Black WorshipWhat is Worship? Jesus said .... 'But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' (John 4:23-24) .....
Worshiping God in spirit means we worship Him from the heart. God is the Truth and His word is alive.
• proskuneo "to make obeisance, do reverence to", "to worship, homage or reverence.
• sebomai "to revere," stressing the feeling of awe or devotion, is used of "worship"
• sebazomai akin to sebomai, "to honor religiously
• latreuo "to serve, to render religious service or homage.
• eusebeo "to act piously towards," is translated "ye worship".
• sebasma denotes "an object of worship".
• ethelothreskeia[-ia] "will-worship" voluntarily adopted "worship," not that which is imposed by others.
What is Praise? Praise - To express approval and commendation of; applaud, eulogize. To express adoration of; glorify (and God). Commendation expressed, as of a person for his virtues, or concerning meritorious actions; utterance of approval; honor given; also, applause. Thanksgiving for blessings conferred; laudation to God; worship expressed in song. The object, ground, reason, or subject of praise.
• Hala/Tehillah (1984) - the root meaning is connected to making a noise. Singing hymns.
• Yada – bodily gestures.
• Zamar (2167) – playing or singing music.
• Yadah (3034) – righteousness – lifting of hands – throw hands up
• Towdah – extend hands in admoration
• Shabach – to shout in a loud voice
• Barak – means to kneel down
In summary, worship and praise are intertwined. Praise is a form of worship. Worship involves the whole aspect of our awe, reverence, love, and respect for Almighty God.
Black Worship - During slavery, many slaves were stripped of their African belief systems and typically denied free religious practice, forced to become Christian. Slaves managed, however, to hang on to some practices by integrating them into Christian worship in secret meetings. These practices, including dance, shouts, African rhythms, and enthusiastic singing, remain a large part of worship in the African American church today.
The Black experience is a full engagement of various worship, intimate prayer, cathartic shouting, triumphant singing, politically relevant religious education, and prophetic preaching.
Prayer: Public and Private – Going before the Lord and petitioning for Him to move on our behalf, on the behalf of others, situations and circumstances in the earth and corporate prayer in public where we pray as a kingdom body.
Dancing: In to His joy – dancing with small movements of happiness, thanks, worship and praise and then. Getting what we call the Holy Ghost when we feel like we’re on fire and we have to moving in a fast pace rhythmic motion in one place or running in a specific area or circle.
Triumphant Singing: In the spirit – singing with joy and understanding and then elevating our singing to a level of personal reflection, when the words and the scriptures touch our lives and situation and we recall what He has done for us and the music becomes a tribute more then just a song. A communication of thanks as we raise and lower our voices in song.
Cathartic Shouting: Gestures of Praise - When the fire comes inside your belly and you can’t help but let it out in shouting motions, some speak in tongues and others blurt out without concern on how they look or are represented in God. Usually the words are repetitive and continue in a rhythmic motion. “Thank you Jesus” “Thank you Lord” “My God” “Yes Yes”
Bodily Gestures: Throwing up hands, clapping, kneeling, lifting hands and laying prostrate. When the fire and reverence is too strong to just remain physically calm. It’s as if the body has been energized and needs to make movements that increase your pulse rate and cause you to feel the need to give praise in a physical manner, where your body parts are communicating with a power outside of itsself.
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