As Christians, we live lives oriented towards worshiping God. When did human worship actually begin? How did people in Old Testament times worship, and what does true worship mean? Recently, Professor Liu, a theologian specializing in worship studies, shared insights into “Worship Studies” in a lecture.
Humanity’s First Act of Worship
Professor Liu introduced that the earliest act of worship in human history was recorded in Genesis, when Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord, with Cain giving the fruits of the ground and Abel offering the firstborn of his flock and their fat.
God favored Abel and his offering but did not accept Cain’s. “God can either accept or reject our offerings, showing that God’s accepted one’s sacrifices depends on whether one’s actions and life are righteous and good,” Liu said.
The Uniqueness of Ancestors’ Worship in the Old Testament
Liu continued with a comparison to help the audience understand how the worship of Old Testament ancestors differed from that of pagan nations.
In the Old Testament period, many religions existed, and pagans served many gods. Their gods were distant and did not respond. Their gods were inaccessible and physical in form, and worship was mainly done to fulfill their personal desires.
But the Old Testament ancestors served the one true God who took the initiative to reach out to them. This God had no visible form, and His followers were called to live a life solely obedient to His Word, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Even in suffering, like Job, he would still worship.
Two Forms of Worship in the Old Testament Era
Liu then explained the two main forms of worship developed by the people of Israel, God’s chosen ones, during the Old Testament era.
The first form of worship centered around the priesthood. This worship occurred only in the Jerusalem Temple, where people could encounter God, not among the congregation. Believers encountered God in the sacred ceremony performed through the mediator.
Contrary to the priest-centered worship, a second form of worship emerged in the Jewish synagogue, which was a people-centered worship that emphasized the personal lives of believers as an act of worship.
Synagogue worship centers on congregational worship, with people offering spiritual sacrifices. At this point, worship was not just a sacred ritual but obedience to God’s Word and faithful adherence to His commandments. People can worship God through feeding the hungry, caring for orphans and widows, and aiding the oppressed.
Both worship styles evolved throughout the Old Testament period.
"The synagogue worship profoundly influenced Christian worship," Liu said. The early church established its own worship communities, mainly adopting the synagogue’s structure of prayer, scripture reading, and preaching. Additionally, the synagogue tradition of seeking and understanding God’s will, offering one’s life as a living sacrifice, was adapted in Christianity.
Extending to All Areas of Life, Worship is Like A Feast with God
The synagogue worships valued substance over form, extending worship into all areas of personal life, with life itself becoming worship.
Liu concluded, “God desires true and heartfelt worship from us. He wants us to remember the spirit and essence of worship. Worship is no longer an empty ritual nor a sacrifice to a distant God; it is a feast we share with Him.”
- Edited by Katherine Guo, & translated by Abigail Wu
作为基督徒，我们习惯性地过着敬拜上帝的生活。人类的敬拜到底从什么时候开始，旧约时代的人们如何敬拜，真正的敬拜又意味着什么？
日前，一位来自神学院专门从事崇拜学研究的刘教授，在讲座上分享了基督信仰的“崇拜学”。
以下是讲座的第一部分内容：崇拜神学在旧约中的体现。
一、人类的第一次崇拜
刘教授提到：“创世纪中记载，该隐和亚伯弟兄二人分别用自己地里的出产和羊群中头生的和羊的脂油来献祭给耶和华。上帝悦纳了亚伯，而没有看中该隐和他的供物。这就是人类历史上最早的崇拜。”他补充说：“上帝是可以悦纳或者不悦纳我们的献祭。由此可见，上帝接受人献祭的条件是人的行为和生活是否正确与美好。”
二、旧约时代信仰先祖崇拜的独特性
刘教授继续以比较的方式，帮助大家理解旧约时代中信仰先祖与外邦人崇拜的不同之处。
她讲到：“旧约时代存在很多宗教，外邦人服事很多神。他们的神高高在上，敬拜并不能得到回应。他们的神是无法亲近的，是有形的；他们主要是为了达成自己内心所愿才去敬拜。”
“但旧约先祖的崇拜却非常不同。首先，他们服事的是独一的上帝，是祂先来亲近我们；这位上帝没有任何可见的形象，我们要过单单顺服上帝话语的生活；也要将感谢作为祭来献上，如约伯虽经历苦难，还是会去敬拜。”
三、旧约时代崇拜的两种方式
接着，刘教授带讲解了旧约时代，上帝的选民以色列百姓在敬拜中形成的两种主要崇拜方式。
第一种崇拜方式，即“以祭司为中心的敬拜。这种敬拜只有在耶路撒冷圣殿才能见到上帝，而不是在会众中间。信徒与上帝的相遇只会通过中保举行的神圣仪式才能得到保证。”
“此外，与以祭司为中心的敬拜方式截然不同，旧约中还逐渐形成了犹太会堂的礼拜。”刘教授对于第二种崇拜方式介绍说，“这是以会众为中心的敬拜方式，将会众的个人生活确定为敬拜。”
“会堂礼拜的重点是会众崇拜，通过属灵献祭来敬拜上帝。此时的礼拜并不只是一个圣洁的礼仪，而是对上帝话语的顺服和对上帝诫命的忠实履行。他们以上帝的名去喂养饥渴的人；照顾孤儿寡妇，帮助有需要、受压迫者，这就算是礼拜了。在旧约时代，这两种礼拜方式都在发展。”
刘教授还补充说：“犹太会堂的崇拜方式对基督教崇拜的影响深远。初代教会形成了自己的敬拜团体，他们主要采纳了犹太会堂崇拜的顺序。也就是祷告、读经、布道的顺序便自然而然成为了基督教礼拜的一部分。另外，会堂崇拜中重视人们寻求、了解上帝的旨意，并将自己的生活作为祭物献上的传统，由后来的基督教进行了改编。”
四、敬拜延伸到生活各领域，成为与上帝一起坐席的盛宴
会堂礼拜看重实质而非形式，这样的崇拜观已经将礼拜延伸至个人生活的各个领域，人们以生活作为礼拜。刘教授最后谈到：“上帝希望我们真正地、真心地献上敬拜。祂要我们记住的是礼拜的精神和本质。礼拜不再是一种空洞的形式；也不是向遥不可及的上帝献祭，而是与上帝一起坐席。”
讲座|崇拜学讲座一：旧约中的崇拜
As Christians, we live lives oriented towards worshiping God. When did human worship actually begin? How did people in Old Testament times worship, and what does true worship mean? Recently, Professor Liu, a theologian specializing in worship studies, shared insights into “Worship Studies” in a lecture.
Humanity’s First Act of Worship
Professor Liu introduced that the earliest act of worship in human history was recorded in Genesis, when Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord, with Cain giving the fruits of the ground and Abel offering the firstborn of his flock and their fat.
God favored Abel and his offering but did not accept Cain’s. “God can either accept or reject our offerings, showing that God’s accepted one’s sacrifices depends on whether one’s actions and life are righteous and good,” Liu said.
The Uniqueness of Ancestors’ Worship in the Old Testament
Liu continued with a comparison to help the audience understand how the worship of Old Testament ancestors differed from that of pagan nations.
In the Old Testament period, many religions existed, and pagans served many gods. Their gods were distant and did not respond. Their gods were inaccessible and physical in form, and worship was mainly done to fulfill their personal desires.
But the Old Testament ancestors served the one true God who took the initiative to reach out to them. This God had no visible form, and His followers were called to live a life solely obedient to His Word, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Even in suffering, like Job, he would still worship.
Two Forms of Worship in the Old Testament Era
Liu then explained the two main forms of worship developed by the people of Israel, God’s chosen ones, during the Old Testament era.
The first form of worship centered around the priesthood. This worship occurred only in the Jerusalem Temple, where people could encounter God, not among the congregation. Believers encountered God in the sacred ceremony performed through the mediator.
Contrary to the priest-centered worship, a second form of worship emerged in the Jewish synagogue, which was a people-centered worship that emphasized the personal lives of believers as an act of worship.
Synagogue worship centers on congregational worship, with people offering spiritual sacrifices. At this point, worship was not just a sacred ritual but obedience to God’s Word and faithful adherence to His commandments. People can worship God through feeding the hungry, caring for orphans and widows, and aiding the oppressed.
Both worship styles evolved throughout the Old Testament period.
"The synagogue worship profoundly influenced Christian worship," Liu said. The early church established its own worship communities, mainly adopting the synagogue’s structure of prayer, scripture reading, and preaching. Additionally, the synagogue tradition of seeking and understanding God’s will, offering one’s life as a living sacrifice, was adapted in Christianity.
Extending to All Areas of Life, Worship is Like A Feast with God
The synagogue worships valued substance over form, extending worship into all areas of personal life, with life itself becoming worship.
Liu concluded, “God desires true and heartfelt worship from us. He wants us to remember the spirit and essence of worship. Worship is no longer an empty ritual nor a sacrifice to a distant God; it is a feast we share with Him.”
- Edited by Katherine Guo, & translated by Abigail Wu
Lecture on Worship in the Old Testament: God Desires Ture Worship
