What's the Difference Between Christian Praise and Worship

What's the Difference Between
Christian Praise and Worship

Many people are still asking what is the difference between Christian Praise and Worship. I do agree that there is a fine line between the two when they can merge together but, generally Christian Praise is where we sing about What God has Done For Us, and Christian worship is where we sing about Who God Is. We concentrate on His Holiness etc., when we worship God.

If you look through the blog you will see more concisely the difference I make between the two.

To give you another example I would like to show you a couple of Bible passages that may explain it better.

Our first example is Matthew 21:1-17 also known as "The Triumphal Entry"

Here is the NIV version:

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5″Say to the Daughter of Zion,'See, your king comes to you,gentle and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!""Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!""Hosanna in the highest!"

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a 'den of robbers."

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area,
"Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," 'From the lips of children and infantsyou have ordained praise?"

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

We see here that the people were shouting "Hosanna" which literally translated means"To Save". Here was their Savior riding in Jerusalem on a donkey ( there is a lot of significance here about the donkey but I am not writing a book, this is only a blog post).

It was a happy, jubilant time for the crowd. They did not realize that Jesus had come to save them by offering his blood for their sins. They were hoping that he had come to save them and usher in a new kingdom, but that was not to be as they had anticipated.

I want you to notice the air of festivity, the happiness of the crowd, how they took palm branches and placed them in front of him as he passed. They were rejoicing and so should we be rejoicing in Christian Praise as we make mention of all that the Lord has done on our behalf.

The Christian Praise Song "Hosanna in the Highest" shows this the best.

Compare this now with a story of Worship found in Revelation 4:10-11 NIV
10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,and by your will they were createdand have their being."

Welcome to Christian Praise. I am Sharron Myers, the author and webmaster of the Christian Praise Blog.

Just a little bit about me: I have been teaching Spiritual and Christian values
since 1972 and I was one of six people who started a church in our hometown in 1981 which is still going well in 2011.

I became the Christian Praise and Worship Leader there for many, many years and then moved on to a few other churches. I found myself teaching and being worship leader there also.

Presently, I am back at the church that we had started here in my hometown and I am helping the Worship leader here by leading in Christian Praise and Worship every 2nd week or more if needed.

My greatest joy is leading people into the throne room of our wonderful creator and to bask in His glory as we magnify His name together.

My desire is that through this site, you will be able to learn to praise and worship the Lord with all of your heart, soul and spirit.

May the Lord bless you all.

Sharron