Worship in Music At Its Best

True worshippers are rare these days. This fact is indicative in what modern-day Christianity believes worship to be. We have relegated worship to certain categories, sounds, and personalities.

One of the best methods in communicating what something is, is to first say what it is not. Following this methodology let's briefly explore one thing that worship isn't. Worship is not music. Music can be worship, but music alone cannot embody the totality of what worship is.

Jesus Christ removed the categorical limits from worship in John chapter 4 in his conversation with the woman at the well. She argued that worship was geographical, social, and ethnic in context. However, Jesus' response to her was this; "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The first thing to notice is the nature of God. Jesus says that God is a Spirit. The capitalization of the word "spirit" denotes the idea that God is the Spirit. This is consistent with the idea that God is alone in his sovereignty. There are no other gods except him. He alone is absolute in power, knowledge, authority, and presence. After divesting this great truth, Jesus goes on to instruct the woman on how to worship God. He tells her that it must be done in spirit and in truth.

God does not desire worship from the flesh. The flesh is where we consciously access the world around us. In other words, we are aware of our surrounding through senses or sensory perception of the flesh. (sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smelling) God does not desire worship from the soul. The soul is a deeper sense of things, if you will, than the flesh, it is where our mind, will, and emotions reside. When you hear an individual say that they are "spiritual", what they most likely mean is that they have constant contact with their "soulish realm." However, that is not where true worship takes place. True worship takes place in our spirit. The inner man, the place where the presence of God resides, and the voice of God speaks to instruct and direct the totality of our lives. True worship is a life that is obedient to God and his Word.

God has given us the gift of music to express what we have experienced on earth relative to what he has spoken in our spirits. Edward Buckley & Unity in Spirit's musical offering based on Psalm 126:5 is not only a breath of fresh air, but a bold and necessary step to leading gospel music back to a biblical foundation. The CD is entitled Trust God.

Buckley, a pastor in Oklahoma City, and a highly sought after musician, director, and songwriter in the gospel industry offers a lyrically prolific and insightful collection of songs that challenge the believer not only to trust God, but to realize that God is literally at work in everything...the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is a prophetic encouragement to walk by faith and not by sight and it refocuses our priorities; making the temporary secondary and the eternal primary.

Trust God.