A. W. Tozer, prior to his death in 1963, expressed the opinion that "worship acceptable to God is the missing crown jewel in evangelical Christianity." I quote him here from his book entitled, "Whatever Happened To Worship?" A Call To True Worship:
Whatever happened to worship? ...Perhaps you do not think this is an important matter.... We have great churches, we have beautiful worship centers and we sing etc., but there is every indication that we are in need of worshipers. We have many that are willing to serve in a host of capacities but never show up for prayer...many who will help run the church, but you can't get them to the prayer meeting. They are not worshipers. It is a frightful thing that leaders who do not pray and do not worship are...determining the direction our churches will take.
Because we are not truly worshipers, we spend a lot of time spinning our wheels, burning the gasoline, making a noise but not getting anywhere. What are we going to do about this awesome, beautiful worship that God calls for? I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in all this wide world. Some may reply: "If you worship God you do nothing else", but that only reveals that you have not done your homework. The scripture reveals that worship prepares you to zero in on the important things that must be done for God. In the first church, the apostles "devoted themselves to the Word of God and prayer". Practically every great deed done in the church of Christ, all the way back to the apostle Paul, was done by people blazing with radiant worship of their God. Church history proves it was the yearning worshipers who became the great workers...to the point that we must wonder how they ever did it all. So...
We will be making a mistake to just stand back and say, "If we give ourselves to worship, noone will do anything." God is looking for worshipers (John 4:23)...and I want to be among them. Oh that we could get back to acceptable worship again. Then when people come into the church they will instantly sense that they have come among a holy people, God's people. They can testify, "Of a truth God is in this place."
...Strong and needed words for us all, but keeping first things first will always keep us postured for God's best, God's help, God's direction and certain success.
Blessings,
Mitch
