This question came up at our faculty conference in relationship to where we place our longing, desire, hope, security . . . in what we find our greatest joy/satisfaction. Tuesday's email from www.wqotw.org reminded me of this conversation and I took some time trolling their archives for some clear definitions of and insights into worship. I found the below quotes of greatest value with regard to this topic:
1. Ralph Martin's brief etymological tracing of WEORTHSCIPE to WORTHSHIP to WORSHIP ("to attribute worth" to an object).
2. D.A. Carson's strong definition.
3. our response to what we value most, Louie Giglio
4. consciousness of God, Patrick Kavanaugh
5. the contrast with idolatry by Marva Dawn and Noel Due
Here's a slightly explanded list of quotes, with references, which I found of particular interest at www.wqotw.org:
| Barclay, William | 06/08/1999 | The Gospel of John, Vol. 1, The Daily Study Bible | True and Genuine Worship |
| Basden, Paul | 03/23/2004 | Exploring the Worship Spectrum: Six Views | Worship Is Theological |
| Carson, D. A. | 04/20/2004 | Worship: Adoration and Action | Worship Is a Transitive Verb |
| Carson, D.A. | 09/10/2002 | Worship by the Book | Definition of Worship |
| Dawn, Marva | 07/01/2003 | How Shall We Worship?: Biblical Guidelines for the Worship Wars |
| Due, Noel | 06/07/2005 | Created for Worship: From Genesis to Revelation to You | The Great Exhange of Worship |
| Giglio, Louie | 08/05/2003 | The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life | What We Value Most |
| Kavanaugh, Patrick | 06/04/2002 | Worship — A Way of Life | God-Consciousness |
| Kendrick, Graham | 10/13/1998 | Worship | Repentance Is Worship |
| Martin, Ralph | 07/22/1997 | Worship in the Early Church | Defining Worship |
| Stott, John | 10/27/1998 | The Contemporary Christian | What Is Worship? |
I'd say Giglio has given a good general definition of worship in a rather "dictionary way." Due nailed it, understanding that there is no "non-worship" but "wrong-worship."
I have recently begun to wonder if Jesus didn't mean "worship" as we might understand it in the Church today when he said "when you remember me."
Posted by Jim, Jun 30 2007, 05:09