Cornerstone Connection

Thinking Biblically, by Bill Moore

Worship Done Decently and in Order

A person observing church worship services in twenty-first-century American evangelicalism may be reminded of the theme of the Old Testament book of Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Worship bands, blue-lit stages,
emotionalism, and preaching patterned after TED talks or motivational speeches are seen found. Gospel music bands and topical preaching “christianized” with Bible verses are often seen. One contemporary megachurch pastor endorses everything: “Furious note-taking during the sermon. Talking back to the preacher. Sitting in silence. Singing loudly to old hymns. Singing gospel songs. Singing contemporary Christian worship. Singing and dancing for hours. Raising your hands. Shouting. Stomping. Giving God a high five.”

To be sure, corporate worship can be godly and yet have some variation due to particular cultures. However, worship is not to be done according to what seemingly is most effective at gathering a crowd, thrilling the congregation, working the emotions or generally satisfying the congregants. Simply put, God is to be worshiped. The Second London Confession of Faith (2LC) reminds us: “The acceptable way to worship the true God is instituted by him, and it is delimited by his own revealed will. Thus, he may not be worshipped according to human imagination or inventions or the suggestions of Satan, nor through any visible representations, nor in any other way that is not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.”

God is to be worshiped in the manner that God desires, and his Word provides his instruction. As the 2LC points out concerning the normal congregational worship on the Lord’s Day, “The elements of religious worship of God include reading the Scriptures, preaching and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, as well as the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper. They must be performed out of obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear.”

The Bible prescribes the elements of “religious worship of God,” but it does not prescribe in detail how that is carried out. Indeed, in chapter one of the 2LC we find: “We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God and
government of the church are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rules of the Word, which must always be observed.”

Everything about the gathering of God’s people at the appointed hour is centrally about worship. The very word “worship” indicates that the purpose of the service is not for evangelism but (is this too obvious?) for worship. “Worship” is derived from the Old English “weorthscipe,” or, in our spelling, “worthship.” It means to ascribe honor or worth to a deity.

Consequently, the primary purpose of gathering on the Lord’s Day is for followers of Jesus Christ to worship our sovereign and holy God. The attitude of worshipers should be one of godly fear (Acts 2:43) and not “having a good time.” There is such a reverence for God that, should an outsider be among us, we should pray that he will experience conviction because of proclaimed truth and “falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” (1 Corinthians 14:25). Because of God’s sovereignty over life and eternity, we should “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Acceptable worship must be done decently and orderly, and it requires an attitude of reverence and awe. Maurice Roberts makes this observation: “It is greatly to be deplored that many evangelical church services appear to be entirely unmarked by reverence or godly fear. It is a thousand pities that deep seriousness in public worship is a thing of the past almost everywhere. A vast deal of culpable ignorance lies behind the bustle of modern church services. But the deepest fault of all is our lack of appreciation of the glory, greatness and majesty of the God whom we have come to worship” (The Thought of God, [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1993], 13).

Learning and practicing godly reverence during congregational worship is much needed in our day. May we learn it ourselves and teach it to our children. Such worship is our great privilege. Such a weekly opportunity is our great joy.

When we gather on the Lord’s Day, let us remember our primary purpose. While a blessing may be received, the purpose for our gathering is not fulfilled by feelings of blessing. Neither is the gathering primarily for fellowship, for greeting others, for telling uplifting stories, or even for evangelism. It is to worship God, and acceptable worship begins and ends with reverence and awe. And if unbelievers are among us, as we hope they will be, may they be convicted by the Spirit of God and, through faith in Jesus Christ, become worshipers, also.