Authentic Worship

[Amelia]

Reading through an artical entitled "A Bow and a Kiss

Authentic worship reveals both the friendship and fear of God." by Philip Yancey; I came across this quote

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In the Hebrew Old Testament, the primary word for worship means "to bow down in reverence and submission." And in the New Testament, the most common Greek word for worship means "to come forward to kiss." Between those two—or combining both—lies our best approach to God.

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Those of you who know the hebrew and greek, can you supply these words please.

[there buster]

shâchâh

shaw-khaw'

A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

προσκυνέω

proskuneō

pros-koo-neh'-o

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship.

from Strong's

[Nicodema]

Worship ... what a concept. A mind blowing concept. How I wish I could connect it in my mind with God, and not have it be tainted with memories of another.

[cardw]

The idea of worship inducing fear seems to be counter productive to spiritual growth. Now if my worship provides wonder, a sense of smallness in a vast powerful universe, and yet completely safe, this seems to me, a more transforming experience.

I can see how an awareness of God can create an initial reaction of fear because it is so unknown and we are so insecure. But to self consciously set out to be fearful of God doesn't seem, to me, to be an intent of God.

I believe that when we worship we create. Art in all its forms seems to me to be what worship is about. Art is something that brings together all parts of our expression into something that is about God, a presence that is felt, yet not able to be named. God is something so vast, that to come in contact with God, one has to let go of all preconceptions, expectations, and beliefs. For God is beyond all description, all theology, and even the visible universe itself.

Richard