I saw an online editorial headline today that read: “I Started Attending Church Again After 15 Years. Here’s Why.” Granted, I didn’t read the article, but I hear a similar sentiment from people all the time. “I need to get back to church.” … “My kids need to be in church,” … “I started going back to church.” And I’m very proud of anyone who has been out of step with the Body of Believers and decides to join in again. But I want to make sure we have an understanding of what we’re really saying when we talk about “going to worship.”

We use that word often when we talk about our Sunday services: “Worship.” We use the word as though it were a noun. As in, “I’m going to worship.” By this we mean that we are going to a place or event called “worship.” And when we go to a place or attend an event, it says nothing about what we’re going to do when we get there. I can say, “I’m going to the ballgame.” And it may conjure images of me wearing my team jersey, painting my face, and jumping up and down when they score. But I may also go to the ballgame and sit sullenly, not really enjoying the event at all. I’m still “at the ballgame,” but I’m not participating in the spectacle. And that’s the same way we misuse the word “worship.”

Does God take attendance? Does He check whether you’re in your pew or not? Is He so desperate for an audience that He’s just glad you showed up? Of course not. But we get the idea that we somehow get “credit” for attending a worship service, even when our hearts are far from the Lord. We may sit in our pew week after week enduring the drawn out sermon and singing the quaint, outdated hymns because we think somehow God is pleased with our attendance. But we’d be dead wrong.

We may use the word “worship” as a noun, but it’s actually a VERB… an action word. When I say, “I’m going to worship,” it should not be about where I’m going but what I intend to do. We might say, “I’m going shopping.” That really doesn’t mean anything except that I’m going to walk around a few stores and look at some items. I may come home from shopping and not have spent a dime. But if I say, “I’m going to buy a pair of pants,” I have now begun to talk about what I intend to do with my time. So, “I am going to worship,” truly means that I intend to gather with other believers and honor God with my attention, my songs, my prayers, gifts, and obedience. I’m not just going to an event called “worship,” I’m actually going to participate in worshiping God with my whole heart.

Jesus says the Father is looking for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Half-heartedly standing around while other people sing, pray, give, and commit themselves to the Lord is not enough. God isn’t happy with me watching other people worshiping. He wants ME to participate. It begins with understanding that the things we do when we worship have meaning.

The words of the songs mean something. I should think about the words and picture myself singing them to God.

Giving my offering means something. I should think about how I can faithfully give what I have for God to use. My money, my time, and my abilities.

The words of the Scripture mean something. I should listen closely and try to understand them so I can do what they teach.

The invitation at the end means something. I should think deeply about what changes I need to make to my life this week as a result of hearing what the Bible says.

Sunday is coming, Christian. Will you be satisfied attending church, or will you determine in your heart that you are going to worship?