The Doctrines Of Praise And Worship
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, May 28, 2026 (Donate)
Praise and worship times dominate our local churches, Christian
schools, and special events like conferences. There is a biblical basis for these
two doctrines which seem to go hand-in-hand today, even though they are
distinct. Let’s evaluate these doctrines
Praise In The Bible—What Was It?
Praise in the Bible was the joyful acknowledgment and
proclamation of God’s greatness, holiness, mercy, power, and His mighty
works. Throughout Scripture, praise was directed toward God because of who He
is and what He has done.
The Hebrew words translated as “praise” often carried
meanings such as boasting in God, celebrating Him, giving thanks, shining forth
His glory, and lifting our voices in joyful declaration.
The Psalms—which are often praise songs—reveal how
central praise was in the life of the godly. Praise was expressed through
singing, thanksgiving, musical instruments, spoken testimony, prayer,
rejoicing, and even in public declaration and speeches.
Psalm 150, the last Psalm, calls believers to praise God for
His mighty acts and excellent greatness. Israel praised God after victories,
deliverances, covenant blessings, and acts of mercy. People, such as David,
regularly praised God both privately and publicly. Praise was often emotional,
but it was based in Scriptural truth and reverence rather than mere excitement
or outward display.
When believers praised God openly, they declared His glory
among the nations and to other people. The Psalms are great examples of this
with praise through remembrance of God’s faithfulness proclaimed openly.
Our praise should be a reminder of God’s character,
promises, and salvation. In the New Testament, believers praised and glorified
God through prayer, singing, thanksgiving, and testimony centered on Jesus
Christ and His finished work.
Praising Others?
At this point, we have been discussing Godly praise.
There was also praise toward others when they deserved it—though this shouldn’t
be done the same way as praising God. Some instances of praising others
are:
- David
and Jonathan: David praised his brother-in-law Jonathan for his dedicated
loyalty and friendship (1 Samuel 18:1-4).
- Moses
and Jethro: Moses had received counsel and praise from his father-in-law (Jethro)
for his leadership (Exodus 18:17-23).
- Paul
and Timothy: Paul commended Timothy for his genuine faith and service and
encouraged him (Philippians 2:19-22).
- Jesus
and John the Baptist: Jesus praised John as the greatest born among women
(Matthew 11:11).
- Barnabas
and Paul: Barnabas recognized and praised Paul’s salvific change and
ministry (Acts 9:26-27).
- The
Centurion: Jesus praised the faith of the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
These instances show us that there is a way to credit others
with praise or commendation respectfully without yielding them in the category of
praising God for His unique greatness and deeds.
What Was Worship In The Bible?
Biblical worship involved both outward expressions of
reverence and inward spiritual submission to God. What does that mean
practically? In the Old Testament, one of the primary Hebrew words for worship
literally meant “to bow down” or “to prostrate oneself.”
Worship therefore carried the idea of humbling oneself
before the authority and majesty of God. Men and women often physically bowed,
knelt, or fell on their faces before the Lord in recognition of His holiness
and sovereignty.
However, Scripture makes clear that worship was never
intended to be merely external ritual. God frequently rebuked Israel when their
outward ceremonies were disconnected from sincere faith and obedience. Worship
that honored God only with the lips while the heart remained far from Him was
condemned by the prophets (consider also Matthew 15:8).
True worship required us to be humble, full of repentance, genuine
faith in God, and having obedience to God’s Word as our worship flows from the
inner soul and spirit.
In the New Testament, worship became even more clearly
understood as spiritual in nature through the revelation of Christ. Jesus
declared in John 4:23-24 that true worshipers must worship the Father “in
spirit and truth.”
Since God is Spirit, worship can’t be confined to a specific
geographical location, building, or ceremonial system. Worship now
centers on Christ and involves the believer offering his entire life to God in
loving and godly submission.
Romans 12:1 describes believers presenting their bodies as
“a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,” which Paul calls reasonable
service or worship. This shows that worship extends beyond church gatherings
into every aspect of the Christian life. Prayer, obedience, holiness,
thanksgiving, songs, service, and faithful living all become “acts of worship”
when done to the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence one can see how it gets connected to
song and praise so often.
Jesus Accepted Worship
Jesus Christ accepted godly worship in the Bible, which is
one of the clearest evidences of His divine nature. Throughout both the Old and
New Testaments, worship belongs ultimately to God alone. Yet Jesus repeatedly
received worship without rebuking those who offered it.
After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples “worshiped Him,
saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:33). After the
resurrection, the women “came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him”
(Matthew 28:9), and Thomas declared to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Jesus was even worshipped by the wise men soon after His birth (Matthew 2:11).
Jesus never corrected these actions because He wasn’t merely
a prophet, angel, or teacher—He is God the Son incarnate. Hebrews 1:6 even
states regarding Christ, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Since
Scripture consistently teaches that only God is worthy of worship, Christ’s
acceptance of worship demonstrates His equality with the Father in divine
nature and authority.
In contrast, angels, apostles, and all created beings
rejected worship because they are servants of God rather than God Himself. When
John the Apostle attempted to worship an angel in Revelation 19:10, the angel
immediately stopped him, saying, “Worship God.”
Likewise, when Peter entered Cornelius’s house and Cornelius
fell before him, Peter lifted him up saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man”
(Acts 10:25-26). Even Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes in distress when
crowds attempted to honor them as gods in Acts 14.
These examples show the sharp distinction Scripture makes
between the Creator and created beings. Satan, being in utter rebellion, tried
to get God to bow down and worship him. Jesus corrected him (Matthew 4:9-10).
Godly worship belongs solely to the triune God because He
alone is eternal, holy, sovereign, and worthy of glory. Angels and apostles
faithfully redirected worship away from themselves and toward God, whereas
Jesus rightly received worship because He truly is Creator and Lord.
How Was Praise And Worship In The New Testament Different
From Common Forms Today?
Praise and worship in the New Testament were generally much
simpler and more centered on God’s Word than many common forms seen today. The
early church focused on biblical doctrine, prayer, fellowship, communion,
Scripture reading, and Christ-centered singing. Regular gathering for worship services
were to show reverence, edifying one another, done in truth, and spiritual
unity rather than performance or spectacle.
Modern worship practices can sometimes become highly entertainment-driven,
emotionally manipulative, and centered around stage performance.
In contrast, the New Testament church gathered primarily to glorify God and
strengthen believers spiritually. The focus wasn’t on creating an atmosphere or
emotional experience, but on honoring Christ through truth and sincere
devotion.
The early believers often worshiped under persecution,
poverty, and hardship—in Peter’s case even in prison once! Simplicity
characterized many gatherings, whether meeting in homes, public spaces, or
under difficult conditions. Singing a hymn was important, but it existed
alongside prayer, teaching, Scripture, fellowship, and communion rather than
overshadowing them.
The New Testament also dictates that services be orderly.
Paul instructed the churches that worship to God should edify others and
reflect God’s character as a God of peace rather than confusion. While emotions
certainly existed in biblical worship, they were governed by truth and
reverence rather than emotionalism which can often be detached from
sound doctrine.
How Are Songs And Psalms Related To Biblical Praise?
Songs and psalms were arguably the primary expressions of
praise throughout the Bible. The Book of Psalms served as the “inspired
hymnbook” of Israel and contains prayers, praises, confessions, thanksgiving,
lamentations, and declarations of God’s greatness—put to music!
The New Testament continued this same emphasis. Ephesians
5:19 and Colossians 3:16 instruct believers to speak to one another in “psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs,” singing with grace in their hearts unto the
Lord. These passages show that Christian music was intended to glorify God and
to encourage and instruct fellow believers.
Through psalms and songs, believers expressed themselves toward
God before the Lord. We do this commonly today as well.
Biblical songs and hymns, since the Bible was written, tend
to be rich in theology and center on God’s attributes and works. They taught
believers about God’s holiness, salvation, judgment, mercy, faithfulness, and promises.
Take note of judgment. Some suggest that our praise shouldn’t focus on the distressing attributes of God but limit it to His loving attributes, but this isn’t the case. One can praise God for His perfect jealousy, perfect justice and judgments, and his righteous anger and wrath. These are perfectly Scriptural.
Praise through song also helps unified God’s people.
Congregational singing allowed believers to collectively proclaim truth and
magnify the Lord together. Throughout both Testaments, music worked as a
powerful means of remembering God’s great works and responding to Him with
thanksgiving—but this should be done with reverence as well.
With regrets, some modern “praise” songs tend to be more
about “I” and “me”. With that said, we really need to get back to the heart of biblical
worshipping and praising God. Remember, praise is about being humble in our expression
toward God and His greatness and great works. It’s not about us.
What Does The Bible Say About Making New Songs Unto God?
The Bible repeatedly encourages believers to sing a “new
song” unto the Lord. Passages such as Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1, and Psalm 98:1
connect new songs with fresh expressions of gratitude and praise for God’s
continuing faithfulness and His mighty acts.
The command to sing a new song doesn’t mean believers must
abandon older hymns or continually pursue novelty simply for the sake of
innovation. The heavenly worship scenes in Revelation also include the redeemed
singing a new song unto Christ because of His work of redemption.
Revelation 5:9 declares that Christ is worthy because He was
slain and redeemed His people by His blood. This shows that new songs can often
arise from deeper understanding of God’s salvation and glory.
Whether old or new, biblical songs should remain faithful to
Scripture, centered on God, and filled with truth. The value of a song isn’t
primarily determined by style or age, but by whether it honors God and
communicates sound doctrine.
What Should The Heart Of A Believer Be During Praise Or Worship
Times?
The heart of a believer during praise and worship should be
marked by reverence, humility, sincerity, gratitude, faith, joy, repentance,
and love for God. Yes, that is a long list but each is important!
Worship and praise songs aren’t meant to be a mere performance
for others or merely an emotional experience. Instead, it is the believer
responding truthfully and submissively to the greatness and holiness of God.
Scripture consistently teaches that God looks at the
heart. A believer may sing loudly, raise hands, kneel, or participate
outwardly, yet still fail to worship genuinely if the heart is prideful,
hypocritical, or disconnected from God. True worship flows from sincere
devotion and a desire to honor the Lord above all else.
Believers should also approach worship with thankful
hearts because of salvation through Jesus Christ and what He did for us by
dying on the Cross and rising again. The New Testament connects praise with
thanksgiving for God’s grace, mercy, and redemption. Worship should therefore be
a joyful response—from deep in your own soul—to the finished work of
Christ rather than an attempt to earn favor with God.
At the same time, worship should involve submission and
obedience. A worshipful life isn’t confined to a church service but continues
daily as believers seek to glorify God in their thoughts, words, and actions.
Genuine praise and worship ultimately direct attention away from self and
toward the majesty and worthiness of God alone.
Bodie Hodge, Ken
Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing
evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as
a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers
News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a
Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a
Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and
running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic
materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a
grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar,
Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science
was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one
year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and
scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over
25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.
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