music (and musicians) for your church service.  

The Sound: What does the music sound like apart from the words? A holy God cannot be worshiped with music that strictly mimics the sounds of a perverse and crooked world. If the sound (and feel) perfectly copies the attributes of Rock, Country, Rap, Pop, Jazz, Blues, etc., then it is not fit to praise the KING.

Voicing Style: Many arguments can be made for and against different voicing techniques (sliding, scooping, dipping, riffing, being breathy, etc.). Always be sure to ask the question, “Does this technique in this song, in this setting, bring more honor to God or more attention to myself (or the singer)?”

The Words (or message):

1. Do the words of the song bring more honor to God, who He is, and what He has done and is doing, or do they bring more attention to the storyteller and their problem?

2. Are the words Biblically and doctrinally accurate?

3. Does the song display intelligence (does it rhyme, does it flow sensibly, does it have good meter, etc.), or does it sound like it was written by a four-year-old on a sugar high?

The Singer: We are all called to praise and worship God, but keep in mind that true worship is lived out from day to day and not manifested in a single moment of song. We are all sinners and incapable of perfection, but someone choosing to live in sin and rebellion to God’s Word has no right to publicly lead in song to a holy God that they despise in their actions daily. Singers and instrumentalists should not be chosen based on skills and talents but also on their testimony to those around them.

As true believers, we should have no fear of embracing true praise and worship and implementing it into every church service.