The Difference Between Praise and Worship (and Why It Matters)
This week, I had the amazing pleasure of stumbling across a worship song that was generated by a particular creator, which was one of the best modern worship songs that I feel I have heard in a long time. “The Holiness of God” - posted by Reformed and Dangerous, brought me back to a full reverence of the Holiness of God.
In every generation, music has been one of the most powerful expressions of faith. From the psalms of David to the hymns of the early church, believers have lifted their voices not to perform, but to worship—to honor God for His holiness, majesty, and unchanging nature. Yet, somewhere along the way, much of what we now call “worship music” seems to have shifted focus. Instead of exalting who God is, the modern Christian music industry increasingly emphasizes what God does for us. While praise has its rightful place, when it overshadows worship, something vital is lost.
The Difference Between Praise and Worship
To understand the issue, we have to first recognize the biblical distinction between praise and worship.
Praise celebrates God’s deeds—His blessings, deliverance, and faithfulness in our lives. It’s often exuberant, joyful, and outwardly expressive.
Worship, on the other hand, is intimate and reverent. It focuses on God’s character—His holiness, sovereignty, justice, mercy, and glory.
In Psalm 150, we are commanded to praise the Lord with instruments, dance, and song. But in Isaiah 6, when Isaiah encounters God’s glory, his immediate response isn’t to celebrate—it’s to fall to his knees in awe, crying, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Worship moves us from celebration to surrender, from gratitude to reverence.
How the Industry Drifted
The modern Christian music scene has undeniably been blessed with incredible talent and accessibility. But as Christian music became a market, it began to follow market rules. Songs that evoke emotion, are catchy, or make listeners “feel something” sell better. Worship, by contrast, isn’t always marketable. True worship doesn’t center on how we feel—it centers on who He is.
As a result, much of contemporary worship has blurred the line between vertical and horizontal focus. Lyrics have become increasingly human-centered: “I will,” “I feel,” “You make me,” “You move me.” These are not wrong in themselves, but when the majority of our songs fixate on the human experience of God rather than God Himself, we risk shaping a generation of believers who come to church to feel, not to bow.
Genre Isn’t the Problem—Focus Is
Let’s be clear: worship is not confined to any one genre. The same Spirit that moved David to play a lyre can move a modern artist to pick up an electric guitar or compose electronic music. God is glorified through every sincere offering of praise and worship, regardless of style. The problem isn’t the sound—it’s the center.
Worship can happen through gospel, rock, bluegrass, rap, or choral arrangements if the heart of it is still reverence and submission before God’s holiness. But when our goal shifts from glorifying God to inspiring ourselves—or worse, entertaining an audience—we’ve crossed the line from worship to performance.
Theological Shallowing and Emotional Substitution
Another contributing factor is the growing shallowness of modern lyrics. Many contemporary songs repeat a few emotional lines rather than exploring the depths of God’s attributes or the richness of Scripture. Contrast that with hymns like Holy, Holy, Holy or Be Thou My Vision, which were drenched in theology and Scripture.
Dr. R.C. Sproul once noted in his sermon on God’s holiness that there is only one characteristic of God ever communicated in the superlative—not that God is “love, love, love” or “mercy, mercy, mercy,” but that He is “holy, holy, holy.” This repetition is not poetic flair; it is a declaration of ultimate reality. Holiness is not one of God’s attributes—it is the sum total of all that He is, His absolute moral perfection and separation from all sin.
When we sing Holy, Holy, Holy, we join the eternal song of heaven described in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4. We aren’t just singing about God—we’re proclaiming the very essence of His being. That’s what makes worship so sacred. It transcends emotion and moves into revelation.
Returning to True Worship
Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:23 that “the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Worship in spirit means that it is sincere and from the heart. Worship in truth means it aligns with who God truly is, as revealed in His Word.
We cannot worship God rightly if we don’t know the God we’re worshiping. When we re-anchor our worship in Scripture—when our songs reflect His holiness, His righteousness, His justice, and His mercy—then our praise finds its proper foundation.
Worship should humble us before it uplifts us. It should magnify God before it ever comforts man. It’s when we see His greatness that our gratitude finds meaning.
A Call to Artists and Worship Leaders
To every songwriter, worship leader, and musician who carries the responsibility of leading God’s people in song—this is not a condemnation but a call. The church doesn’t need better production; it needs deeper proclamation. We need songs that remind us not just of what God has done—but of who He is.
Return to the Scriptures. Let the Psalms inspire your lyrics. Let Isaiah’s awe and Revelation’s worship shape your melodies. Write songs that make us bow, not just move.
Worship That Draws Heavenward
Praise will always have its place—it reminds us of God’s goodness. But worship elevates our eyes to behold His holiness. When the church rediscovers the difference, we will once again produce music that doesn’t just fill the airwaves but fills the throne room of heaven.
May our songs once again echo the cry of the seraphim:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”
