When I studied the Greek language in seminary, I was told by my professor to never use the “I know Greek” card with any audience, anywhere. He told me that it automatically makes me look better than I really am. He told me that I’d forget all the Greek I’d learned in a period of six months, if I didn’t continue reading and studying it.
I forgot all the Greek I learned in three months.
Well, almost everything. I actually remember one thing about the Greek language.
It’s the fact that there’s more than one Greek word for “worship”.
And that, more than anything else, has impacted the way I spend my days, the way I treat my wife and my daughters, and the way I try to lead a business. It impacts the way I sing on Sunday, and the way I worship without any music on Monday.
WORSHIP IS SUBMISSION (proskynein) – Literally “to kiss towards”. The image here is to bow the knee, take the hand of the king or queen, and kiss it. The key word here is SUBMISSION. I’ve often said that the reason Jesus didn’t use the word “worship” all the time was because He was too busy doing it. He was submitting to the will of His Father. His life was lived on bended knee.
WORSHIP IS RESPECT (sebomai) – This word describes not fear and trembling, but more drawing back with admiration and respect. This word is used far less than the other two in Scripture, but it’s there nonetheless.
WORSHIP IS SERVICE (latreunein) – This word describes a specific service rendered to God, and indicates that the worshipper is making a choice to serve, not being forced to serve (which would be indicated by using the word douleuein).
When you look at the three words for worship, I think we’re really good at having a biblical understanding of the first two words. But I wonder if we need to jump into the third word for worship, and realize something extremely important.
The Bible writers have always believed that real worship involves work.
While understanding that true worship involves our submission (proskynein) and our respect (sebomai), a holistic understanding of worship forces us to see that true worship also involves service (latreunein).
I can’t call myself a Christ-worshipper unless I’m willing to break a sweat.
So for you who get paid by a church, you really need to embrace this notion – that when you serve God on the weekends (latreunein) so that others can engage with God (proskynein and sebomai), the heart of God is pleased with your worship.
He receives your hard work as heart worship.
Your worship isn’t second-class because you’re pushing buttons and faders, or because you’re playing an instrument with excellence. The bible writers label your service as “worship”.
I know how it feels to constantly put your own needs aside, and serve the needs of the people in the room. I know how exhilarating it can become when you visit another church on vacation, because you can just sit and take it all in. I know the crash and burn experience on Monday, only to begin planning the next worship experience on Tuesday.
And I want you to know that your service to people every week IS your worship.
And in my heart of hearts, I honestly believe that God receives your worship in spirit and truth, and sends something back your way.
I think He applauds.
(I owe a debt of gratitude to David Peterson, who is an amazing theologian and biblical scholar. The Greek word study in this post has been inspired from Peterson’s book “Engaging With God” – Eerdman’s 1992).
