Does your church use language such as, “Celebrate Jesus” on Sunday mornings? Is that the only language they use? The following is an excerpt from an article critiquing the modern church’s use of Celebration-only language in worship.

More and more churches seem to be moving toward this kind of language to describe what happens during corporate worship. I’m not convinced it’s a good thing. Now I’m not saying Jesus–and the infinitely good news associated with his death and resurrection–is unworthy of our celebration. But I do worry that “celebrate” is an inadequate word to describe the response we should have to the Lord of the universe.

Read rest of article here.

I agree with the author. While celebrating who Jesus is and what he has done for us (there are many examples of redeemed souls celebrating before the Lord in Scripture), the language of celebration implies that the worshipper is smiling, laughing, and happy all of the time. Otherwise, one does not worship. I prefer the term “worship.” We worship Jesus in the body life of our churches, not only when we are in a celebratory mood, but also when we are sad, or mourning, or tired, or sick, or a million others things when we come together in corporate worship.

Don’t just celebrate Jesus, worship him!