Christian Worship

(Faith : Worship)
Worship Introduction, 敬拜的神學基礎, 基督教的近代敬拜, Theology of Worship,

In Christianity, worship has been considered by most Christians to be the central act of Christian identity throughout history. Many Christian theologians have defined humanity as homo adorans, that is, the "worshipping man," and thus the worship of God is at the very core of what it means to be human. Opinions have, however, run a gamut - and continue to do so - about the relative importance of formal or ritual worship, spontaneous praise and prayer, and the expression of praise integrated with daily life.

Worship is the central focus of a vital Christian faith, and the most distinctive activity of the church of Jesus Christ. The biblical words translated "worship" (Hebrew shachah, Greek proskuneo) mean, literally, to bow down or bend the knee. Such was the ancient gesture of honor to a sovereign and superior authority. To worship is to offer the oath of covenant loyalty to the Great King, and to affirm our faithfulness as his servants. For this reason, the worship of God through Jesus Christ lies at the heart of all Christian expression. In renewing our worship today, it is important to understand what worship looked like in the earliest days of the church.

Foundational Concepts (Old Testament Worship)

The defining picture of Old Testament worship is in the book of Exodus, as they stand at the foot of Mt Sinai, as close as they can come to God. This is the God who has mercifully rescued them from the land of Egypt; they owe him their lives. Nevertheless, he is still a mighty and awe-inspiring God, and they are fearful to approach.

This practice is reinforced by the Tabernacle (the temple/tent that the Israelites carried with them), and, in later years, the Temple in Jerusalem. The temple has three concentric courtyards. The requirements grow in order to approach closer and closer to the centre. Only people who had adequately performed the ritual of sacrifices could enter the first circle, only priests could enter the second circle, and only the High Priest, on one day of the year, could enter the [Holy of Holies].

It is only through the High Priest that people can meet God. Their worship involved three festivals a year (Exodus 23:14-17) and a perpetual stream of sacrifices to make themselves right before God.

Worshipping Jesus (New Testament Worship)

Worship in the New Testament is remarkably different. The key to Old Testament worship is that the religious practices are ongoing. In the person of Jesus Christ, these practices are completed once for all time. The close relationship that the people could not have with God was now possible, through Jesus Christ.

Throughout most centuries of Church history, Christian worship has been primarily liturgical, characterized by prayers and hymns , whose texts were rooted in, or closely related to, the Scripture, and particularly the Psalter. Set times for prayer during the day were established (based substantially on Jewish models), and a festal cycle throughout the Church year governed the celebration of feasts and holy days pertaining to the events in the life of Jesus, the lives of the saints, and aspects of the Church's perception of God.

Early Church Fathers

 

A modern worship session in a larger contemporary Western church will often include a session of music with a live band, guitars,keyboards, drums and several vocalists.

 

The very early development of Christian worship is lost in the mists of history, but Christian worship is, in general, rooted in the worship of Judaism of the Second Temple period.