What Is Worship?

What is worship? I  ask this because I am currently reading the Qu'ran and I read the passage where Allah tells Iblis to 'prostrate' to Adam.  In the notes at the bottom of the page it said Prostration is not worship because only God is deserving of worship. 

This then reminded me of something that I think Lady said regarding the saints and Mary.  That they are 'honoured' but not worshipped.

Then the subject of prayer came up and she pointed out that prayer just means petition which is true.  So prayer is not worship. Talking to God is not worshipping God.

(It might not have been Lady that said these things so I apologise in advance if so, but I do recall reading these things on this forum).

So the Question I ask is:  What is Worship?  What are it's defining characteristics?  When are you worshipping someone and when are you just hailing him.  Is the injunction not to bow to anything but god an injunction against worshipping anything other than God?

Good post. What is prayer and what is worship? Prayer is the act of opening up ones spirit to the power of God. It is that activity in which man seeks and gets connected with the power of God. Prayer is not only a petition. However most people see prayer as petition since they always have one thing or the other to ask God. For instance there is a prayer of thanksgiving. In reality, if one leaves according to the will of God, he or she will in time have no petition to put to God since all that he or she needs for his life is already provided by God. Thus each time he opens his soul to God, only gratitude and thanks to God wells up within him. His entire life then becomes a prayer of gratitude to God, every action, every thought, every stirring of the spirit is filled and pulsated with gratitude to God.

Worship belongs to God alone. Worship require a recognition of the laws of God, and obedience to these laws. He or she who in all his activities lives according to the commandments of God practices the true worship. That worship should be an integral part of the person and will be evident in his thoughts, words, actions, motives etc. It will also be evident in his or her workplace, sport arena, and in every day life, not just on sundays or fridays in his church, temple or mosque. Sympolism is not worship, it is intended to help the man or woman gazing at such symbols to gain greater inner concentration and open him or herself to the power of God. Thus religious symbolism is a good thing provided it does not degenerate into worship of a material or non material object. Thus if going to the mountain, the sea, a temple or looking at a crucifix, a warfar, helps the person to have the concentration necessary to connect to the power of God, then it is good sympolism. However if the individual sees the almighty God in these physical or non physical objects and expect divine favours from such objects, then it is IDOLATORY. Thus if a man prostrates before a carven image, another before the sun, another before a monstrance, another before an angel and another before a non-material form that he conceptionalize in his mind, it is idolatory if they see in all these things the living God and expect divine powers or blessings from such objects.

We are to proclaim the Word of God (1 Tim. 4:13). We are to respond gratefully to the truth of the Word of God (Ex. 24:3). We are to remember the Lord's sacrifice through the celebration of communion (1 Cor. 11:24, Acts 2:46, 47). We are to live godly lives (1 Cor. 11:2). We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). We are to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18). We are to present our entire selves to God (Rom. 12:1). We are to offer a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15). We are to confess the name of God (Heb. 13:15). We are to do good things (Heb. 13:16). We are to be generous and share with others (Heb. 13:16).

= WORSHIP

Oh yeah!  . . and the bit about rights . . .  please don't go pilfering religious concepts that you obviously have no understanding of.

Well I can go around preaching and singing hymns and speaking in tongues (is that what you meant by praying in spirit), taking communion and confessing his name like many others do but in a superficial way.  However you hit the nail right on the head when you say 'We are to present our entire selves to God' Rom (12:1).  I would actually call it a sacrifice, we are to sacrifice our entire selves to God, will of God.

Please excuse me but my last post prior to this one was a mistake meant for another thread. 

WORSHIP: IT MEANS BY  PRAISING HIM, HOUR GOD AS OUR LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR.
WE WILL PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.