God’s Idea of Worship
Introduction
More and more people are attending
churches which appeal to them. They’ll find one with a contemporary service;
praise band, choirs, raised arms, and feeling the emotions flow all around.
Others simply want to be entertained with skits, comedians, and a short upbeat
message that doesn’t focus on sin but rather the psychology of “I’m Okay,
You’re Okay”.
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. The reason, 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.
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 all 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. Plenty to
choose from and no need to simply “settle” on just one church. Why not potluck?
I’ve heard of people not catering to one set of beliefs; denomination, but
rather to just rotate through a variety of places to give themselves that “spiritual”
boost to help for the coming 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
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!
And this happens even today. People
are more interested in worshipping God their way than His way so they go after
these other places to worship. Essentially, it comes down to modern day
idolatry.
Worship in the New Testament
Even though that took place in the
Old Testament, we can still learn from it (Rom. 15:4) and see that God has a
specific way He wants to be worshipped. We also see He did not accept just any
form of worship. There is a pattern that we should follow; rather than make up
our own idea of worship and expect God to approve.
Here then is a simple breakdown of
the worship service in the 1st 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).
All of this is 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.
When you attend a megachurch,
community church, or anything that isn’t described in the New Testament you’re
essentially saying to God, “I’m going to worship you the way I want to and
you’re going to accept it!” Instead, why not choose the church of God’s choice.
Adjust to His way of worship because that is the only way He will accept.
Comments
Post a Comment