If you were going to sum up the purpose of human existence in ONE SENTENCE… What would you come up with? It’s the ultimate question, according to most people: “Why am I here?” If you ask most people in the world, the most common answers seem to be:
- I have no idea?
- Be a good person.
- Enjoy yourself!
Most Christians would know enough Bible to say that the third answer is wrong, but it blows me away how many would come up with some variation of #1 or #2! Of course, we all know the Sunday School answer of, “the reason I am here is to glorify God”, but if you ask what that REALLY MEANS, you come full circle to #1: “I have no idea”.
I really believe that is the underpinning reason for why so much of what passes for Christianity is solely focused on exteriors: we know we aren’t here to enjoy ourselves as the main purpose, and we act like our primary reason to exist is “be a good person”. We teach that morality, godliness, call it whatever you want, is how we live a life that glorifies God.
So… if I had to answer my own question of defining the meaning of life in one sentence? I think I only need one word: WORSHIP.
That word spurs different reactions; it is a loaded word. Atheists bristle at it. Ad men throw it on CD labels and market it… And most Christians don’t understand it.
Worship is not a service. Worship is not a music style. Worship is not living a separate life. Worship is not an action. Worship can and should HAPPEN in all those, but worship is ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
Merriam Webster defines it: worthiness, respect, from weorth worthy, worth + -ship
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.”1:16-18
- Man is made a worshiper, and WILL worship
- Man is not only a worshiper, but an IDOLATER by birth: he naturally worships that which is not worthy of worship
- God’s plan centers around His own glory and worship
- God secures our worship by revealing Himself as the only One worthy of it
- Both Christians and non-Christians run to substitutes for the One who deserves worship, looking to idols meet needs that can only truly be fulfilled by living out who we are created to be: worshipers of God!
I’m going to be painfully honest with these posts: I’m going to tell you exactly where I worship idols; where God is calling to me to let Him break down every altar I’ve built but His own. I hope God will use it to help you worship Him as well, and identify altars that need to go.
[...] well, worship is pretty much the theme of the entire Bible. If you want to catch up, check part 1 , part 2, and part 3. I started off writing on the basis of these biblical [...]
[...] In the first post, we covered the fact that who you worship is ultimately the most important thing about you. The second post dealt with the fact that all false worship is ultimately self-worship. Now I’d like to zoom in a little and get down to some of the nitty-gritty details of what self-worship looks like in the life of the Christian. (spoiler: it looks pretty much the same as self-worship in a non-Christian, just without the excuse) [...]