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Definition of Worship

What is worship, and what should it entail? Different scholars have proposed various definitions

of the concept of worship as used in religion and theology, and every different ideologist seems

to give a new perspective of the concept of worship. Allen P. Ross, Stephen Charnock, and

Pedrito U. Maynard are some of the ideologists who have been recognized in history to have

explained the meaning of worship. Allen saw worship as a covenant, Stephen viewed it as a

willful act, while Pedrito came up with the idea of community in worship. That way, each of

their definitions seems to bring forth a different picture of worship, and when merged they

suggest that worship is a communal covenant for Christians.

Allen P. Ross viewed worship as a covenant that binds humanity with God. In his view,

there are promises that God made to humans, and in exchange, the latter have to revere, adore,

praise, trust, and obey Him, which are the elements of worship. In the contemporary world,

covenants are binding, and therefore, Allen’s point is that the human race has to keep worshiping

as that is their end of the bargain. What is more, Allen made faith seem like a give-then-take

relationship, where the faithful has to worship before God fulfills His promises in glory.

Henceforth, without worshiping the Lord, it is impossible for one to receive what God promised

humanity, eternal life.

Stephen Charnock, on the other hand, viewed worship from the perspective that people

do it out of will. He argued that it entails knowing the Lord’s greatness, and therefore, seeking a
close relationship with God. Ideally, that means that humanity must agree that God is omnipotent

as that is what would convince them to seek that close relationship. Furthermore, Stephen stated

that one can only worship if they are convinced that God is great as it involves understanding

God’s nature and being willful. Thus, his definition calls on Christians to read more of God’s

word so that they can acknowledge His power, and it is on that understanding that they should

base their worship.

Elsewhere, Pedrito U. Maynard brought forth the aspect of community in worship. He

argued that worship is a way in which a community of believers celebrates its faith.

Implicationally, worship entails that interactions among the believers themselves and between

the believers and God. So, Maynard stressed on the community aspect of worship; it has to be a

way of life. That is to say that worshipping should be a tradition that many people follow. It is a

tradition that connects humans among themselves and humans with God. Hence, the definition

brings forth the notion that worship cannot exist without the community or God.

In light of the three definitions, worship is a communal covenant that binds humanity to

revere God in exchange for His promises. God is almighty, and humans have to acknowledge

His highness through worship, which is the only way in which humans could get close to God. In

addition, as a sign of God’s greatness, many people have to worship Him, and that is the element

of community in defining worship. Therefore, there is the divine promise that many people are

awaiting, and in exchange, they have to worship God for His greatness. That is the succinct

definition of worship based on the three ideas.