as of 2000 June 08	please select one The STUDY below

Must Christians Assemble In Order to Worship,
Or Do We Worship by Serving?

From: Ray Downen
To: Viewpoint Discussion Group
Subject: Concerning assemblies for "worship" (1)
Date sent: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 17:49:58 -0500

I think everyone should read Lyle Ensminger's "Day Starter" each day. He wrote on April 21st -- If you have been paying attention to the One Another passages, you have learned what we are to do when we come together. (Lyle) ---

<< His comments say a great deal in few words, and he's almost always exactly right. Well, I've not found him wrong yet. All this talk about "worship services" is simply wrong teaching about how Christian assemblies should be conducted. What we're called to do is to meet to edify one another rather than to "worship together." >> ---

To this, a brother replied --

From: "Gerald Browning"
Subject: RE: Concerning assemblies for "worship" (1)
Date sent: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 01:12:48 -0500

It is very good to realize that worship is not something that takes place only in the assemblies. You do not mean, I think, that worship is something that should never take place in the assembly? The pendulum should not swing too far to the right or left! Is there more than one passage that encourages us concerning our assembling?

The writer's admonition it seems is three-fold:
1) "hold fast the confession of our hope,"
2) "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
3) encourage one another in the matter of "not forsaking our own assembling together."

Would good hermeneutics require anything beyond the fact that we should give heed to all three admonitions? Would such require that admonitions 1) or 2), or both be the total sum and substance of what can take place during the assembly? What rule or law would limit any or all other appropriate things from being a part of what happens in the assembly? Who is to say that the Holy Spirit would have required the writer to spell out everything appropriate to the assembly?

Keep on keeping on until He comes again,

Gerald ---

<< Ray remarks -- What a fine comment Gerald shares with us! I surely do not mean to suggest that it's wrong for Christians to share in worship at any time! What I hope to encourage is a change away from thinking that the Bible teaches that the purpose for our coming together is worship.

<< What I hear the Word saying about our assemblies is that the primary purpose for which we are to meet together is to encourage one another and to bless and edify one another. What I hear most church leaders today saying is that we should meet together in order to engage in what is called "worship." Our auditorium seating and our programs are arranged in ways which absolutely prevent interaction among those present. Everything is aimed at the "platform" where worship leaders parade and perform. Most who attend have no voice in what is said or done in the meeting. It's planned and presented TO us rather than being edification BY us.

<< I agree that it was not necessary that the Bible (in which God through His Spirit speaks to us all) outline exactly what must be done in our assemblies. I'm sure it does not attempt to do so, even though some imagine they find in the Word some "worship pattern" which must be followed by all who seek to please God. Of course it's appropriate to share in worship when we're together! I didn't intend to say or imply that would be inappropriate.

<< It's inappropriate to substitute "worship" for the sharing that should characterize Christian gatherings. >>
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To: Viewpoint Discussion Group
Subject: Church Assemblies for Worship? (1)
Date sent: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 22:13:48 -0500

I'm sure the Bible doesn't teach that Christians need to do their worshipping together, or that their assemblies are to be "worship" assemblies.

I invite you to quit calling our assemblies "worship services." That can be a first step toward helping every brother and sister realize that our purpose in assembling is to bless and encourage and exhort one another. Jesus suggests the RIGHT place to pray is when you're alone with God. Some in our day never pray when they ARE alone. We're being taught that the time to worship is when we're all together and have a "worship leader" to tell us what to do and how to do it.

Bill Pile in his April (1999) "Heartbeat" wrote briefly about "Worship as Entertainment -- Or Entertainment as Worship?"

"The lines are getting blurred, aren't they?" he asks, adding, "It used to be the architecture of the sanctuary." << Sanctuary? Is this the speech of Ashdod? >> "Then the erudition or charisma of the pastor." << "Pastor"? Does Bill mean the clergyman some call the minister or evangelist? >>

"Now it's worship leaders. They are becoming the prophets of the new millennium. Churches are becoming known by the worship leaders, the worship team, the worship style. Rarely today are congregations defined by WHO they worship, but rather by HOW they 'worship.'" << Bill refers to what we act like and share in while we're together -- he calls whatever we're doing "worship" because that's what WE call it. >>

"Music is the 'new wine in old wineskins' of our time. Some of us have been Pharisees about it -- rigid, boorish and brutish. But can anybody say anything about the entertainment factor in much of modern church music without sounding rigid, boorish and brutish? Have we missed something, or was there music to worship God by before Amy Grant?

"We, who sing Promise Keepers, Maranatha, and contemporary psalmody 90% of the time, would like to ask just two questions: are the changes in our music style coming from the entertainment culture or from deeper understanding of the Word and more meaningful communication with the Father? And, does it matter?"

<< So who will answer Bill's questions? I figure it matters how we conduct ourselves wherever we are, including while we're together, meeting in God's name and in His honor. Much of the "modern" music style is supposedly based on a desire to faithfully praise God. Some feel that the purpose for our meetings is praise and we've neglected to praise sincerely and deeply enough. They feel the simpler, shorter, often inharmonious "songs" being substituted for Christian hymns are an improvement over those hymns.

<< They claim that the change is needed in order to attract sincere worshippers into our assemblies. Who will say that the new style is NOT entertainment? Who will explain from the New Testament scriptures why Christians have "worship services" every week where most brethren sit while a few perform and amuse them?

<< I've suggested that mutual edification SHOULD BE the purpose for our assemblies. I've said that worship is NOT the primary purpose which brings us together as saints of God. But is it an improvement to change from worship to entertainment? It IS a change. But do you think it's an improvement? >>

From: "Jack Bruce"
Subject: Re: Church Assemblies for Worship (1)
Date sent: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 06:21:27 -0500

Yup. The term "worship service" is not in the Bible. Our public assemblies are for the members of the congregation. Have a doubt about that? Go to I Corinthians 11-14 (the longest passage dealing with public meetings) and count the "one another"s and then tell me our time together is for any other purpose. I would just about as soon call them a pep rally. I see them as times of mutual strengthening and uplifting so we can face the world the rest of the week.

If midweek prayer and classes were looked upon this way by the members, we preachers and elders would not have to be begging members to return in midweek. If it really was this way, members would be begging to have other meetings so they could have other opportunities to encourage one another. Yet it is an imperfect church in an imperfect world. Each of us is struggling to get to heaven. And most of us are trying to do it by ourselves.

We are saved by grace and we stay saved by grace. But the world takes its toll on each one of us and we need one another to make the trip. And that is why God told us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Not because HE needs our singing, praise and prayers. It's because WE need the time together. At those times we find we're all in the same boat! God Bless, -- Jack

<< And another brother responds as well -- >>

 I and others have tried to answer the questions you raise AGAIN with this latest thing from Bill Pile. I'm not saying I totally disagree with you, but there are far more important things to do in the Kingdom than to rehash non-essential thought and call names ("inharmonious" "childish" etc.) This is not anything but divisive, hypocritical rhetoric.

To criticize modern music in the church, you make the same mistake you criticize others for. You believe that there are too many who say "my way or the highway" about contemporary worship - this is a wrong attitude. But aren't you doing the same thing?

Yes, I believe our "praise songs" "worship songs" - I'm afraid to call them anything for fear that you'll disagree with my terminology... They do reflect our current culture in style. But this has always been the case. Some of the earliest, most loved hymns are Christian words set to popular bar tunes!

I agree that the main purpose of our gatherings is for edification - through teaching, preaching, an encouraging word, and yes even music - I know you'd agree. But doesn't it also edify us to sing songs TO God (really a prayer to music) and pray with words together. Yes, we are to pray in private, but you know as well as I do that the "public prayers" that Jesus blasted the religious leaders of His day for have nothing to do with praying in a gathering of Godly people (how's that for avoiding "worship service"?).

A "church service" - although the public is invited - is not really a public gathering. It's a meeting of an organization that not everyone is a member of and not everyone who attends will understand all and receive the full benefits of the meeting until they are willing to become a member. It is, in a sense, a private meeting - though guests are welcome. (I'm really not trying to equate God's established arm in the world - the church - with any other "organization or club" - I'm simply making a comparison that we would not necessarily say their meetings were "public").

Should people call groups or individuals who "lead" the music "worship" leaders - or teams - or whatever? I don't know - maybe not - but I am sure that God would rather us spend time getting to know the neighbor next door and interest him in knowing more about Jesus than what we call what we do on Sunday morning!

<< This brother implies that the words we use mean little, as I understand him. I think they matter a great deal. >>

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          Brief Bible Study #70 from Ray Downen. To go back to Viewpoint's first page, click < here.   Or here to go on to Viewpoint Study 71.  For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.