Most Christians would agree that worship is meant to be a lifestyle, not an occasional act. This agreement, however, fails to be activated in most people’s lives. It is not so much hypocrisy, but instead a lack of growth. A “growth” in the sense of growing closer to God through relationship, not acts. For the most part, Christians do crave a lifestyle devoted to God; they merely find themselves caught between a dedication to God and a dedication to their flesh. We have all experienced this; if you haven’t, you're lying.
This topic first popped into my mind after my friend remarked something relating to, “So-and-so is a bit much because she is fire cracker as soon as worship begins.” As soon as I heard this, I felt my heart tug at me. Too often worship stands for a church band playing for a crowd who proceed to “worship” after warming up to the atmosphere. Personally, I believe that worship starts when you wake up; one should not need to “warm up” to the atmosphere created in church. We should carry this atmosphere of worship with us everywhere we go. When a worship band begins playing, it should not be abnormal for someone to immediately enter into worship, because they should have already been pursing an atmosphere of worship throughout their day.
When worship becomes a lifestyle it should be impossible to switch God on one day and switch Him off the next. God does not flip the switch off on you, so why would you do so to Him? Everyday in your life is a day to advance His will for your life and the world; don't waste it. Standing still results in a lukewarm faith, and God tells us that He will spew us out of His mouth if we are lukewarm. It is difficult to believe that someone lives for God when they show no conviction. Some people show more concern for the judgement of others than the judgment of God. These people tend to desire the title and benefits of Christianity without the commitment or calling. It is obvious when one lives for God one day and not the next.
In my opinion, displaying love is the biggest factor of a lifestyle devoted to worship. In short, a lifestyle of worship is a lifestyle reflecting God, and God IS love. Thus, I find it hard to believe that someone could have God while not showing love towards others. Jesus, himself, shared love to all people, including prostitutes, the diseased and criminals. It is not our job to judge or push condemnation on others; it is our job to show love. By showing love, we show God, and He will be the one to place conviction upon hearts. This pattern is the only way to bring the lost to God. Lifestyles of worship should always radiate love.
Every Christian is more than familiar with the saying “worship is a lifestyle,” but rarely do people reflect this principle. Saying a prayer and finding salvation are only the beginning of a Christian life; we are called to be disciples of God and promote His Word everywhere. It is our job to stand out from ordinary culture, and to do so we must make our lives show worship in every aspect. If you cannot accept the challenge then you might need to double check whether or not you live by your desires or by God’s desires. Christians follow God’s calling to live a life dedicated to lifestyle worshiping Him.
