Worship - A Biblical Definition
The Apostle Paul, certainly history's greatest example of "a thoroughly converted man" (C.S. Lewis notwithstanding, about whom the phrase was originally penned), authored some of the most sublime doxologies to be found in Scripture; these normally arise as a visceral response to the overwhelming nature of the truths which he is led by the Holy Spirit to write about in his epistles:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! . . . For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen! (Romans 11:33,36)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. . . (Ephesians 1:3)
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Another kind of doxology pokes its head out of the black mire of Paul's description of sinful man's downward spiral in Romans 1:18-32. There, in his explication of humanity's idolatrous reversal of the created order so that people "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator," Paul cannot help appending, at the mention of their (and his) Creator: "who is blessed forever. Amen." (v. 25)
Paul is demonstrating forcefully J.I. Packer's dictum that "the purpose of theology is doxology. We study in order to praise." It is interesting that Paul's brief exclamation of praise arises out of his treatment of the doctrine of sin; in it we see Paul's passion for God's glory and his abhorrence of what sinners (of which he considered himself to be chief, 1 Tim. 1:15) had perpetrated in defiance of God's rightful rule.
Paul's response of worship arises out of his conviction that the Creator is alone worthy of worship and adoration (certainly not "the creature," 1:25; indeed he calls men fools in 1:22-23 for substituting images of created beings for "the glory of the incorruptible God"). Indeed this context suggests that at the root of the Fall of man was an issue of worship.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.