True Worship Is Not Found in a Megachurch or on a Mountain

Many Christians today search for worship in places of emotional intensity: in massive churches with charismatic pastors, or in quiet moments alone with God on a mountaintop. Both can be meaningful experiences. But neither, by themselves, constitute true worship as the Bible defines it.

The modern church often becomes pastor-centric. Paul warned directly against this tendency: “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed… Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:5–7). Earlier in this same book Paul asks, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

When a church revolves around a personality rather than Christ’s sacrifice, it becomes fragile. We have seen this cycle repeat endlessly: A famous pastor falls into scandal. The church fractures. Some leave Christianity entirely while others go “church shopping,” searching for the next emotional high, the next charismatic speaker, the next place that “feels right.”

Worship becomes entertainment. Sermons become therapy sessions. Music becomes the main event. But emotion is not worship. The homily is not worship. Even praise and singing—good and biblical as they are—are not the fullness of worship.

So what is worship according to Scripture?

From Genesis to Revelation, worship is inseparable from sacrifice: Abel offered a sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22). Moses established sacrifices in the Tabernacle (Exodus–Leviticus). Israel worshiped through the Temple sacrifices (2 Chronicles 7:12).

God Himself defines worship: “You shall offer upon the altar two lambs a year old… It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations…” (Exodus 29:38–42).

Worship was not merely prayer or song. It required a valid sacrifice and consumption of the sacrifice. “The priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin… and every grain offering baked in the oven belongs to the priest.” (Leviticus 7:8–9). Sacrifice was not complete until it was eaten. This pattern is crucial.

Some of you may be saying, “But that’s the Old Testament, Ben. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross finished all that priest facilitated sacrifice stuff.” And you’d be right… kinda. All Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to Christ: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). And “He entered once for all into the holy places… by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

Christ does indeed fulfill and perfect sacrifice, but notice what Jesus does at the Last Supper: “This is My body, which is given for you… This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:19–20).

Jesus establishes a sacrificial meal. The Cross and the Eucharist are one sacrifice made present in time, and the Apostle Paul confirms this: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Worship is not complete without participation in the sacrifice. This is why Catholics and Eastern Orthodox take communion at every mass and why it is offered every day of the week.

“So why is a priest necessary?” I’m glad you asked. In both the Old and New Testaments, sacrifice requires a priest: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). Christ is the eternal High Priest, indeed (Hebrews 7), but He shares His priesthood with His apostles: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). This is not a suggestion. It is a command.

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you… Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:21–23). This is a mighty authority Christ gave to… someone. A priest, perhaps? Paul calls himself a priest explicitly: “Because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God” (Romans 15:16). Even after Christ’s resurrection when he defeated sin, Jesus still intended for their to be a priesthood and he gave it authority to serve Christians.

The Catholic Church maintains this biblical priesthood through apostolic succession. The Catechism teaches: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). And “The ministerial priesthood… makes present Christ’s unique sacrifice” (CCC 1548).

“But Ben! We are all priests!” Yes, Scripture teaches a common priesthood: “You are a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). But this does not eliminate the ministerial priesthood. Even though all Christians are a royal priesthood, there are those ordered to the ministerial priesthood. Israel was called a priestly nation (Exodus 19:6), yet still had ordained priests (Leviticus). The early Church always had bishops and priests and the Bible states: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you” (1 Timothy 4:14). A sacrifice without a priest is not proper worship. It’s not historical, workable, or Biblical.

And this is why megachurches and mountains fall short. You can hear a powerful sermon on a podcast or from the pulpit. You can cry during worship music. You can feel close to God hiking in the mountains. All of these are good. But none of them fulfill Christ’s command to offer and partake in His sacrifice. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).

True worship is sacrificial. Eucharistic. True worship requires a priest and is not centered on a personality, but on the altar. You should worship with all of your senses—but don’t stop there. Sing. Pray. Read Scripture. Listen to good preaching. Praise God in the mountains and in your home. But understand this: True worship, as Christ intended and as the Bible demonstrates, is found in the Eucharist. Not on a megachurch stage. Not in emotional music alone. Not in a charismatic pastor.

True worship happens when Christ’s sacrifice is made present and consumed: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56). And that is why the Church has always taught that the Eucharist is the heart of worship.

Not because of tradition.
Not because of ritual.
But because this is how Christ Himself chose to be worshiped.