Worship: Our Highest Priority In The Vineyard

"So long as man remains free he (she) strives for nothing so incessantly and painfully as to find someone to worship" - Dostoevski's "The Brothers Karamazov"

Why Do We Worship?

The number one priority in the Vineyard is the worship of God. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Worship is our highest priority because we were created to worship and enjoy God and because He commands us to worship Him alone (Exodus 20:4-5). Worship is also our final destiny as Christian believers. We will spend eternity praising and adoring God! (Revelation 19:1-10). Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, is worthy of all that we are and all that we have both now and forever (Psalm 96:1-9; Romans 12:1-2).

What Does It Mean To Worship God?

There are many different Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible used to convey the meaning of worship. One word describes worship as service. Another word describes worship as praise and honor. But among the many different words used for worship, two words are used more than any others. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word used most often for worship is "schachah" (Exodus 20:4; Job 1:20; Daniel 3). Translated into English, Schachah always involves bowing down, either before a person, an idol, or before God. And in the Ancient Near East, bowing down was an outward, physical expression of submission. A person who bowed down before God was acknowledging God's sovereignty and rule in all of life.

In the New Testament, the Greek word used most often for worship is "proskuneo". Again, proskuneo always involves bowing down in submission before the Lord. However, proskuneo has an added sense of drawing near to God to give Him a kiss. Therefore, true Biblical worship is best defined as a loving, adoring submission to God. (Matthew 2:7-11; 4:8-10; Revelation 4).

From a Biblical perspective, worship involves much more than simply gathering and singing worship songs on Sunday mornings. True, Biblical worship is an act of the heart that can never be limited to a specific time or place. The ultimate expression of worship is a life that is fully devoted to the will of our Heavenly Father. We worship the Lord on Sunday mornings, but we also worship the Lord all through the week, Monday through Sunday! We worship God in church, but we also worship God in the midst of suffering (Job 1:20), in the way we treat our families, in the way we spend our money, in the way we drive when we are late to an appointment, or when we forgive someone who has offended us.

Jesus warns in Matthew 15:8-9 that we can honor God with what we say or sing about Him, but if our hearts are not His, our worship is vain and empty and we are not worshipping "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23).

What Is Our Goal In Corporate Worship?

We meet corporately on Sundays and in small groups during the week to celebrate, praise, and adore the Lord with songs, voices, and instruments. Deep inside we desire and need to meet with God and know Him better, never being satisfied with only our past knowledge of Him. Honest, seeking worship blesses God (John 4:23). We want to bow down before Him and touch His heart whenever we gather together as His family. We do not have to have an "intense spiritual experience" in order for our worship to be worthwhile, even though God will often bless us with His Presence as we worship. If our Heavenly Father responds by touching us individually or corporately as we worship, we are grateful, but this kind of receiving from God is not the goal. Our goal is to give God the glory and love He deserves just because we love Him and He is worthy! (Revelation 4:11)

What Values Guide Our Worship Practices In The Vineyard?

The following seven values bind us together as a church family and shape and direct our practice of worship when we meet together.

1. Worship is given solely for God's glory and honor (Psalm 96:1-9).

   God alone is worthy of our worship. If we focus on a person, a worship team, the type of music or style of worship, we run the danger of straying into idolatry. We do not enter into worship to be entertained. The primary question we want to ask ourselves is not "What am I getting out of worship?" but rather "Is my worship pleasing to God?" We must guard our hearts so we do not fall into worshipping the experience of worship rather than worshipping God.

2. We are committed to a lifestyle of honesty and integrity (Psalm 19:14; Psalm 139:23-24; John 4:23; Ephesians 4:15,25).

   We believe that our Sunday worship time should flow out of a lifestyle of committed devotion to Jesus Christ. We want to rid our lives of hypocrisy and with the help of the Holy Spirit walk in integrity before God and others. We want our worship during the week to match our worship on Sunday mornings. This involves keeping "short accounts" with God, by confessing our sin to Him and receiving His forgiveness and help. It also means choosing to be honest and open before our brothers and sisters, speaking the truth in love and loving and encouraging one another.

3. We want to be intimate with our Heavenly Father in worship (Deuteronomy 6:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 3:14-19).

   "I took my seat on the couch a few minutes late. When I looked around the softly lit living room, no one looked back. Eyes were closed, postures relaxed. A few were seated, some knelt and two women stood with their hands turned upward. They seemed to sing forever. What was the point? Weren't we there to study the Bible? I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. My palms became sweaty. I was embarrassed by the intimate language of those songs. "Lord, am I supposed to sing to you like that too?" I certainly hoped not. Yet within a few weeks, I felt my heart soften. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the music played. Singing those sweet simple songs to the Lord led me into personal revival".                                            John Wimber, Founder of the Vineyard

   Faith in God is about relationship with Him, not about empty religious rituals.  We want to come to our Heavenly Father just as we are. We expect worship to be interactive. We sing songs to the Lord, not just about Him. We want to tell God that we love Him, that we are thankful to know Him, and that we respect Him. Our songs are also expressions of our need before Him. We anticipate that as we draw close to God, He will also touch us with His truth, love, power, and grace. We encourage intimate worship that involves not just our minds, but also our emotions and bodies. We encourage a wide range of expression in worship. We want people to feel freedom to sing or simply be quiet before the Lord. We expect as God draws close to us, there will be tears and joyful laughter. There will be spontaneous clapping and kneeling as well as raising hands to express openness and surrender.

4. Nothing is done for religious effect or to try to manipulate God or His people (I Kings 18:25-29).

   Our songs are invitations for God to visit with us. A worship leader or congregation cannot manipulate the Presence of God through song content or strength of singing and playing. God responds to our hearts, and He decides when to release His Presence (John 3:8). Music is a powerful gift from God, and we want to use this gift responsibly to help people connect with Him. For that reason, we value genuine emotional response in worship that flows out of interaction with God. We do not intentionally use music or words to create an emotional or "hyped" atmosphere. We want the music to facilitate worship but not manipulate it. We generally plan for an uninterrupted flow of worship in our services, singing many songs in succession without the need for coaching or exhortations from the worship leader.

5. We want the whole congregation to participate.  Our desire is to make worship accessible to everyone (1 Peter 2:9).

   Every Christian has access to the throne of grace and should nurture his/her relationship with God. Worship is not a spectator activity. Although we occasionally have solos or other special music in our services, our intention is for the whole congregation to worship actively when we gather together. In an effort to invite people to join in worship, we use songs that are easy to sing and remember arranged in a contemporary musical style. We also encourage more moderate expressions of worship during corporate meetings so others are not distracted. Shouting, waving banners, or dancing in the front of the sanctuary may draw people's attention more to an individual than to the Lord and they are not regular practices in our corporate worship.

6. We welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit in whatever way He chooses to move among us (Romans 8:5; First Thessalonians. 5:19-21).

   A basic value in the Vineyard is that we want to "do what the Father is doing" (John 5: 19-20). Jesus was always tuned into what His Father was doing. We also ask and listen for the Father's direction in our services. The Holy Spirit is actively sought in the preparation of our worship time together. He also has our permission to change the direction of our worship, adding or removing whatever He pleases. We expect God to touch us in worship, moving our hearts to repentance, renewing hope for the future, filling us with His love, deepening our awe and reverence, releasing lasting joy, and facilitating healing. We hold our plans lightly, seeking to support the work of God in His people.

7. Because worship is our highest priority, we invest time, energy, and money to ensure that we have quality in our worship (Psalm 33:3).

   We want to give God our very best in all that we do, but especially in our praise and corporate worship. Excellence will not produce worship, but it can enhance it. In an effort to develop quality, the church invests money for musical instruments and sound equipment that will enhance praise and corporate worship. Leadership actively seeks and trains new team members and worship leaders so the worship ministry is developed and strengthened. The worship musicians of the Vineyard spend time and energy to rehearse and prepare for worship.

What Is Our Vision For Worship In The Vineyard?

The first Vineyard church was birthed out of the honest hunger of a handful of people who desperately wanted to meet with God. Raleigh Vineyard remains committed to this same life-changing intimate worship. We want to expose all of our lives to the influence of God's love and power. For that reason, we seek to develop vibrant, growing, disciplined, and honest worship in our fellowship. We believe that worshipping God together "in spirit and truth" will help convert the lost, heal the physically and emotionally sick, deliver the spiritually oppressed, grow healthy disciples and effectively equip God's church. Worship is our first priority now and our lasting eternal occupation in heaven. We want our worship to bring glory to God.

Andy Park  began recording with Vineyard Music in the late 1980s. He has participated on many Vineyard recordings, including "The River Is Here", "Blessed Be The Name", "Eternity", "Name Above All" and "All I Need".