Worship, an abomination?

What is worship?  One dictionary I have defines it as:  Adoring reverence or regard.

Reverence is Deep respect tinged with 'awe'
Regard is: to think highly of someone or something

In other words, you adore, you love, you respect, you regard this person or thing as more important than anything else in the world.This object of worship consumes your thoughts and dictates your actions. Everything you are and every path your life takes comes out of your reverence for this person or thing.

Think of money as an object of worship. I'm sure you know people who are consumed with making money, saving money, spending money. Thoughts of money fill their head daily and direct the course of their lives.
What about sex or romantic relationships? Know people who are consumed with a desire for these things? So much so, that it drives them to do things they wouldn't normally do
What about Drugs, Fame, Beauty, Power?
And my personal favorite: SELF  (Yikes, that one hit home!)

 Ask yourselves these questions: What do I think about MOST of the time? What dictates my actions, my decisions? Hmmm.  If you're like me, it's not a pretty picture.

I think Western Christianity has a false view of worship. Worship is not a song. It is not tithing your money. It is not praying and reading your Bible. It is not going to church, or volunteering at the soup kitchen. These things can be extensions of worship, but they are not worship.  Yet, how many of us say, "I'm going to worship service"  or "the worship at church was great today"  We have a band on stage that gets the congregation all worked up emotionally, clapping their hands and raising arms to praise God. But I often wonder how many of the people are actually thinking about God or are they really just thinking about what's for lunch.

Now, I'm not saying that some people in church aren't truly worshiping God. All I'm saying is God is not impressed with our music and songs and church attendance. He is not even impressed by our giving if it's done out of duty or expectation of returns. Not only is He NOT impressed, God considers False worship an abomination: 

The acts of the hypocrite's worship are as abominable to God as if they were offered to Idols. He who kills an ox will be as guilty as if he slew and sacrificed a man; he who sacrifices a lamb or a kid, as if he broke a dog's neck and sacrificed him; he who offers a cereal offering, as if he offered swine's blood; he who burns incense to God as if he blessed an idol. Such people have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations. Isaiah 66: 3  Amplified.

I don't know about you, but when I came across that verse, it scared the holy stuffing out of me! You may say, Well, I don't kill an ox or sacrifice a lamb or offer a cereal offering, so I'm okay. But today's equivalent would be:  Go to church on Sunday, Tithe, Sing worship songs, read your Bible, etc... ALL DONE OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY WITH NO REAL LOVE FOR OR DEVOTION TO GOD OR A DESIRE TO FOLLOW HIM.

God is saying that when someone who truly doesn't Worship Him goes through acts of worship, it is an abomination! Man, that's pretty strong stuff!!  It comes down to a matter of the heart, doesn't it? You may have messed up all week, but if you drag your behind to Church, wanting to repent, wanting to praise God for loving you anyway, then your worship is accepted. 

All you need do is go one verse up from the one above and find the answer:
But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands. Isaiah 66:2 Amplified