The Relationship Between Awe and Creative Expression in Worship
Awe, as a profound sense of reverence and wonder, is intrinsically linked to creative expression within worship, often manifesting as a response to divine truth and the work of the Spirit. The biblical understanding of worship emphasizes a heart rightly aligned with God, which then informs how individuals express their devotion [1]. This alignment is not merely intellectual but involves the entirety of one's being, leading to expressions that are both spiritual and truthful [3].
The concept of a "new nature" or a "new spirit" is central to understanding the wellspring of creative expression in worship. Ephesians 4:24 speaks of a believer having a new nature, where God's Spirit expresses His life within them, a transforming work that is part of salvation [2]. Similarly, Ezekiel 11:19 describes God giving a "new spirit" and a "one heart," which Calvin interprets as being content with one God, in contrast to being distracted by other things [7]. This internal renewal fosters an environment where creative responses to God's character and actions can flourish. The Psalms, for instance, frequently demonstrate this connection, with Psalm 51:10 praying for a "clean heart" and a "new spirit," which then leads to expressions of praise and sacrifice [7].
Creative expression in worship is not limited to specific art forms but encompasses any genuine response to God that flows from a transformed heart. This can include vocal prayer, as seen in Psalm 5:1, where the psalmist's words are an audible expression of his devotion [11]. The emphasis is on the sincerity and spiritual origin of the expression rather than its outward form. True worship occurs as God's Spirit reveals God's truth and reality to the worshiper, with Jesus Christ Himself being the Truth [3]. This revelation inspires a response that is both "in spirit and in truth" [3].
The relationship between awe and creative expression is further illuminated by the idea of being "filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18 contrasts being drunk with wine, which leads to excess, with being filled with the Spirit, implying a spiritual exhilaration that inspires worship [9]. This filling of the Spirit is seen as a source of inspiration, leading to expressions that are distinct from worldly excesses [9]. The growth of a believer "into him" (Christ) involves "holding the truth in love," which is a continuous process of spiritual maturation that informs all aspects of life, including worship [8]. This growth moves individuals from a state of spiritual immaturity to one of full-grown spiritual understanding, enabling more profound and authentic expressions of awe [8].
While creative expression in worship is encouraged, it is also understood within biblical parameters. For instance, the prophet Ezekiel's dramatic actions, such as smiting his hand and stamping his foot, were specific prophetic acts of astonishment and indignation, not a general endorsement of all forms of physical expression in worship [10]. The focus remains on the heart's condition and the truthfulness of the expression [1, 3]. Proverbs 19:11, which speaks of a forgiving spirit, and Proverbs 29:10, which contrasts the righteous with the bloodthirsty, underscore that true religion and its expressions are always consistent with a righteous character [5, 6]. The path of wisdom, leading to everlasting life, is characterized by such integrity [4]. Therefore, creative expressions in worship are understood to emerge from a heart transformed by God's Spirit, reflecting His truth and leading to genuine adoration.
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 51:19: 51:19 Sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is right with God and with others (see 15:2-5; 24:3-6; 50:14; Matt 5:23-24).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 4:24: 4:24 in spirit and in truth: One Greek preposition governs both words (literally in spirit and truth) and makes them a single concept. True worship occurs as God’s Spirit reveals God’s truth and reality to the worshiper. Jesus Christ is the Truth (14:6; cp. 14:17; 15:26).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 139:24: 139:24 The path of wisdom leads to everlasting life (see 1:6; Prov 4:18; 6:23).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 19:11: (Compare Pro 14:29; Pro 16:32). This inculcation of a forgiving spirit shows that true religion is always the same (Mat 5:22-24).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 29:10: bloodthirsty--(Compare Margin), murderers (Psa 5:6; Psa 26:9). hate, &c.-- (Pro 1:11; Gen 3:4). seek . . . soul--that is, to preserve it.”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 11:19: I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jer 32:39; Zep 3:9) [HENGSTENBERG]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; Kg1 18:21; Hos 10:2) [CALVIN]. new spirit-- (Psa 51:10; Jer 31:33). Realized fully in th”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:15: speaking the truth--Translate, "holding the truth"; "following the truth"; opposed to "error" or "deceit" (Eph 4:14). in love--"Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called "charity"; yet it is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule (compare Eph 4:21, Eph 4:24). grow up--from the state of "children" to that of "full-grown men." There is growth only in the spiritually alive, not in the dead. into him--so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him. the”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:18: excess--worthless, ruinous, reckless prodigality. wherein--not in the wine itself when used aright (Ti1 5:23), but in the "excess" as to it. but be filled with the Spirit--The effect in inspiration was that the person was "filled" with an ecstatic exhilaration, like that caused by wine; hence the two are here connected (compare Act 2:13-18). Hence arose the abstinence from wine of many of the prophets, for example, John the Baptist, namely, in order to keep distinct before the world the ecstasy caused by the Spirit, from that caused by wine. So ”
- Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 6:11: Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot - Show the utmost marks of thy astonishment and indignation, and dread of the evils that are coming upon them. Some have contended for the propriety of clapping and stamping in public worship from these words! It is scarcely a breach of charity to think that such persons are themselves incapable either of attending on or conducting the worship of God. To be consistent, they should copy the prophet in his other typical actions as well as these; and then we shall hear of their lying on their left side for three hundred a”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 5:1: Give ear to my words, O Lord,.... Meaning not his words in common conversation, but in prayer; the words which came out of his mouth, and were audibly expressed by him at the throne of grace, and design vocal prayer; and so stand distinguished from the meditation of his heart, sacred ejaculations, or mental prayer; see Psa 54:2; and words in prayer to God ought to be few, at least not repeated, Ecc 5:2; and these should be a man's own words, as were the psalmist's; not what were suggested by another, or written in a book before him, but what were of his own composing a”