Dr. Sherbino does not fit the stereotype of a typical Seminary lecturer. When he’s not out cruising the road on his motorcycle, he will be behind the wheel of his Mustang GT, which displays the personalized license plate “SOL DR.” Besides presenting lectures and workshops around the world on worship and spirituality, he writes extensively and consults with congregations. A commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, he has served for four years as Regimental Chaplain to the Queen’s York Rangers.

To be human is to worship.
The reason Sherbino has devoted his life to cultivating worship in his life and the lives of others is that he sees it as the ultimate fulfilment of what it means to be human. “We cannot choose to not worship. Worship is a primary tendency of humanity, built into our very nature. We are created to long after something. We are created for worship. It is a desire which resides in each human heart. It is what motivates us to seek something to satisfy our soul in its inner longing.”

It stands to reason, says Sherbino, that if worship is so central to life, we should treat it as a priority. “Most of us tend to worship our work, work at our play and play at our worship. The more we concentrate on the quality of our worship, the healthier, happier and more balanced we will be as people.”

The word “worship” comes from the old English worth-ship, which means "to ascribe worth or value to something or someone." When we hold someone or something up as worthy or valuable, we are worshipping, and worship is the ultimate form of religious activity.

“Often we confuse worship with other spiritual disciplines,” notes Sherbino. Prayer is our occupation with needs and problems. We come to God with our needs and ask him for his supply. Praise is the occupation of our minds with blessings we have experienced. We are thinking of all that God has done for us and give thanks for how he has blessed us. Worship, on the other hand, is our occupation with God himself, with the greatness of his being. When we say, `Lord, save me!’ this is prayer. When we say, `Thank you, Lord, for saving me!’ this is praise. When we say, `Thank you, Lord, for being such a great Savior!’ this is worship. True worship involves learning what God is like and acknowledging him -- to ascribe worth to him, to reflect upon the value, beauty, and character of God. This is true worship.”

The quality of our worship enriches our life.
Dr. Sherbino observes that, contrary to what some non-religious people might think, worshipping does not limit the enjoyment of life. Rather, it fills a void that cannot otherwise be filled. “Since worship is the driving force of all human existence then when it is lost, whether it be true or false, life becomes dull, drab, and cheerless. Men and women ultimately sink into despair because life appears to be no longer worth the living. This fact alone indicates that worship is the most important and fundamental aspect of our existence. On the other hand, when true worship occurs, life becomes vital, real, exciting, daring, and adventurous.”

English author C.S. Lewis, best known for his Chronicles of Narnia, wrote: "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased."

“The great hindrance to worship,” adds Sherbino, “is not that we are pleasure seeking people. Not at all. What detracts from worship is that we are willing to settle for such pitiful pleasures. We have settled for a home, a family, a few friends, a job, a television, a microwave oven, an occasional night out, a yearly vacation, a new laptop computer. We have accustomed ourselves to such meagre, short lived pleasures that our capacity for joy has shriveled.” Picking up on Lewis’ analogy, Sherbino continues, “Many can scarcely imagine what is meant by a `holiday at sea’- worshipping the living God because we have grown content with making mud pies in the slums.”

Not all worship is helpful.
If we are wired for worship, the question is not whether we should worship but what we should worship. It stands to reason that some objects of worship are more worthy than others. “We do ourselves no service when we focus our worship on anything or anyone that is not of the ultimate value. In our lives we will never rise above the level of what it is we worship. So, why would we want to worship celebrities, sports teams or money?”

This is why all religions consistently point worship to a power greater than ourselves. But even then, notes Sherbino, we are confronted with a question. Are all religions legitimate paths to true worship? “There are several religions, Christianity included, that maintain there is only one God who is worthy of worship,” says Sherbino. “These religions maintain that we should worship that one God alone. We do none of these religions justice to force them into the mould that says there are many paths to God and all religions are equally valid routes.”

Instead, cautions Sherbino, “the most we can do is to be respectful of other religions and grant them the respect and freedom we want for ourselves. This is where we all must make a choice. I believe that God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate object of worship and have chosen to direct my worship to him alone, but I want to respect and defend the right of others to choose their direction of worship.”

Worship completes us.
Saint Augustine in his confessions wrote: "O Lord, Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." Many of us devote a lot of time and energy to our careers, our relationships, our diets, our physical fitness, our intellectual development and our emotional health. While these pursuits are well and good, unless we make a conscious decision to worship the God of our understanding, we will not realize our ultimate purpose in life and will not experience life in all its fullness. What do you worship? Is it worthy of your worship?

(Dr. Sherbino has been a faculty member at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto since 1987, serving as Chair of the Pastoral Ministries Department, Coordinator of the Worship and Liturgy program and Dean of the Chapel. Ordained in 1976 by the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Dr. Sherbino has served in several congregations in across Canada. A commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, he has served for four years as Regimental Chaplain to the Queen’s York Rangers. A popular speaker and church consultant, he regularly addresses various church and ministry groups in Canada and overseas.)