Worshipers
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Our Identity
The second word in our Cedarville Worship Program’s mission statement is “worshipers.” We look for students who have the heart of a worshiper, and we seek to develop that heart while they are here. While I am currently writing an entire book on what it means to be a worshiper, I will just limit myself to a few thoughts in this blog post.
Jesus speaks primarily about worship in John 4. Here, in a conversation with a Samaritan woman next to a well, Jesus answers the woman’s question about where believers should worship with a few powerful statements. In John 4:23, Jesus says
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Here, Jesus uses the word “worshipers.” This is the only time this word is used in the NT. It is the Greek word proskynētēs, derived from its root word proskyneō meaning “to kiss the hand, in token of reverence” or “kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance.” Jesus is describing people who give homage and honor to God.
I find it significant that Jesus uses the word “true” to modify worshipers. It is not enough to be a worshiper. Everyone worships something. We must worship the right God in the right way, and Jesus gives the key in this verse: spirit and truth. It is only then that we will worship appropriately and fulfill our identity in Christ.
Our identity can be found in 1 Peter 2:9:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We are a priesthood with a purpose: to worship God who has saved us!
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Our Destiny
And this is our destiny. We will spend eternity around God’s throne, worshiping him. The Westminster Catechism asks “What is the chief end of man?” and the answer is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. While our glorification and enjoyment of God should begin now, it will last for all eternity. John records the vision of heavenly worship:
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Rev. 7:9-12 ESV
We will worship with saints from around the world and throughout time, fulfilling the destiny that we were created for.
I really enjoyed reading through this post. I didn’t know that you were writing a book on what it means to be a worshipper. I look hope to and look forward to reading that book! I love the motto that Cedarville has for their worship students. “equipping worshippers to serve”. This post went into what it means to be a worshipper. I liked the part in John 4:23 when Jesus mentions “true” worship. That we all worship something, but we must worship God in the right way. I value the professors at Cedarville who pour into students and help develop their heart to be a better worshipper of God.
I love what you had to say about Jesus identifying not only worshipers but “true” worshipers. This is such a good point in our present worship climate where I’ve witnessed many people fall into various traps of worshiping something other than God and thinking they are truly worshiping. It is so important to direct our worship towards the one TRUE God. In knowing this true God and seeing Him more clearly we can seee that he very clearly cares about how we worship Him, which should ultimatley be important to us if we confess a desire to serve Him. I think that all too often the worship leader may be come so preoccupied with ensuring that they are meeting the standards of musical excellence or a high amount of approval from the congregation that they forget to truly bring their hearts back into place of genuine truthful worship. Thank you for the insights!
I really enjoyed this post! I didn’t realize that the word “worship” was only mentioned the the New Testament once. Even though it was only mentioned one time, it’s important to note that Jesus came to reinforce everything that was put into place by the Lord in the Old Testament. The Old testament is very clear about the correct and proper ways to worship. I think in the New Testament, Jesus sought to address the proper heart posture one should have when coming into a state of worship. “True” worship the way God intended. It is easy to get caught up in the law and forget that we are approaching the Lord’s holy throne every time we worship. We must approach him with humility.
Sophia,
To be clear it is the word “worshipERS” that is used only once in the NT.
RO
I agree with everything you said, Dr. O’Neel. We all want to worship something, it’s just a matter of what; that’s just how we were created. If we are to be “true worshipers,” then we are to worship the only one worthy of praise: God. Not only that, but it is also evidently clear that God wants to be worshiped properly. We see this in 2 Samuel 6 when Uzzah touches the Ark and God quite literally smites him for it.