(10/18/2010) What is Worship?

What or who may receive worship is the focus of today’s question from “Yahoo! Answers.”  A writer using the screen name “royy c” posted the following:


What is worship? Could it be more than acknowledging a supernatural power?


Many still think it has to be to a deity.

Do you think people can worship things, places or people around them? Or is that, to you, a re-definition of the word , "worship"? Or has this always been what worship means?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Meek Abram (10/17/2010)—Despite the promise of GOD that he would receive a permanent homeland, Abram lived and died as a nomad.  Before his death, Abram ministered to others everywhere he traveled.  In addition to digging and leaving an inheritance of life-giving wells of water, Abram built altars that served as monuments to the one, true GOD.  Abram commanded a community of over 300 servants in covenant with GOD, who worshiped in obedience, and were a role-model to the surrounding nations.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For who maketh thee to differ from another?  and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?  now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?   (1st Corinthians 4:  7)


*THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Meek Abram


You are correct in thinking that human beings direct themselves in worship to a broad range of forces and objects.  In addition to drawings (on cave walls), totems, and other man-made pieces used to represent the whole of unseen influences (called “false gods” and “idols” in Scripture), men have mistakenly worshipped such elements as the wind, the rain, the sun, moon and stars, birth, death, fertility, other living creatures, science, and wisdom.

For mature believers, the worship of GOD and Christ appears to emerge from interaction of (1) awareness of divine substance [e.g., faith, grace, holiness, humility, life, love, wrath against sin], and (2) self-awareness [i.e., a correct consciousness of ones capabilities, limitations, spirit nature, strengths, and weaknesses].  Because the fullness of collective and individual being come into expression, worship is at once emotional, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual.


One who worships experiences continuing and repeated discernment, and recognition of the same spirit content existing in others, and within the Greater Divine, that resides within oneself.  Without customs, rituals and traditions developed over long periods, worship is the simple acknowledgment of the Holy through acts of being.  Interactive and social behavior to express worship may not include celebration, church attendance, a music ministry featuring a one-hundred men’s or woman’s choir, “pomp and circumstance.”  Instead, worship may center in childbearing, fasting and other forms of self-denial, forbearance in judgment, giving, humility, obedience, prayer, respect, sharing, trust, and truth-speaking.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, discernment and recognition vital to Christian worship occurs only by the active presence of the imparted, indwelling Spirit from GOD.  A man or woman must be re-born, as it were, possessing divine DNA.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC


*SEE ALSO THESE ENTRIES POSTED PREVIOUSLY AT YAHOO! PULSE