What is authentic worship?

Since I began this fast last week the words “authentic praise” was been rebounding in my mind and I have been silently assessing it and mulling it over in my mind.  In contemporary society today, the word “authentic”, “authenticity” and “our authenticity” is often banded about and used described people’s actions and behaviour.  However I ponder what being authentic truly means and how is that manifested in relation to praise and worship.

The dictionary defines “authentic” as of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine. "the letter is now accepted as an authentic document"

synonyms:

genuine, original, real, actual, pukka, bona fide, true, veritable;

  So how do we translate the idea of real, genuine and bonafide into praise and worship an what does that look like.    Well the bible says in

John 4:24 

Context: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
…23"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 25The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."…

Therefore as followers of Jesus and children of the Most High, what is “authentic worship”, our worship was be real, not an act or performance in case someone is watching, because guess what God is always watching.  This true authentic worship, can and may take many different forms, reflecting who were are as individuals, our current journey and our individual circumstances.  However the key to “authentic worship” is not the form it take or even where it happens, but the fact that it happens, It is the fact that it is praise worthy, it is genuine and true gratitude for the relationship we have with God through the Holy Spirt.  It is real appreciation and adoration for the Prince of Peace, whether (and especially) in times of difficulty when we encounter difficulty or during times of grace and prosperity when we are on the mountaintop.

Additionally, “authentic worship” is also about being real and honest with God about who we are, warts and all, not holding back but as one of T.D. Jakes books was famously entitled we should be “Naked but not Ashamed” before God.    The Lord God already knows who we are so why put on a mask and hide behind it, pretending to be someone else entire.  Who knows our true selves or our authentic selves, so our “authentic worship”, should be open honest and true. 

Sometimes worship is confounded in theatrics of praise and worship especially within the Pentecostal faith, however there is nothing wrong with singing worships sound loudly and enjoying them.  However, I want you to recall and remember that “authentic worship” is dynamic and be different according to the individual and your circumstances and situation.  “Authentic worship” is about thanksgiving, adoration and genuine real adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ, lived out in our daily lives, through our circumstance and manifest in numerous ways.  

For instance, in  1 Kings 19:12 The Lord Speaks to Elijah at Horeb

…11So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"… (http://biblehub.com/1_kings/19-12.htm)

Although God was only in the still small voice that Elijah heard, he could have easily manifested himself in any of the devices that Elijah experienced, such as the Strong wind, earthquake or a fire.  It is the same with us and our “authentic worship”, sometimes we may worship with screaming and shouting, listening to worship music on YouTube; sometimes silent prayer, loud singing, soft singing, meditating upon his word, listening to a sermon, reading a bible devotion or the silence prayer from our heart.  God is an eclectic and diversity God, he loves all forms of worship, all he asks it that our worship is in “Spirt and in Truth” or as we would say in modern society it is “authentic worship”. 

I am a person who panics when I encounter difficult situations, even though I should know better, God is teaching me to remember and to teach my children that when we encounter uncomfortable situations, don’t panic just engage in “authentic praise”.  I pray that you will be as uplifted, encouraged and reminded by these words, as I have been.  In Jesus Name.

Your Sister-In-Christ Cheli