Spiritual 'resistance training'
How worship is our orientation towards God
When I was in seminary, we prayed the ‘Daily Office’ every day - a series of prayers based on the rhythm of monastery life (but skipping the 3am prayers!): Morning Prayer, noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline (bedtime prayers).
Our daily lives were oriented around worshiping God in community.
Eventually I graduated, got ordained and moved away, but I still said the Office every day, following the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
I made sure to pray at the same times of day that I knew seminarians would be gathering in the seminary chapel. In this way, I still felt connected with the community.
We were still worshiping together, even though we were not sitting next to each other.
Worship is one of the most basic acts of being Christian - along with prayer.
But it can be hard to define.
It’s easy to think that worship is prayer that we do together, but in fact they are both distinct activities, done privately or in community.
We pray in worship, and we worship through prayer.
Not all prayer is worship, however. And not all worship is prayer.
That probably doesn’t clear things up!
So here’s an analogy:
Prayer is communication with God.
Worship is orientation towards God.
On the basketball court, we take a shot. This is communication - sending the ball towards the basket.
But first, we have to set our bodies and our vision - we are orienting ourselves to be able to shoot.
Both prayer and worship are actions. But prayer is sending our intention towards God (also receiving it back!).
Worship is how we set ourselves in relationship with God. How we convey our understanding of God’s goodness, holiness, and power.
Worship was so important to the earliest Christians that there are several ancient Greek words to define it:
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Latria, the highest form of adoration and reverence, was reserved exclusively for God (function).
Adoration of God alone, was crucial for early Christians who lived in a world where other gods and even rulers demanded worship.
It is the act of worship itself, the orientation towards adoration, reverence, praise.
Singing is an act of latria.
Leitourgia - ‘sacred, public service to God’; is sometimes also described as ‘the work of the people’ (form).
Our common understanding of the word ‘liturgy ’.
The structured form that worship takes, like gathering around the table and blessing the bread and wine.
The order of worship (‘first we sing, then we pray, then we read Scripture’).
Litaneia - Prayers of petition done in procession. It is the source of the word ‘litany’. (communication).
One of the most ancient forms of prayer done in the context of worship.
It is the ‘prayers of the people’ - or intercessions - during the service.
It’s also processing in and out of church, or saying/singing a ‘litany’ during a special season.
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Within Trexo, worship is our primary ‘Strength’ exercise. Worship is strength because through it we are spiritually nourished. Like consuming healthy food and drink, worship strengthens us from the inside .
Why worship was important to the earliest Christians:
Worship distinguished early Christians from the surrounding culture.
Worship was resistance - in a culture where human leaders demanded reverence and adoration, Christians insisted that God alone is worthy of being worshiped.
Worship was one of the things that set them apart from pagans (those who worshiped other gods or even leaders) and Jews.
Worship demonstrated their commitment to their faith.
Worshiping with others strengthens bonds between neighbors.
Formal, communal worship was seen as a service to the community.
It also created and deepened a sense of community.
Worship provided a sense of remembrance and renewal.
Christian worship developed from practices established by Jesus (‘do this in remembrance of me’). This helped believers keep the faith, and keep connected to life with Christ.
Participating in worship with a community renewed believers’ energy and enthusiasm for their mission - sharing the Gospel.
Why worship is important to Christians today:
The ancient understanding of worship can be considered spiritual ‘resistance training’.
Resisting the temptation to worship anything that is not the one true God (our own ambitions or success, for instance).
Building the ‘muscle’ of orientation towards God (‘God is God, and we’re not).
Worship and prayer are the primary acts of being a Christian.
Regularly participating in both creates the basic building blocks of our relationship with God…
… and our community.
Worship helps maintain spiritual fitness
By focusing on and adoring God and through mutual encouragement for our faith journey.
Keeping us in good ‘spiritual condition’ for when we need it (in times of stress, for instance).
Communal worship fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
This sense of belonging can also be fostered when we worship alone.