When you read those words, Extravagant Worship, what pictures come to mind?
Depending on your personal tastes in music and cultural background, you’re probably thinking about people who worship Christ “over the top” according to your evaluation, or the evaluation of your tradition.
That’s an immediate indicator that you have misunderstood the New Testament’s teaching on worship.
Worship isn’t about styles and traditions. “Good” worship isn’t the music you’re use to or whether or not people lift their hands, use icons and candles, or sit quietly listening to Gregorian chants.
The worship book of the New Testament is Romans, and the worship passage is Romans 12:1-2. After his eleven-chapter presentation of the mercies of God available to us in Christ, Paul says this:
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. 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.
Worship is a lifestyle, not an event. When you give your life to God in response to His mercies, you’re worshiping.
Good worship is any thought or action that comes from your redeemed heart’s response to His mercies.
• When you trust Him enough to do what He says, even the hard things—that’s good worship.
• When you’re so overwhelmed by His goodness on a Sunday morning you can’t control your tears—that’s good worship.
• When you’re driving down the freeway and singing your favorite hymn or rocking praise song because you can’t believe how good He is to you—that’s good worship.
• When you hear what He’ telling you to do and you do it, even when your friends tell you your faith is reckless—that’s good worship.
Your model for “good” worship? Mary of Bethany! She poured a year’s wages, her dowry of expensive perfume on Jesus when she considered what He was about to do for her—die for her sins (Mark 14:1-11).
Was it reckless? Was it over-the-top?
Not according to Jesus’ evaluation. He affirmed her greatly.
Really, when you define worship biblically—giving your life to God in response to His mercies—extravagant worship is an oxymoron.
Question: What extravagant act of obedience, risky commitment, or reckless trust step is your redeemed heart telling you to do right now?
Do it.
Jesus always affirms the sincere worship of His people!
It is interesting that no less than nine different Greek words are translated “worship” or “worshipper” in the King James Translation. The most common Greek word that is translated “worship” is proskuneo (pros: towards and kuneo: to kiss) – an act of homage or reverence. This word occurs 59 times in the New testament. Unless one’s name is “Judas,” one does not kiss another whom he or she does not value as precious. One who would kiss God, if it was possible, is one who would view God as infinitely precious and wonderful. In a godly sense, we as Christians should be wholehearted lovers of our Creator and Redeemer.
I think the word that best captures the New Testament concept of worship is found in Romans 12:1. Translators have a difficult time translating the double meaning of “reasonable service” and “worship.” It feels from this that worship involves serving Christ as the only reasonable response to His mercies detailed in chapters 1-11. Thanks for the comment, Edward.