A Worship “Experience”

Many people in the religious world talk about the worship “experience.” What exactly is a worship experience? You will not find this term in the Bible. So what do people mean when they use it?

The worship experience has to do with the worship service in a local church. The experience refers to all the things involved in the service – the message, the music (typically performed by a band), the atmosphere (lighting, décor, etc.). All of these things are part of this “experience.” The things that one sees, hears, and feels make up the worship experience.

If we turn our focus to the will of the worshiper, problems will come. Paul spoke of the futility of “self-made religion” or “will worship” (Colossians 2:23). These people’s religion and worship was based upon their own will. Appealing to the will of the worshiper has led to various wrong practices – instrumental music in worship; serving the Lord’s Supper on Saturday evening; messages that are motivational, self-help lectures, rather than gospel sermons; and so on. These have the “appearance of wisdom” (Colossians 2:23), but are useless.