Worship
Does God call us to worship Him because He needs our worship? This is the question that runs through many people’s minds when going to worship at church. Does God command us to worship Him because His ego needs a boost? ... Worship was created not for His benefit, but for our benefit. ... When asking him a few questions about worshipping and why people come everyday to worship at the Bethany Chapel he stated that “worship involves three things, which is listening, applying, and the challenge.” When it comes to worship, listening to the Pastor relate a passage from the bible to current events that are happening in the world today, it’s in applying that passage when you leave the church to the daily things we do in life. ... After observing the worship celebration on Sunday November 10, 2002 it showed me how true worship must be more than simply an intellectual or ceremonial exercise. Much of what passes for worship is little more that the practice of ritual obligations. ... With this approach to worship, the main concern becomes, “Did we do it right? ... Most of the members at the church are families, and seem to be neighbours to each other due to the active socialization before and after the worship celebration. ... The worship place is referred to as a sanctuary, which holds close to 800 members. ... I believe the way they dress doesn’t have anything to do with their worship being authentic. The fact that they offer best in energy, time, resources or ability and whole-hearted worship is demonstrated in whole body worship. ... This style of worship engages the members intellectually and touches the emotions of the heart. ... Worship means engaging our minds to the fullest. Worship that is primarily based on emotion is dangerous, however correct worship lacking emotion is cold, lifeless, and powerless. Such worship employs the head, but cuts the heart out of it. A genuine encounter with God in worship requires both the mind and one’s emotions. Much of the debate about worship in churches revolves around music, the type and style of songs that are sung and the way the worship is structured. However when looking around it seems the single act of worship that appears to touch and move people the most is singing. ... With most Protestant Evangelical churches the style of worship at Bethany Chapel is very upbeat and modern. Mark Simpson explained to us that worship usually consists of a blending of new, contemporary songs and the most meaningful of the old.