The Christian and Worship

Introduction

The following is an excerpt from a thesis that a student wrote in 2003…

The coliseum sported the latest in audio and lighting technology. Onstage, performers kept us entertained for an hour while the several thousand people in attendance clapped, cheered, and laughed through the entire presentation. Video cameras caught all of the action on stage as well as the reactions from the crowds. Kiosks and booths in the lobby sold wares from different musicians and comedians, while boasting upcoming events.

I was not at a rock concert. I was in church—a megachurch.

        If this describes the worship service and church where you attend, you can very easily conclude that is not the church of God’s choice but, rather, your choice. The reason for this is that it caters to the flesh rather than the soul. People want to get something out of worship service compared to putting something in it.

Last week we looked at what the church really is. This week we ask the question, “How does God want us to worship him?”

I’m Going Church Shopping!

        Believe it or not there is a website that allows people to go shopping for a church. It lists all of the churches in the local area; ones that want to be on the website, including all of the events, opportunities, and ideals that that church is about. The advantage this provides for young people is that they can find a church that fits their needs.

For example, is the music upbeat? Is the preacher’s message short, positive, and motivating? Are there a lot of other young people there? Are there programs and events I can participate in? This list goes on and on. Once you find a church that fits all of your needs, then you can attend. If it doesn’t work out, you can try again next week.

The biggest problem here is that no one asks the question: How does God want me to worship Him? Since the creation of the megachurches and the community churches; religion has become all about serving self while pretending to serve God. If people actually read the scriptures, they would see exactly how God wanted to be worshipped. Paul wrote in Rom. 14:17-18, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” If you are looking for a church that makes you feel good when you leave service, then you might be in the wrong place. Now, I’m not saying that you should feel depressed or angry but, rather, edified; a sense of understanding of what God wants from you as a servant and what you must do to encourage others to do the same.

Worship in the Old Testament

        The Israelites traveled from place to place following the Ark of the Covenant carried by the Levites. Where it went, they went. The tabernacle that was described to Moses in Ex. 25-27 was their meeting place (church, if you will). So, wherever the church went, the people went with it. At the time there wasn’t any other choice of church to attend.

        Everything that the people were to do in worshipping God was given to them by God himself and written down in scripture; offerings, sacrifices, commands, and even penalties when something isn’t followed correctly.

        Once Solomon built the temple of God, the Israelites had put down roots and that became their constant place of worship. Naturally as generations came and went, a lot of them visited other nations around them and picked up their ideas of worship; Idolatry. Because they went after these foreign gods, God the Father rejected His own people and had them carried away into captivity for a period of 70 years!

Worship in the New Testament

        Some might say, “Well that’s the Old Testament, we don’t follow that today.” And you are right. But we can learn from it (Rom. 15:4) and see that God had a specific way He wanted to be worshipped and that He did not accept just any form of worship. That should be a clue to us today that there is a pattern and that we should follow it rather than make up our own idea of worship and expect God to accept it.

        Here then is a simple breakdown of the worship service in the 1^st Century church which serves as our example today…

Singing; as Paul writes in Eph. 5:19-20, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” There is no command for mechanical instruments, rock bands, or choirs. Everyone is commanded to sing.

Prayer; as James writes in Jas. 5:13-16, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Taking the Lord’s Supper as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” This is to be done weekly according to the example in Acts 20:7.

Hear the Gospel preached as Paul writes in Rom. 10:13-17, “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Giving of our means as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 16:2, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” This is no set amount given such as tithing in the Old Testament. Paul says to give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7).

        This is all for our spiritual edification and it is for the soul only. As we referenced before, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) Some churches would have you to believe that eating a common meal in a fellowship hall is acceptable but this scripture condemns such practice. The auditorium, where worship is held, is the Lord’s fellowship hall.

Conclusion

        Jesus said in Jn. 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” If we are to worship God properly then we need to follow the pattern that is set before us in the scriptures. Any other form of worship is considered idolatrous and vain; and it won’t be accepted by God.

        Instead of choosing the church of your choice, why not choose the church of God’s choice. If you need assistance in doing so, feel free to comment below.