In many churches today, the words “worship” and “praise” are used interchangeably; often to describe the hymns we sing, or a particular style of music. But Scripture paints a much deeper and richer picture of what worship is – one that consumes our entire lives and goes far deeper than the songs on our lips.
What is the biblical difference between worship and praise, why does it matter, and what does it look like to honour God both in gathered worship and daily life?
A common mistake: Worship = Praise
We can be guilty of believing our worship begins and ends with the hymns we sing during the Sunday Service. That our worship is our praise. We can often refer to the “worship service”, the “worship songs”, the “worship leader”, and while these terms aren’t necessarily wrong, it can unintentionally lead to a mindset in ourselves and in the church that our worship is our praise; reducing worship to a few musical and emotional moments during the service; but Scripture has a much grander view of worship than this. One that makes it clear worship is not constrained to moments of song, but affects every area of our lives.
This is not to say that praise is not important, we are commanded repeatedly throughout Scripture to give praise to the Lord. There are hundreds of calls to sing to the Lord, exhalt Him, bless His name, give praise to Him. The phrase “Praise the Lord” especially is frequently used throughout the Psalms.
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 150:1-6
The Psalms and other similar passages show us that praise is vital, but it’s never meant to stand alone – it’s one expression of a deeper life of worship. Praise is a part of our worship, not the whole.
The danger of limiting worship to praise alone
To limit worship to praise alone is to misunderstand the richness of what true biblical worship is. When we limit our view of worship, to only singing, we risk becoming like those God rebuked through Isaiah:
“This people draw near with their mouth and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,”
Isaiah 29:13
In context, this is a rebuke from God to Israel who are offering up empty, ritualistic worship. Their praise may look right on the outside, but inside there is a disconnect. They were religious in ritual, but rebellious in heart.
Jesus also quotes this passage from Isaiah in Matthew 15:8-9, when addressing the legalistic Pharisees and religious leaders, who created and kept their laws for outward recognition, but lacked a heart for God, which is something we can learn from.
Equating worship to outward praise alone can lead to vain worship, where there is not a heart devoted to God fuelling our worship. It can become an emotional or ritualistic, spectacle for our own entertainment, rather than an expression of joy in Christ.
“Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Amos 5:23-24
God’s desire isn’t for the loud echo of praise from an empty heart, but a rich song coming from a life filled with the Spirit, and joy for him which pours out in worship.
Singing without obedience is just noise. Praise alone is a heart issue.
“The essence of worship is heart, a heart that treasures God above all things.”
Pastor John Piper
What does worship include?
Biblical worship is not confined to singing. It’s a life shaped by God’s Word, which delights in Christ, and expressed in service to Him.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1-2
Paul appeals to the church in Rome, not just to offer up their voices in praise, but to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. Every part of life is to be given over to God, as they have been purchased with a price, and now their bodies are to be used to honour God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This “living sacrifice” we are to live out as worship is to be holy and acceptable to God, again emphasising the importance of a right heart for God which fuels worship. An empty and cold heart towards God, is attempting to offer an already dead carcass as a sacrifice.
Our worship is a response to God’s glory, and his undeserved grace, which was made known to us through the birth, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, purchasing us from our debt of sin.
This response of worship is shown as a transformed life, lived in obedience – submitting to God’s rule over our life, rather than living for yourself. Depending on him in every situation, and expressing our joy, and need of him in prayer, and in praise. Preferring our brothers and sisters in Christ and living in service of the church, and ultimately for the glory of God. It all accumulates to a heart filled, life lived in worship to God, and most definitely includes singing praise.
“Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself.”
Pastor John MacArthur
This way of living is only possible when we grasp hold of a knowledge of who God is, our sinful state which is deserving of death due to our rebellion against our Creator, and the amazing, redeeming work of Christ.
What a worshipping life and church look like
We see that there is more to worship than praise. We see that those who delight in the Lord from their hearts, worship Him with their whole lives.
What does this look like in my life and in the church?
In Life
”But the hour is coming when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking a such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23-24
In light of the hour of Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension, these true worshippers of God are not identified by the location of their worship, but by the object of their worship and the heart behind it. True worshippers will give their heartfelt worship to God the Father, through the Son.
A biblical worshipping life is one that doesn’t worship due to conformity to rituals or locations, but with an internal proper heart, which is built upon the foundation of the truth of Scripture.
In the Church
A biblical worshipping church is not defined by musical style, production quality, views online, or the number of people in attendance – it’s marked by a congregation whose lives are together reflecting the glory of Christ.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
Paul’s picture here is of the church worshipping with teaching, admonishing in wisdom, and singing – all in thankfulness, and with the Word of Christ dwelling within. The Word of God fuels the church in worship, and the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs echo the Word, reminding afresh and teaching as we sing.
The church that is Spirit led, and gospel shaped:
- Produces and receives Word filled teaching, prayer, and song
- Lives sacrificially, in love and fellowship for the glory of God and building up of the congregation
- Sings in joy and truth
- Displays God’s glory to the world in word and deed
In order for the church to look like this, this also must be a picture of the life of every believer within that church, individually and corporately worshipping and loving God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Worship and praise are not rivals. They are beautifully connected. Praise is the joyful overflow of the heart, expressed in singing, thanksgiving, and exaltation of God. Worship is the greater reality, encompassing every part of life surrendered to Him in our thoughts, affections, actions, and obedience. It’s a life lived in response to the gospel.
So let our churches and our lives be marked by worship that fuels praise, and praise that flows from true worship, until our whole existence becomes a song for the glory of God.
