Worship as an Act of Submission in Christian Theology
Worship, in a Christian theological context, is understood as homage rendered to God, which it is considered idolatrous to offer to any created being [1]. This act of worship inherently involves submission, reflecting a posture of deference and obedience toward the divine. The concept of submission is not merely an outward act but an inward disposition, often expressed through various forms of worship.
Biblically, acts of adoration and worship frequently involve physical postures that signify submission, such as prostration, where a person falls to their knees and inclines their body until their forehead touches the ground [3]. This was a common practice in the worship of Jehovah in ancient Israel [3]. Beyond physical gestures, the essence of worship as submission is rooted in a recognition of God's sovereignty and a willingness to align one's will with His. For instance, Christ himself set an example of resignation and submission to God's will, particularly in the face of suffering and death [4].
The New Testament further articulates this connection between worship and submission. Ephesians 5:21 encourages believers to be "subject to one another out of reverence for Christ" [2]. This mutual submission within the Christian community is grounded in reverence for Christ, implying that submission to God is the ultimate foundation for all other forms of submission [2, 10]. Some interpretations suggest this mutual submission extends to various relationships, including political, economic, and ecclesiastical contexts [9].
True worship is characterized by being "in spirit and in truth" [7]. This means that genuine worship is not merely an external ritual but an internal experience where God's Spirit reveals God's truth to the worshiper [7]. This spiritual worship contrasts with legalistic, outward acts and encompasses the entirety of a believer's life, as seen in Romans 12:1 [11]. The "new spirit" given by God enables this kind of worship, fostering a unified heart that seeks God [8].
The idea of a "broken spirit and a contrite heart" as acceptable sacrifices to God (Psalm 51:17) underscores the submissive nature of worship. Sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is aligned with God and others [6]. This internal disposition of humility and submission is paramount, signifying a recognition of one's dependence on God and a willingness to yield to His divine authority. Prayer, as a form of worship, is described as "converse with God" and "pouring out the soul before the Lord," presupposing a belief in God's personality and His willingness to interact with humanity [5]. This direct address to God is an act of acknowledging His supreme position and one's own subordinate role.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Worship — Homage rendered to God which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being (Ex. 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, 9).”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:21 (LEB) — being subject to one another ⌞out of reverence for⌟ Christ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adoration — The acts and postures by which the Hebrews expressed adoration bear a great similarity to those still in use among Oriental nations. To rise up and suddenly prostrate the body was the most simple method; but, generally speaking, the prostration was conducted in a more formal manner, the person falling upon the knee and then gradually inclining the body until the forehead touched the ground. Such prostration was usual in the worship of Jehovah, (Genesis 17:3; Psalms 95:6) it was the formal mode of receiving visitors, (Genesis 18:2) of doing obeisance to one”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- 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).”
- 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).”
- 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 (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:19: Submitting yourselves one to another,.... Which may be understood either in a political sense, of giving honour, obedience, and tribute, to civil magistrates, since they are set up by God for the good of men, and it is for the credit of religion for the saints to submit to them; or in an economical sense; thus the wife should be subject to the husband, children to their parents, and servants to their masters, which several things are afterwards insisted on, as explanative of this rule; or in an ecclesiastic sense, so the Ethiopic version renders it, "subject yourse”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:21: Here the apostle begins his exhortation to the discharge of relative duties. As a general foundation for these duties, he lays down that rule Eph 5:21. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens: not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. Paul was an example of this truly Christian temper, for he became all things to all men. We must be of a yielding and of a submissive spirit, and ready to all the duties of the respective places and st”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:3: "We are the (real) circumcision" (Rom 2:25-29; Col 2:11). worship God in the Spirit--The oldest manuscripts read, "worship by the Spirit of God"; our religious service is rendered by the Spirit (Joh 4:23-24). Legal worship was outward, and consisted in outward acts, restricted to certain times and places. Christian worship is spiritual, flowing from the inworkings of the Holy Spirit, not relating to certain isolated acts, but embracing the whole life (Rom 12:1). In the former, men trusted in something human, whether descent from the theocratic na”