- published: 16 Oct 2013
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Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something.
Evelyn Underhill (2001) defines worship thus: "The absolute acknowledgment of all that lies beyond us—the glory that fills heaven and earth. It is the response that conscious beings make to their Creator, to the Eternal Reality from which they came forth; to God, however they may think of Him or recognize Him, and whether He be realized through religion, through nature, through history, through science, art, or human life and character." Worship asserts the reality of its object and defines its meaning by reference to it.
An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader.
In the New Testament various words are used for worship. The word proskuneo "to worship" means to bow down to Gods or kings.
Catholicism, Anglicanism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Orthodoxy make a technical distinction between adoration or latria (Latin adoratio, Greek latreia, [λατρεια]), which is due to God alone, and veneration or dulia (Latin veneratio, Greek douleia [δουλεια]), which may be lawfully offered to the saints. The external acts of veneration resemble those of worship, but differ in their object and intent. Protestant Christians, who reject the veneration of saints, question whether such a distinction is always maintained in actual devotional practice, especially at the level of folk religion.
Terry MacAlmon (born May 12, 1955) is an American Christian songwriter, recording artist and worship leader. He heads a worship music ministry based in Dallas, Texas and leads worship in conferences, retreats, worship seminars, and churches throughout the United States, and internationally. As a psalmist, he often sings prophetically over congregations, cities, and nations.
He is known for writing the popular song I Sing Praises that has been a Top 40 Christian song around the world, and is still regularly sung in many churches. The song was published by Integrity Music in 1989 and is included in many modern hymnals.
Upon Terry's birth the doctor informed his parents that he would likely not live through his first month due to cranial stenosis (a premature closure of the soft spot in his head). His mother remembers pacing the floor with him every day and praying, "Lord, if You let him live, I will give him to You for Your service." The Lord heard a mother’s cry and miraculously healed her baby. Terry believes that he not only received the gift of life at that time but also a special anointing and gift of music.
One look, one smile, was all it took
One night, one heart was broken
It was real, it's the only excuse
But I know, that forgiveness is a dream