WORSHIP: THE TRUE PURPOSE OF MISSIONS
I come from a tradition, which recognizes the importance of missions. Many believers are passionate about missions and devote their entire lives to God’s call to the task. I contend, however, that the purpose of missions is often lost in the church. If one-hundred different people are asked to describe the purpose of Christian life, one-hundred different responses are likely. The purpose of life and indeed of missions, however, it simple and broad: worship. By worship, what is meant is glorifying God. By keeping worship at the forefront of life, the church’s purpose is not only ameliorated but also aligned with the desire of God himself. On such a topic, there are three primary imperatives of which the church should be mindful, which will aid in a God-centered focus in missional endeavors.
Worship Is Glorifying
God, Not Just Music
Contrary to popular opinion, worship cannot be solely defined as music. In fact, music, although significant to corporate worship, is but a small part of worship. The church has not done a good job of distinguishing between worship and music. In the titles Christians use and the lingo when discussing worship, the church has given the false perception that music is synonymous with worship. How often is heard something like, “The worship was so good today,” when obviously referring to the music. Even corporate worship includes various acts besides music, e.g. prayer, preaching, Communion, etc. A broad but good definition for worship then is glorifying God. In both Greek and Hebrew, biblical words for worship infer either an attitude or a service rendered; neither refers to music. If worship, therefore, is glorifying God, is it not the entire point of life? Since it is certainly the foundation of life and especially Christian life, missions should lead to the purpose of life: namely worship, which is glorifying God.
Missions Exist Because
Worship Does Not
Continuing, missions exist because worship does not. Only Christians can rightly worship God. That is to say that one who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ does not and cannot possess the ability to worship God. If the goal of missions is to save people from hell by enticing them to Christianity by dangling the carrot of heaven in front of them, the point has been missed. The purpose of Christianity is conformity to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). Anything less than such a purpose has missed the mark. Those who are lost do not worship God; thus, missions are necessary so that they taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Ps 34:8) and, in response, come to a place of total surrender to him: worship. The greatest commandment is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27); to do so is to worship. Christians should understand then that the greatest commandment is not to witness but to worship; similarly, non-believers should see the goodness of God and respond to him rather than obey out of necessity to save themselves from hell. The reason believers preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, in the most dangerous places, and even give their lives is so that the glory and fame of God is known. When worship is not the point of missions, the message falls short, for missions exist because worship does not.
God’s Supreme
Purpose, in All He Does, Is His Own Glory
In all God does, his supreme purpose is his own glory. Many might assume him then to be conceited and stuck on himself. I contend unpopularly that God certainly is stuck on himself, for he has no reason to be stuck on someone lesser, i.e. anyone else. All things are from God, to God, and through God (Rom 11:36); everything he does then is for his own glory and rightfully so. God’s call on his people to missions, therefore, stems from his overarching desire to be worshiped. For that reason, Christians should employ missional activity with the end means in sight: namely worship. When Christians lose sight of worship, i.e. God’s glory, the goal is missed. God’s glory must be supreme for all Christians.
For
the Church to Succeed in Ministry, Worship Must Become Primary Rather Than
Secondary
Unfortunately, the church has discussed worship in a misleading manner, which has certainly contributed to the misconceptions about worship and sadly made worship a secondary goal. Worship, however, must be primary in the church. Without placing worship at the top of a church’s order of priorities, she will not succeed in ministry. Many churches consider their overarching purpose to be reaching others, loving others, or leading others to Christ; yet, these purposes stem from the underpinning goal of worship. Missional endeavors, therefore, should be considered derivatives of the purpose of missions: worship. When God opens the eyes of non-believers to who he is in all his glory and splendor, their response is worship. If instead, non-believers respond to fear of hell, worship does not occur. To achieve the end means and purpose of the church and indeed of life itself, worship must become primary and understood as the purpose of missions.
