Question: "How much of a priority should worship be in the church?"

Answer: If someone were to save our life, gratitude would be the response. When we are given a gift that we could never afford, we make our appreciation known. Worship is the expression of that gratitude and appreciation. God came as Jesus to save us. His love is without condition. Our worship recognizes His authority as creator of our universe as well as the savior of our souls. Worship, therefore, is of the highest priority for the believer as well as the corporate church.

Christianity is unique among religions in that it is based upon a personal relationship with God. Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” The core of our faith is our personal interaction with our creator.

Worship is an act celebrating that personal relationship. Through worship, we communicate with our God. Through worship, we acknowledge His lordship and divinity. Whether expressed through music, shouting, prayer or other means, worship is, at its core, the expression of intimacy with God. While we are to live in obedience to God’s commands, it is not a cold, mindless obedience that He desires. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

The church is the collection of all who call on the name of God, taking advantage of the grace offered to us through the death of Jesus on the cross. We are told to make disciples and live in obedience to the commands of God. 1 John 3:24 says, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.” Each member of the church is called to worship God. Each of us is to spend time in prayer, speaking to God from the heart. We are to read His words in the Scriptures and meditate on them in our hearts. Private time of worship is essential to our personal spiritual maturity. As a body of believers, we are to be consistently involved in worship through singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, through prayer, through gaining knowledge of the Word, and through the exercise of our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church and the Kingdom of God. Worship is of the highest priority for the church.