What is Worship?

What is worship?

Really. That’s a serious question.

You see, I think worship is one of those things that we all know so well – or at least assume we know – that we don’t always think about it. And so, as I jump into an occasional series on worship, I’m interested in what you think about it. So three questions:

What, for you, constitutes meaningful worship?

When you go, what are you hoping for?

Why do we go at all? What, that is, is the purpose of worship?

Just to prime the pump: I’ve always found it interesting that at the root of our word “worship” is the Old English weorthscipe – which means “worthiness” or “to be of worth.” My hunch, then, is that the origin of worship was to come together to ascribe worthiness to one’s deity. But I wonder, post Reformation, if it still means that. Or, perhaps to put it more provocatively, does the God we know in Jesus need our worship. Or might worship be the place where we gather to hear God call us worthy, to ascribe worthiness to our lives, loves, hopes, and struggles?

I don’t know. But I do know I’d covet your reflections in the comments below. Thank you! I’m looking forward to exploring and learning more about worship – no matter how you define it 🙂 – together!