Last updated on 8/7/00 pretty line

Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #77

JESUS calls US to be
members of His church

hand reaching out
e-mail address

The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide.

 More About Christian Worship  
Far More Than A Matter of Style   pretty line

Below are interesting exchanges about "Worship."
More (later) comments are available in Viewpoint #77-A you'll also want to see. And comments by Buff Scott on this subject are in Viewpoint #77-B.

In The Lookout Magazine (Standard Publishing, Cincinnati) for 10/19/97 is a helpful and interesting article by Russ Blowers of Indianapolis. In Question And Answer style, Russ addresses the question -- "Like many other churches, our congregation is being divided over worship styles. The traditionalists don't want anything to change. The contemporaries want to sell the organ, pull down a screen, and let guitar players lead. In your estimation, what is the best kind of service?"

RUSS BLOWERS says:      I think the present controversy in musical styles is not all bad. Some good things can come out of conflict. It is possible that the competing styles will produce a new and better way for the church to behave when it assembles to worship God.

Ray comments -- Most Christian worship should be done when the church is NOT assembled. Christians who are busy at worship of God can put up with considerable foolishness when the assembly comes, and nowadays there sure is lots of foolishness in most congregations. We don't look to Revelation (which describes Heaven where it may be that the primary work of us saints is to praise God) nor to the Old Testament (where a considerable ritual was put in place by which men of that day were to express their adoration to God), but rather we look to admonitions to CHRISTIANS if we want to see how Christian worship should be conducted.

The chorus and guitar and synthesizer group is producing songs that really are addressed to the Lord. There's something very moving when we sing to Him, "You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship you." That's much more intimate than "When we all get to Heaven" or "O how I love Jesus."

Ray remarks -- Christians I grew up with realized that prayers are addressed to God, and intimate private prayer should be kept private. Public prayer because it was public was much less intimate since the one praying was wording thoughts it was hoped the entire group could join in praying. The best hymns of an earlier day also avoided personal intimacies which are hardly appropriate in public settings. Intimacies between husband and wife are not displayed in public. In my opinion, intimacies between God and man are also best conducted in private.

A sub-heading on the Lookout page within this paragraph says, "When we leave church on the Lord's Day, we ought to be able to say, 'I have been in the presence of God today.'"

Ray says, If the Christian doesn't bring God WITH him or her to the meeting place, if indeed God is waiting in the church building for us to join Him THERE, the entire teaching of the New Testament is incorrect and insufficient. Christians are holy people within whom God dwells. Church buildings are holy because holy people meet there and for no other reason. God made the world. Where's a place that should NOT be holy?

Russ continues --       But then the "contemporary" brothers and sisters can learn something from the great hymns of the church. A lot of the gospel ditties are notoriously weak biblically. As time passes, better stuff will be written and sung by boomers and busters raised on rock and roll sound explosions.

      Some folks like to spend the first 30 minutes of our meetings standing up singing favorite choruses over and over with their arms up like a little child reaching for Daddy. Some churches bounce around and jump up and down and say things like "Amen" and "Hallelujah." Other Christians sit like the Sphinx, in the beauty of holiness and the quietness of contemplation. Who is to say one is more preferable to God than the others?

      The goal is not to get everybody doing the same thing. Of course there are non-negotiables like the Lord's Supper, and prayer, and the exposition of the biblical message. But within the boundaries of Scripture, there's room for an appealing variety in worship.

      My preferences are pretty inclusive, but I feel very close to my Lord in a more traditional setting with organ, choir, and hymnbook. When I'm in England I always go to Evensong in late afternoon, a liturgy of Scripture and music in the Anglican church. Formal church services seem motionless and expressionless to others, though, who want to participate more actively with their minds, bodies, and souls. The important thing is pleasing God.

Ray remarks -- Russ is saying that both those who display much emotional fervor and those who choose to NOT make a display of their emotions can either one please God by their participation in public worship assemblies. He comes down squarely in the middle by saying that either way may be entirely acceptable to God. But the Bible still says that the primary aim of Christian gatherings is to edify the PEOPLE present, to "recharge our batteries," and strengthen us for the work of God which is true worship for living Christians.

Russ says --       I like Psalm 95 because it is a call and a guide to worship. [Jewish worship, that is, not Christian worship -- says Ray]. It contains a description of the biblical flow of worship:

Russ continues -- PRAISE  God wants us to praise him. Praise is telling God what he means to us, how magnificent he is. We can praise him with shouts of joy (Psalm 66:1, 95:1), by playing a variety of musical instruments (Psalm 150), by singing hymns and songs to him and to each other (Ephesians 5:19). [Ray remarks -- Ephesians 5:15-20 is a call for daily Christian living, for always being thankful to God, for being filled with His Spirit, for walking every moment WITH God. It is not an admonition to get together on Sunday mornings in order to praise God with music and dance for an hour or so instead of doing the work He calls us to do in His world. The 19th verse is only PART of the picture].

C. S. Lewis wrote: "The psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about." "Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!" (Psalm 47:6,7). [Ray questions -- Were the Psalms of the Old Testament written to guide Christian worship? I suggest we best praise God by doing what Jesus calls for us to do in God's world, and the more time we spend in assembled "worship and praise," the less time there is in which we can serve God by sharing with those around us in obedient service and evangelism.]

WORSHIP -- Christian worship, says Russ, is attributing worth to God. Worship is directed to him: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:11). In our worship services we should have a vision of God's glory and goodness, and we should bow in wonder and awe. Some worship services are so busy and loud that there is little opportunity to "be still and know" that he is God (Psalm 46:10). In others, we are so bound by tradition and the printed bulletin that we often spend the entire hour wishing for a chance to tell him from the heart, "How great thou art." When we leave church on the Lord's Day, we ought to be able to say, "I have been in the presence of God today." [But the New Testament doesn't tell us to go to "church services" to find God. I have to believe this particular statement is not a totally accurate representation of true Christian worship, says Ray. Yet I see the very good thought intended by it. If we go to a building to meet God, we want to feel when we're done that indeed what we did was pleasing to GOD. Russ has said many very good things in this study! As surely every reader will see.]

The Israelites knew the Lord God, but their worship was negated by their disobedience and rebellion in wanting to give up the promised land in favor of going back to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). Worship is vain and invalid if it is not followed by our obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. So let's come before him in a variety of ways, and "worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs" (Psalm 100:2).

RAY REMARKS -- If Christians were called to hold frequent services for the purpose of worshipping God, the suggestions made by Russ Blowers would certainly be helpful in guiding our obedience to such a command. In fact, we are not once told that Christians should get together to conduct their worship of God and His unique Son Jesus Christ. The purpose for which early Christians met was to strengthen one another, to share with one another, to learn from one another and from those inspired to teach and lead. I believe this still should be the purpose for which true Christians assemble.

pretty line   Note a responsive comment --

Date sent: Sat, 8 Nov 97 11:18:18 UT
From: "Douglas Willis" <CEFoundation@classic.msn.com>
     Ray,      Your comments on 'not being instructed in the NT to go to church to worship' were spot on. I also appreciated the point made by you that intimate praise is private. If these two underlying truths were comprehended it would help solve a lot of differences over worship and music styles.

        I have long taught that Jesus made a difference between 'Go into your room and shut the door - and pray' and His, plus the early churches, public or semi-private prayers. I have made the challenge several times (without response) for someone to show me one passage - in the New Covenant portion of the bible pertaining to the church on earth - which commands, sets an apostolic example or instructs in any way for the church to sing corporately. [Ray's note -- We sing together, and in harmony, because WE enjoy it and want to do so. It's not because we're told we should or must do so.]

        Hebrews 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:15 & 26, Romans 15:9 and James 5:13 all speak of individual or solo singing. Colossians 3:16 may be speaking of private occasions and Ephesians 5:19 of semi-private occasions - as in one-to-one situations - but both are instructions for everyday living. Nothing about corporate worship. Is this not so? Where in Acts 2:42 is the example/instruction for corporate singing in the NT assembly?

        I am not suggesting that we start another faction called The Anti-singing Church of Christ'. But realizing the lack of such evidence does put music in its proper perspective. Even prior to the church age, at the institution of the Lord's Supper, we read of only one hymn being sung.

        For evangelistic purposes there is obviously a very good reason to use music appropriately. Although, in one of our very successful crusades, held in Russia, we conducted the whole crusade without music of any kind - not by choice but of necessity.

        Please indicate if my exegesis is offbeat.    --    Doug Willis Please send e-mail comments to Ray.

pretty line     With this further response

Date sent: Sat, 08 Nov 1997 16:39:11 -0800
To: "Douglas Willis" and to Ray
From: Charles Dailey

Doug,     All of your statements seem right to me. A number of evangelicals are migrating to the Orthodox Church because of the fine worship experience. But a "worship experience" as such (sacrifice, mystery, rhythm) has no counterpart in the New Covenant Scriptures.

Charles Dailey -       Please send comments to Ray.
MAIN SITE OR World Missions, OR Pioneer Northwest Churches

  LIFE OF CHRIST COURSE from NCB:
By Web or E-Mail or toll free Fax. E-Mail Charles Dailey for particulars.

Date sent: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 10:26:58     To: outreach@sofnet.com
From: Russell Duncan Jr <rduncan@esu3.esu3.k12.ne.us>

Subject: Viewpoint Study #77     Ray: Might I make this observation: When changes or additions to worship format are under consideration, I apply this test: Can the assembly be conducted in a meaningful and God-honoring fashion without this?

       You can see that an honest application of this principle eliminates a great deal of activity above and beyond the basics. In the book of Exodus, the instructions for constructing an altar was a model of simplicity. It is my conviction that to move beyond simplicity in worship is to move toward an atmosphere of complexity which will ultimately distract from the essential purpose of the assembly: the praise of the LORD.  Rus

pretty line   Ray's reply is in a separate file. I'm asking for any Bible passage which says the "essential purpose" for any Christian assembly during the church age is praise of the Lord.        pretty line

And this word from Sibley, Missouri -- To: outreach@sofnet.com
Subject: My Thought.     From: cogash@juno.com (Charles O Gash)

Date sent: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 11:11:36 EST

Dear Ray: God's grace & peace be multiplied to you. Thank you for sending me 'View point Study # 77.I am not online yet, just on Juno. My thought, for years, on this whole singing and music question,has been,I never have run across any scripture that says that songs or music being used, is God's power to save. I did however read one time that the Gospel was,so each time I preach the gospel,I preach the gospel.Rom. 1:16. 1 Cor.15: 1-5. The last part being seen. Let your light so shine---To glorify God. JESUS SAVES

Lord continue to bless and use you.     Yours and His,      Charles Gash

pretty line

Date sent: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 From: "Walter L. \"Jack\" Spratt" <mejack@bright.net>

Subject: Worship     Ray:     Just to let you know I have cruised around on your home page and find it interesting and thought provoking. I'm still thinking. I am concerned about the direction many seem to be taking in regard to worship and to the doctrinal content being taught in our church services.  --     Jack.

pretty line  Should YOUR comment be added here? Click for others' comments which have already been added at Study #77-A.

        Brief Bible Study #77 from Ray Downen. To go back to Viewpoint's first page, click < here. Or go on to Viewpoint Study #78.   For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.