TRUE WORSHIP AND FALSE WORSHIP
Jews and Christians have wrongly interpreted the idea of worship to include traditional gatherings that include singing, music, bible reading, teaching by a religious leader and collection of money. See the following links for understanding of how God feels about these activities:
These traditional concepts of worship are totally at odds with God’s idea of worship discussed in this link.
The Hebrew word “abad” is often translated as worship in English. It also translated with many other words:
become slaves (1), been slaves (1), bondage (2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do (6), do the work (1), enslaved (3), given (1), holding in bondage (1), imposed (1), keep (2), labor (3), laborers* (2), make servant (1), make slaves (2), manufacturers (1), observe (1), perform (9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered (1), serve (141), served (52), serves (2), serving (5), slave (1), slaves (1), subject (1), till (1), tiller (1), tiller* (1), tills (2), use as slaves (1), used (1), uses services (1), work (7), worked (2), workers (2), working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6).
Worshippers, therefore, are also slaves, servants and laborers. See these links for understanding of what New Covenant disciples do to serve God.
The Greek word translated as worship in English is proskuneó is also translated with many other words:
bow down (1), bow down before (1), bowed down (1), bowed down before (2), bowing before (1), bowing down (1), prostrated himself before (1), worship (32), worshiped (17), worshipers (1), worshiping (1), worships (1).
Physically bowing down before someone is an archaic, symbolical way of showing reverence for a religious/political leader. This is not what God wants his people do do. Bowing down is a religious act of the flesh. God uses that term symbolically to represent heart-felt reverence for God.
Since God knows the conditions of our hearts, the hearts of New Covenant disciples are always bowed down before God. Since New Covenant disciples know that God knows their hearts, there is no need or desire for them to physically bow down. They understand that physically bowing down is a meaningless religious activity in God’s eyes.
Old/First Covenant religious people, however, do not understand that God is only concerned about the condition of their hearts. Therefore, they try to impress God and others with physical acts of worship. God is not fooled by these fleshly displays, but other religious people usually are impressed when they put their religion on display for others to see.