Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

A Commons Phrase, Yet Sometimes Misunderstood

            There is no doubt that contemporary Christian worship music has become increasingly popular. Worship has become a thing, a movement, a phenomenon, and, in many places, an industry.[1] Although the growth of Christian worship music is highly convenient for proclaiming the gospel message, it has also led to misunderstanding. The contemporary church has confused the meaning of such terminology by combining the ideas of “praise and worship” and reducing worship to music as a synonym.[2] Consequently, its meaning must be clarified to understand what Christian worship implies. In the context of the Christian faith, worship means the attribution of supreme worth to God as a response to his revelation and saving works with humanity through the outworking of the New Covenant principles.[3] Therefore, Christian worship implies a lifestyle emphasizing a daily relationship with God and his creation.

 Romans 12: A Call to Daily Sanctification and the Ten Commandments

            Romans 12:1-2 and the Ten Commandments are the foundation for Christian worship, for they address how to relate with God and his creation. In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers in Rome, and later to all Christians, to avoid conforming to the patterns of the world and to present their bodies to God as living sacrifices and renew their minds in conformity to the crucified Christ. Christians are meant to develop a Christ-like character and lifestyle contrary to what the world prioritizes, loves, or expects. Consequently, it is necessary to identify the principles that shape believers’ lives in conformity to the crucified Christ and God’s demands.

The principles that lead believers into developing a lifestyle can be found in Mark 12:30-31 and along with the Ten Commandments. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus mentions that the Great Commandments are to love God above all things with all heart, body, mind, and soul, and second, to love others as themselves. The first three commandments in the Decalogue in Exodus 20 show how to love God above all things. First, the Lord God reminds his people of the reasons for such a covenant, which expects them to love and honor him with their actions and whole (without using his name in vain) and prohibits idolatry. Second, God requires his people to practice the Sabbath to rest and connect with him. The remaining commands of the Decalogue are laws meant to regulate God’s people's actions according to the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and, second, to reflect and develop a godly character while rejecting sinful and worldly behaviors. Therefore, implementing such commandments or guidelines in daily life leads believers to become living sacrifices. In other words, they guide Christ’s followers into developing a lifestyle in which sacrifices of good deeds and service to God are life's primary and supreme goals, and it involves engaging God and his creation in a relationship with the body, mind, and spirit.

Worshiping God Vertically and Horizontally

            Based on the content expounded, Christian worship comprises vertical and horizontal aspects. The vertical element relates to how Christians recognize and honor the Lord God. Based on Christ’s Great Commandments and the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, worshiping God in spirit and truth requires Christians to fully devote their heart, mind, and soul to the Lord. In other words, Christians must discipline themselves to be constantly focused on the love of God (mind) through a strict spiritual transformation; to love God above all things, and thus also others with honesty, humility, and sacrifice (heart), and to strive for righteousness (soul).[4] Therefore, the vertical aspect of worship relates to how believers exalt God through thoughts and actions in complete obedience to his commands.

            Fulfilling the Great Commission, the second Great Commandment and the last seven commands of the Decalogue in Exodus 20 comprise the horizontal aspect of Christian worship. Just like exalting God in the vertical aspect of worship involves thoughts, actions, and obedience, it is in the horizontal aspect. Worshiping God horizontally focuses on manifesting the believers’ obedience and love for God in the world as they serve and love his creation. Such love is expressed through faithful witness and proclamation of the Gospel message (fulfilling the Christ-given Great Commission), merciful and graceful servicing fellow believers and non-believers, living up to society’s law and order, taking care of God’s creation (animals, plants, waters, etc.) and aiding those in need of physical, mental, or emotional support. Therefore, the horizontal aspect of worship is consequent and complementary to loving God above all things and with all components of human existence, for it reflects the believers’ priorities according to the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, purposes, and obedience to the Lord.

Living Sacrifice

            Worshiping God in spirit and truth is more than fully engaging in a limited sacred musical experience. It goes beyond the musical arts performance or any other artistic expression. Worship is to ascribe supreme worth to the Lord God and to engage him with all the components of human existence. It is a commitment to the constant renewal of the heart, mind, and spirit to develop and live a Christ-like lifestyle while aiming to love God above all things, love and serve his creation, and bring light to those in need of Christ.

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[1] Bob Kauflin, True Worship: Seeking What Matters to God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 20.

[2] Jeffrey D, Mooney, “Toward a Holistic Biblical Theology of Christian Worship,” Southwestern Journal of Theology, no.1 (2020): 53.

[3] David Peterson, Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992), 19.

[4] Eric J. Kolb, The Psychology of God: A Psychological View of Theological Concepts (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2021), 32-33.