Three ways to worship God that don’t involve sitting in a pew
There’s an old saying that goes, “I’d rather be on the water thinking about God than sitting in the pew thinking about fishing.”
The analogy is funny, but the point is pretty clear: The best way to worship God is to do what stirs your heart to worship God. Some mornings, that may be sitting and listening to God’s Word in church. But some days, it may be getting out into God’s nature or doing something that sparks the part of your soul that makes you want to worship.
The truth is, God is not confined in a church. We no longer live in Old Testament days when God dwelled among His people within the ark of the covenant. When Jesus came, died and was resurrected, He destroyed the temple system so that God no longer dwells within a building - He dwells within each of us. Therefore, while there is a lot of value that comes from attending church on Sundays and worshipping with your community of people, we are no longer confined to ONLY worship God while sitting in a pew.
Our worship can be much more practical and much more intimate. Here are just a few ways you can worship outside of the church walls:
1. Love others
Loving others is one of the greatest ways that we can worship God. Jesus told His disciples that people will know that they are followers of Him by the way they radically love others (see John 13:35).
In Matthew 22:36-40, the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)
Love is the core of who God is, so loving others is one of the greatest ways to worship God.
If you are a parent, think of it this way. If someone is consistently mean or rude to your child, then they can buy you all the gifts in the world and say all the nicest things, but it won’t matter. Nothing is going to make up for how they treat your kids.
Likewise, if someone consistently nurtures and loves your children, you’re going to always keep a special place in your heart for that person.
God is the same way. When we love and take care of the things that God loves most (His children), then we align our hearts with His heart. And that is a beautiful act of worship.
2. Serve the marginalized
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” — James 1:27 (NIV).
Religion and worship that God loves best is when we care for the marginalized. While loving people (like we talked about above) is something that you can do daily, taking care of the marginalized in the community requires a bit more work. You can start by getting involved with local organizations that help to house and meet the needs of people who are struggling. Giving your time and energy to help others find their footing during difficult seasons is one way to extend the radical love of Jesus to those who need to be reminded of it the most.
Many churches have affiliations with community organizations that help give back to those in need. You can start there to find a program that you feel passionate about joining.
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Often, when standing in crowds of people who were sick and needy, Jesus was moved with compassion. Let us be moved with that same compassion to serve others.
3. Practice thankfulness
One of the best ways to worship God is by practicing a posture of thankfulness throughout your day. Praise and thanksgiving actually play a significant role in worship — so much so that when God laid out the blueprint for the temple among the Jewish people, He dictated that the first room of the temple be the room of praise and thanksgiving.
You see, you couldn’t even begin your journey into God’s presence without first practicing thanksgiving for all He has done and praising Him.
A posture of thanksgiving is a posture of submission. It’s recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God, and that we are simply stewards of what we have been given. When we take this posture, we are reminded that the only firm foundation in life is God Himself — that all else is fleeting. It aligns our hearts with what is important.
Giving thanks and praises also reminds us of the greatness and goodness of God. The Israelites would regularly sing praises after miracles and battles — partly as a way of worship, and partly as a way of remembrance of all that God had done for them. When we begin to praise and worship, we begin to remember the covenant faithfulness of God and all He has done for us.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.”
The act of thanksgiving in times of anxiety forces you to recall all the times God has provided a way. It’s a reminder of God’s faithfulness to you, and it’s one of the most important forms of worship. Fortunately, thanksgiving and praise are no longer confined to the first room of the temple, or to a pew at church. They can be done anytime, anywhere.
Worshipping God can be as constant as breathing. It does not have to wait for Sunday church. It can be ingrained in the daily actions of our lives by how well we love God and love His people.