The very concept of "worship" involves expressing God's "worth-ship" or worthiness. Worshippers do this through acts and attitudes that revere, honor, and describe God's worth. We show the greatest reverence when we obey God's commands, since this declares His superior wisdom and our need for His direction. The extreme level of respect for God, generally described in the Bible as the "fear of the Lord," also corresponds to reverence.
Each prescribed act of worship shows reverence. These acts include reading, reciting and remembering his word; humbly petitioning him in prayer, thanking him in the same manner; remembering the blessings we receive because of his son's sacrifice (communion); singing praises to him; and giving back a portion of what he has given us. Each of these acts of worship honors Him as God and admits our frailty and need before Him.
The Bible mentions physical symbolism that men use to declare this reverence for God. Men "lift up their hands" or "bow down" before God. The first is a sign of appeal to one greater for help, and the latter is an acknowledgement of human inferiority. At times, we still use both of these postures during prayer.
Reverence also implies treating the Lord as "holy." The term holy implies that which has a special place, not ordinary. If a person takes what is holy and acts toward or uses it in an ordinary or secular manner, he "profanes" that thing or person. Thus, it is important that, during worship, we not act toward God or Christ as though either is just like us. Our worship is not just an ordinary gathering of friends to eat and socialize. We assemble to honor and glorify God and to be edified in the process. This is why we don't turn the worship into a period of entertainment. It is why we don't have a picnic during the communion service.
And, if we deem it important to dress in our best clothing to honor a young couple getting married, or to show respect at the funeral of an aged friend, does not reverence demand that we dress respectfully when we gather to worship Almighty God?
On one hand, there is no Christian dress code beyond what is modest (1 Timothy 2:8-10). We are not to give preferential treatment to those who, because of wealth, are able to dress more fashionably (James 2:1-4). On the other hand, very ordinary people who are not wealthy understand that we dress differently for different occasions. In past years, the very poor, in addition to their "work" clothes, had a Sunday pair of bib overalls or a Sunday dress. It wasn't a matter of "showing off" but of showing respect for God.
Reverence is also the principle behind behaving quietly in the church building as the time for worship approaches. It is time to cease discussions of the mundane and turn attention to worshiping Jehovah. Each of us can probably find ways to improve our reverence.
I want to add a couple of points to Randy's excellent article. One thing with which I struggle is the tendency in many places to "dress down" on Sunday evening. How does the evening worship service differ from the morning service? Why would I wear a coat and tie to wait on the Lord's Table on Sunday morning, and blue jeans on Sunday evening? Are we sending a message about the importance we place on the Sunday evening service? How would the local church feel if the local preacher wore blue jeans on Sunday evening? Something tells me that the elders and members would not approve-wonder why if it's fine for the other members to do so? (KMG)