“The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God” (A.W. Tozer).
The first part of the above statement would be argued by a secularist, but that is only because a secularist has a different idea of what it means for a people to rise and then to rise to or above a religion. In fact, most secularists would say that a society will only progress when it raises above its religion enough to discard it. However, that being noted, we should realize that Tozer’s statement is self-evident. If the whole reason for a person or a people to be in existence and on this planet is to live for the glory of God, then of course it is true that no one has ever risen higher than its religion. In one sense the United States is living in a time of unprecedented military might (if it chose to unleash those) and its level of living in terms of comfort. However, in many other ways the United States is on a steep, downward spiral. Corporate greed and crime, political corruption, and all other types of dishonesty and crime are rampant. This is a nation that has forgotten God, even trying to get Him out, and the results are being seen. A nation cannot forget God who is the only objective standard of morality possible and expect to continue its standards of morality. Eventually, if there is no return, all the problems brought to bear by forgetting God will bring this nation to its knees.
It is again self-evident that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. We could also say, since it is Christianity that we are concerned with, that no church has ever been greater than its idea of God. The level of a church is not determined by how many people go there, the political status of it, or its budget. The greatness of a church is determined by what it really thinks of God regardless (to some degree) of its creed. No church will ever rise higher in terms of true greatness to any level above what it really (deep down) thinks of God. A church that is Calvinistic in its creed could still have a very low view of God deep in the hearts of the people. That church could actually think that they have God figured out and that He operates according to their notions. That would be a low view of God. That same church might also have little love for others and simply sneer at them as inferior. Again, in some ways the creeds of a church might matter very little if a high view of God is not held.
The worship of a church is not determined by the number of people or instruments in the band. The worship of a church is not determined by how old or how new the song is. The worship of the church is not necessarily true worship just because the songs are orthodox. The worship in the church is determined by how much God is loved and revered in the hearts of the people. I am aware that this is thought of as a nice theory, but we do not find all the arguments about worship in Scripture that we hear of today. If a person loves and reveres God, then s/he should be able to worship in old or contemporary music with some qualifications. Truly great churches are more concerned about God’s glory in the hearts of the people than if they are in giving a perfect external atmosphere for worship. Worship starts in the heart and the heart determines the object and quality of the worship.
It matters little whether the music or words are really good or just okay if the heart is right with God. The music can influence feeling, but the heart determines whether God is worshiped or not. The one worshiping could also be the worshiped if there are low views of God and high concentration on the feelings. A great church is one that tries to get people focused on God and to worship Him from the heart. He is to be exalted and He is to be lifted up in the hearts and voices of the people. We should also not think that worship is only in the music. Worship should also occur during the preaching. If worship does not occur during the preaching, then most likely worship of God is also not happening during the singing. Preaching, in many ways, is simply lifting up God and His ways before the spiritual eyes of men. Too often preaching is lifting up men in the eyes of men. But all that is done in the building that the church meets at should be done in worship of the living God. If true worship must have love and reverence in its adoration of God, then clearly the higher view of God leads to a higher degree of worship. A pure worship is when the hearts of the people are set on God and see Him as high and exalted. A base worship is when God is focused on for the sake of men and man is thought to worship God when his feelings are at a high level. That is a very low view of God. It is also a base worship to worship with low and wrong thoughts of God. He is infinitely glorious and deserves to be worshiped as such.
God Loves... Himself 
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