We looked at PRAISE in the last entry, and noticed that evangelical Christians don’t do much praising these days. But what about WORSHIPING? Surely we worship don’t we? I guess that depends on what you mean by worship. If you mean this new found all encompassing feel-good lifestyle worship, then a lot of people claim to be worshipers. If you claim to worship God when you are brushing your teeth, who am I to argue? But that’s not what I’m talking about here when I say “worship”. I’m talking about Biblical worship, like Moses, Abraham, and King David used to practice. I bet if King David was alive today and went to a church “worship service”, he’d roll over in his grave! Well, you know what I mean. He would first ask if this was a joke, and chuckle. And then when he realized that its no joke, this is what the church calls “worship” today, he would probably weep and mourn.

I’m talking about worship, as defined by the Hebrew word “shachah”. It’s used in the old testament 172 times, mostly always translated as “worship”, “bow”, or “fall down”. If you were to ask King David, often called the “Father of Worship”, about worship… “shachah” is what would be on his mind. According to Strong’s, the definition is pretty simple. It means to “bow down” or “prostrate oneself”. And let me make this very clear, it was not talking about “bowing in ones heart”! That’s the biggest bunch of crock Satan has convinced so many believers of today. “I don’t have to bow down. I’m bowing in my heart”.

So, to summarize the difference between PRAISE and WORSHIP (shachah):

  • Biblical PRAISE is an upward explosion of celebratory energy toward God
  • Biblical WORSHIP (shachah) is a downward, reverent, humble, submissive show of respect

So they are similar in nature, but very opposite in practice and appearance. Here’s a few real world examples of the differences between the two:

  • One is dancing; the other is kneeling
  • One is shouting; the other is bowing
  • One is loud; the other is silent
  • One is leaping; the other is falling prostrate
  • One is exulting; the other is debasing
  • One is rejoicing; the other is trembling

What’s really neat about this, is even though they are so different, God calls us to do both. Check this passage from one of my favorite, although little known, bible stories.

2 Chronicles 20:18-19 - Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

That’s awesome. Here’s another one showing both:

Leviticus 9:24 - Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

It’s really cool how God’s people do both. But what’s really sad is that most Christians these days do neither. We are too prideful to rejoice, or to bow down. People might look at us funny, and think we are crazy. Can’t have that. So I’ll just stand here, move my lips a little, and tell people that I’m worshiping in my heart if they ask. And it really helps that Christians have redefined worship to this lame excuse that is in-describable and outwardly invisible, so that nobody can tell me I’m not worshiping! So now we can all say we are true worshipers, and not be lying, right?

In my next entry, I’ll look at a few facedown worshipers in the Bible. And then maybe get off my soapbox, for a while at least :-)

Update: Lost 19 pounds - 6 more to go.