Worship in Spirit and in Truth
There has been much confusion in the church about what worship really is and what it means to be in the Spirit. While Pentecostal and Charismatic churches emphasize the acts of worship and focus on a physical manifestation of the Spirit their passion and experiences are often sought after by other denominations as well. So what does it mean to do as Jesus said and worship God in Spirit and in truth? To determine this we must first define worship.
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
The Zodhiates Complete Word Study Dictionary defines worship in this passage as:
proskuneo; To worship, do obeisance, show respect, fall or prostate before...In the NT, generally, to do reverence or homage to someone, usually be kneeling or prostrating oneself before him...Of God, used in an absolute sense...meaning he worshiped leaning upon the top of his staff...with the words expressing prostration.
To worship means to show respect and honor to God, and when in his physical presence, that means to prostrate oneself in a manner in which you are showing his superiority over yourself. What we do not see in the definition is any reference to music, to the raising of hands, or to any of the other things that happen in what many churches refer to as a worship service. I am not saying that some of these things can not be done when worshiping, but they are not what defines worship nor are they required to do so.
In Romans we see a different word which is also defined as worship. The Zodhiates Complete Word Study Dictionary defines worship in this passage as:
latreia; noun from latreuo (which means to serve, in a religious sense, to worship God), to worship. Service for hire or as a slave, divine service.
So here we have a word for worship which is actually used to mean worshiping as part of a religious act or service. It tells us what our actual act of worship should be.
Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship . 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
To worship is to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. That is something we should do every hour of every day, not only in instances of corporate gatherings or celebrations. To worship means we are to honor God, show him reverence and live a life that is holy and pleasing to him. Obedience in complete submission to God is this the most meaningful act of worship we can perform.
So how do we do this in Spirit and in truth?
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