The REAL Worship War: Posture or Posturing?

The Biblical depiction of worship is always a posture: bowing humbly and repentantly in fear of the Lord, with gratitude for His grace, and in awe of His glory. The word in Hebrew is rooted in the word “to be.” Worship is presenting our very being to God as a sacrifice of praise. Romans 12:1 reinforces that posture: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

Too often, our worship focus moves away from the posture OF worship to posturing ABOUT worship. Debate begins about what elements are right and best and most holy. Liturgy, music, and apparel become points of contention. What’s better, worse, most historic, or most relevant become the topics of conversation. And, while many good points may be made during those discussions from sincere hearts, posturing is never worshipful. Jesus stilled the storm of worship tradition debates when He said, “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” (John 4:23).

Worship doesn’t criticize, point fingers, one-up, or tear down. Bowing before the Holy King of kings never has room for self-righteousness. Worship is always and only directed to God humbly and repentantly with gratitude for His grace, always rejoicing in receiving His gifts.

The first use of the word “worship” in the Old Testament is when Abraham made the trek to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. The first use of the word “worship” in the New Testament is when the Magi sought to worship the newborn Savior (Matthew 2:2). All came to bow before the true God, giving completely of self, surrendering opinions, inclinations, and what was most precious.

The posture of worship prevailed on a brushy mountain and in a humble Bethlehem home. 

In the United States, we are spoiled with costly worship venues and accoutrements. The majority world cannot afford massive structures, fancy furnishings, opulent instruments, or pricey print material. I’ve worshiped in an African hut and a Brazilian hovel. It was low-tech and low-literacy, but very present was a posture of worship before the God of heaven.

Posturing tries to prove a worship method; posture points to the One who is worshiped.

Some may cry out in objection, “Lex orandi, lex credendi!” It’s a Latin phrase from the 5th century that means, “The law of praying is the law of believing”—or, “the way you worship will shape your confession.” There is truth in that statement on all sides. If your worship is focused on required elements, methods, and teaching not given in God’s Word, your belief will veer into legalism, works-righteousness, and error.

The author of the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John, exposes this danger. He wrote, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God’” (Revelation 22:8-9).

Be careful. If you hear yourself launching into a discourse about why a way of worship is the only way, you may be bowing before a style, tradition, or cultural idol. Hear the important redirection of the angel of the Lord in Revelation. It’s the simple admonition that replaces posturing with posture: “Worship God!”