What Does Worship Look Like?

I attended a vocal workshop for the choir members led by our worship minister. We were discussing the techniques and physiology of our voices in conveying worship to the congregation. (Sounds like deep stuff, doesn’t it?) One of the attendees asked the question, “What does worship look like?” That question struck me in the heart. The Holy Spirit thumped me and made me ask myself, “Yes, what does it look like. And do I look like a worshipper?”

This question led me to the story of the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4. This woman enquired of Jesus the same thing. She asked, “When we worship, where do we go and what do we do?” In essence, what is worship supposed to look like? Jesus’ response is in verses 23 and 24. He said that we must worship God in spirit and in truth.

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? I mean, I want to do this but I have to understand what it means. What is this “in spirit” and “in truth” thing? Google was not really helpful. I would have had to wade through over 44 million entries. I would never even get to worship if I had to read all of that!

So I went to my favorite website: biblos.com (I’m a big fan.) The word “spirit” is the Greek word “pneumati.” If we lived back then and were Greek we’d better understand the word contextually. The New Testament writers used this exact word 92 times and there was an understanding of its meaning by those that heard. The Greeks understood that this word means: breath, the thing that gives us life. If we put “Holy” in front of the word “Spirit” it becomes “the one who gives our souls life.” So our spirit is the vital part of us that, at the point of our belief in Christ, was made alive through the Holy Life Giver (the Holy Spirit.) We think, feel, decide, and act either under His direction or not. A believer must (according to Jesus) think, feel, decide, and act under the Holy Spirit’s guidance to be a worshipper. It is the place of Godly action in us. So, any action under God’s power is worship. Everything we do with a God empowered attitude is worship. It’s all about the “tude.” Our hearts must have the right attitude to be in the worship zone. It might or might not be visible on the exterior but God doesn’t look there anyway. He’s looking at our hearts.

And now for the “in truth” part of these verses… In biblos.com I found that the Greek word is “aletheia” and means the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me God (my translation.) It is the real you, not the worked up, put on, or made up you. It is your true relationship with God. It is the increasing reality of what you believe and know about God and His character and how you respond to this knowledge.

Now, back to the original question, “What does worship look like?”

If you –believe in Jesus and have accepted His salvation,

If you – want to submit and act according to the Holy Spirit’s intimate leading in your life,

If you – are a student of God’s word so that you can know more about and have a deeper relationship with God.

Then – look in a mirror.

That’s what worship looks like.