Corporate Worship

Corporate Worship

So, my take on corporate worship varies greatly depending on which aspect of it I focus on. I think that it is a very important thing that we come together and worship God as a body. I believe God looks at it with favor just as he does when two or more come to Him in prayer. I believe there is power in it.

I believe that the scripture tells us to worship God.

Psalm 40:3 says, "He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him". Also in 1 Chronicles 16:9 we read, "Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts". These just two scriptures that tell us that we should worship God. Therefore, I have no doubt that is what we should do... worship Him.

Where my issues comes is this; I feel that many corporate worship settings sort of guilt people into thinking that in order to worship God they must act a certain way, or do a certain thing. I think that everyone has a different and personal way of worshiping the Lord. We are not all the same. I believe that everyone is capable of worshiping via song in a corporate worship setting, but I don't believe that you have to be physically singing in order to be worshiping and glorifying to God. I believe that you can quietly worship inside of your head and your heart. I believe that God is just as honored by you standing in a worship service with your focus on Him and the good things He has done for you and humanity. I believe that God is honored with whatever way you choose to praise him as long as you are doing it in full and complete submission to Him and not for any other reason.

I love to see people waving their arms and falling in the spirit while worshiping but I do not typically sing songs during worship services. I personally enjoy listening to the music and focusing on the words and focusing on God and what he has done for me and my family and friends. My personal offering of worship is submission of thought and remembering what has been done for me and what is to come! Sunday, at an Easter Service I actually felt lead to join in on the music because the words were very, very true and sweet to my soul. I could feel the presence of the Lord moving and I forgot about myself and my pride long enough to sing the words of the song to Him and Him alone without caring who saw or heard in the midst of hundreds of people... and it was awesome. I get a lot out of the way I typically worship, but let me tell you, I got a whole lot more out of Sundays worship!

Basically, I was reminded of the old days at camp worshiping and I look forward to the years ahead of me worshiping God in whatever way I feel led to worship, and most of all I look forward to worshiping God 'in person' one day! If you have experienced the presence of God then you can only imagine how AWESOME His presence will be when we are actually in HIS presence!!!!!

If you have not experienced his presence, there is hope... you can, all you have to do is believe in Him, in Christ and his death and resurrection, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ is Lord and you will be saved! It really is that simple. No religious rituals you have to do, no anything but pure faith. It is your choice of where you go when you die. Its not only a matter of heaven or hell, it is a matter of being separated from God for eternity.

John 16-18 says this: ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

You have the knowledge, you and only you can choose what you do with it.