Question and Answer | Worship and Praise

The words praise and worship are often used casually and almost indistinguishably together, but they are different. Praise is an expression of affirmation or admiration. We can praise people and God. We praise God for what He has done for us. The Bible teaches us how to praise God: with song (Ps. 69:30) and by telling of His mighty acts (Ps. 145:4). Psalm 148 describes generations and creation praising Him.

Worship, on the other hand, is an expression of adoration and reverence reserved only for God. Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Scripture tells us to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). While scholars disagree about what it means to worship in “spirit,” two interpretations inform what we do. One is that we worship spiritedly, with conviction, not mechanically or with detachment. Another interpretation is that worship must be informed and led by the Holy Spirit who teaches us the full beauty and majesty of God. However, people often mistake energy and enthusiasm for real worship. True worship is doctrinally grounded on scriptural revelation. I would add that the language we use in worship should be thoughtful and meaningful.

In summary, worship that doesn’t engage our emotions and affections is empty, while worship that only engages our emotions and affections is incomplete, not worship at all. We must not be like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who honored God “with their lips,” while their hearts were far from Him (Matt. 15:7–9).