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Issues and Answers (6)
Worship in a Changing World

Introduction: The issue before us regarding worship is a charge that "traditional worship" is no longer relevant and that modern man needs something to fit our times. While no one should be opposed to change simply because it is different, faithful Christians recognize an element of New Testament worship that is divine and unchanging. Modes of dress, places of worship, lighting arrangements, etc., even four-part harmony as compared to chanting, are not the issue. Whether or not some specific acts of worship are required, and whether or not every mundane act of individual Christianity is worship is central to this modern issue.

Obsession for Change

One writer has put it clearly: "Change has always been a significant factor of history, but the accelerated pace of our contemporary culture has given change an even greater status. Change has been deified as a god who bestows a birthright guaranteeing the accommodation of everyone's personal whims and fancies. From change for the sake of change, to change for the sake of whoever wants it, rapid, often radical change has paradoxically become a notable constant of our mercurial culture.

"The voices of change have also been echoing among the churches of Christ for some years now. These voices often speak against many of our once common practices, with worship being an area receiving a disproportionate number of calls for change.

"Increasingly, we hear that our worship is so grounded in tradition as to be out of touch with present realities. In short, the worship expressions that once went virtually unquestioned among us are now said by many to be just plain boring. We regularly hear that there is a need for change towards a more contemporary style of worship. If we fail to heed this call for change, we are warned that we will be closing our church doors to a whole generation of people." (Edwin Jones, "Performance or Participation," The Spiritual Sword, Vol. 24, No 2, Jan. 1993, p. 28).

What Kind of Change?

Christians have to accommodate themselves to changes in culture or situations.

  1. Israel in Babylon - Dan. 1 (but, note vs. 8) Christians and their culture in first century (eating meats and days - Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 8).

  2. 1 Cor. 9:19-23 - "all things to all men," yet with the limitations of doing that which is "lawful" (1 Cor.10:23).

Faulty Bases for Change

  1. To make the church more appealing to the world.

  2. To make the church more appealing to the next generation of Christians.
  3. To make our worship more entertaining.
  4. To avoid being "legalistic."
  5. There is no pattern for worship.
  6. We must not be tied to first century culture in the twentieth century (music, attitude toward women, etc.)
  7. Everything we do in life is worship, therefore it can be brought into the assemblies.
  8. The younger generation ought to take charge over the older generation (a "generation gap" argument).

Faulty Bases for Staying the Same.

  1. Change would be disruptive (some argue against the use of instruments of music, not because they think them doctrinally wrong, but because their introduction would be controversial).

  2. "This is the way we have always done it."
  3. "Church of Christ" positions must be defended.
  4. The older generation must decide for the younger.

Calls for Change Often Due to Confusion About the Purpose of Worship.

  1.  Entertainment is not worship; worship is not entertainment.

  2. Today's world is in a frenzy for recreation, paying huge sums for season tickets to sports events, music specials, sports equipment, fishing/hunting trips, looking for the next "exciting" event as soon as one is past. There is an insatiable aspect to entertainment ("I want more"), and it is progressive (old things become boring). Entertainment companies recognize this and are always finding new ways to entertain, new challenges to put before the public.
      a. "Nintendo Christians" think worship has to be exciting, invigorating, challenging, entertaining, like a Nintendo game. Anything less is boring.
      b. "Studies reveal that the average length of a shot on network television is only 3.5 seconds, 'so the eye never rests, always has something new to see'" (Tom Holland, "Can Worship Be Vibrant and Meaningful Without Becoming Faddish and Unscriptural?, ibid, p. 32).
      c. Worship is thus compared to recreation and is dull in comparison. One recent study by an author concluded:  "Although he watched 42 hours of televised religion, he said he could have arrived at two obvious conclusions by watching 5 hours of Robert Schuller, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, and Pat Robertson. His two conclusions were: 'On television, religion, like everything else is presented, quite simply and without apology, as an entertainment'" (ibid, p. 32).
      d. Again, "It appears that televangelism does not compete as much as it subverts the local church..." "...while televangelism alters Americans' concept of the church, it also transforms their notion of worship...local congregational worship seems more and more like a Hollywood production...The key words used by advocates are 'relaxed,' 'informal,' 'interesting,' and 'relevant' - but the inevitable result is TV-styled services.  Televangelism has helped submerge worship into popular culture, and the effects have been mostly negative" (ibid, p. 33).
      e. "Churches zealous to attract the unchurched have baptized virtually every form of amusement..." "...More and more churches are eliminating preaching from their worship services and opting instead for drama, variety shows, and the like" (ibid, p. 33).
      f. This is rationalized: "They say the church must adopt new methods and innovative programs to grab people on the level where they live" (ibid, p. 33). But is it not true that the gospel is designed to bring people out of "where they live" (1 Cor. 6:9-11)?
      g. The flaw is that of comparing apples to oranges (If 3 apples weigh 4 oz., how much does orange juice cost?)
      h. The value or purpose of worship should not be compared to the value or purpose of recreation.
      i. Approaching God through the Lord's supper should not be measured by a trip to Six Flags.
  3. We must not make the mistake of ignoring the spiritual nature of man. (Rom. 12:1; 1 Tim. 2:8ff; 1 Pet. 1:15).
      a. He is both physical and spiritual.
      b. The needs of one does not mitigate against the needs of the other.
      c. Supplying physical needs will not satisfy the spiritual hunger; supplying spiritual needs will not satisfy the physical.
      d. After worship on Sunday, we still need to eat a noon meal.
      e. After enjoying a day of entertainment, we still need to feed the inner man.
  4. Every age of man (ancient or modern) has the same spiritual needs and they can be met by true worship of God. Let us not be guilty of demanding from our worship the same emotions and results that we get from a day at the ball park.
  5. "There is a sacredness of worship that must not be sacrificed on altars of superficial spirituality,  fads of the day, emotion-rousing handclapping, and entertainment-oriented quartets and choirs" (ibid, p. 34).

Why Are Worship Services Boring?

If worship services are boring and uninspiring, it is because the divine service is not being properly attended, not that it needs to be thrown away (throw the baby out with the bath water).

  1. More planning, more enthusiasm, true dedication, inner devotion and personal consecration would bring about the desired end.

  2. Lack of planning, boring attitude, ho-hum approach would make a sports event monotonous.
  3. Are we confusing things? Is it the divine order that is lacking, or is it a personal attitude problem? Is my heart missing from my worship? If so, don't blame God for my faults.

Suggested Faulty Changes

Drama instead of preaching (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:15-16; 10:14-15; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Tim. 4:2, etc.) Choirs, soloists, special singers giving performances instead of congregational singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

  1. Comparing Oral Roberts stage shows (with professional singers and a band) to congregational singing makes the latter seem bland and colorless if one is looking for entertainment.

  2. Is worship a "performance" for an audience or a gift from the worshipper to God? Who is the object of worship?

Spontaneous events of worship instead of predictable "three songs and a prayer."

  1. Spontaneous singing led to women song leading .

  2. True, we must not deify "3 songs and a prayer."
  3. But to be subject to the tyranny of something new, something unexpected, something different makes true worship difficult, if not impossible.
  4. Finally, even spontaneity becomes a rut and prohibits the congregation from knowing what to expect, forcing them to become spectators instead of participants.

Make the Lord's supper more "meaningful."

  1. One church used a recording of "groanings and moanings" to make the suffering of Christ more meaningful.

  2. Take the Supper at times other than Sunday.
  3. Take the Supper with you on vacations so that you can commune with the Lord and nature (not in a church building).
      a. It is true that worship is not confined to a building.
      b. But the Supper should be in the assembly: Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20 ("being come together in one place").

Raise your arms and say "Hallelujah," or "Praise Jesus."

  1. Nothing wrong with having emotion in our worship.

  2. Nothing wrong with saying "amen" to prayers - 1 Cor. 14:16.
  3. But external positions (standing, kneeling, sitting) or bowed heads or raised arms do not make worship better or worse.
  4. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 - love of Christ constrains us to live for him, not for ourselves.
  5. We should beware of vain worship, to be seen of men (Matt. 6:1; 23:5f).

Dancing in worship

  1. David danced (2 Sam. 6:14) in worship; whether or not it was approved by God is debatable.

  2. Used as argument by Vance Trefethen in tract to show that all dancing is not wrong.
  3. Denominations now include this as part of their worship services.
  4. If soloist sings a solo to God as a gift of his/her musical talent, why can't a dancer dance to God to give a gift of physical ability? (Remember, "Juggling Jeff" among Dallas area churches of Christ?)
  5. Was dancing ever a part of New Testament worship?

Faulty Alternatives to Assemblies of the Saints

  1.  Again, while it is true that much of worship can be individual (at home, etc.) or with other Christians at other times than assemblies (singing in homes, etc.), there are some aspects of assembly worship and work of the church that should be not appropriated to those situations instead of the local assembly or instead of the work of the local church.

  2. Camping trips for young people; tours for senior citizens, etc. on which the tour group becomes "a church" for the week-end and saints fail to assemble.
      a. We need to be sure that we understand the definition of a congregation. Family outings, tour groups and youth groups do not comprise a congregation. Every gathering of individual Christians does not comprise a congregation. Such groups never intend to be a congregation (working toward elders and deacons, building a building, identifying itself as a congregation, etc.). One might as well suppose that five people working in a   department at Lockheed who eat lunch together comprise the "Lockheed church of Christ." Intent and purpose are considerations that must not be overlooked.
      b. Family groups, senior tours or young peoples' outings should not appropriate to themselves the worship that God has designed for assemblies of the saints (Lord's supper, a treasury, work as an organized church).
  3. Summer camps in which young people meet other people in a clean, moral environment can be good. But it must not be used to replace the church or the work of the church.
      a. Using the camp directors to offer the Lord's supper in place of worshipping with a local congregation.
      b. Using emotional tactics to coerce young people to be baptized. One recent camp had 38 baptisms on one night. While we might rejoice at first thought, reflection on what took place is sobering. What took place at that camp that was different from the local congregations from which the young people came? Why were they not baptized at home? Why did these young people feel compelled to be baptized in a situation where their parents were not present and all at the same time? It was reported that it was around a campfire, emphasis was put on the lost condition of those not baptized, handclapping occurred, "high-fives" were exchanged as each youth went to be baptized, etc. If this indicates that the camp is better equipped to baptize our young people than the local church, Jesus should have died for "The Camp," instead of the church. Perhaps we should meet at night, burn logs around a campfire, tell emotional stories, use peer pressure and clap and "high-five" to work up some enthusiasm so we can baptize more.

Is Every Act of Service Worship?

It is true that a man who supports his family is also, by that fact, serving God. A woman who does her housework and tends to her children is likewise serving God (Col. 3:17). An argument has been made, however, that all these acts of service is also "worship," and therefore we must not restrict our worship to "five acts" or to "traditional" worship. We must be sure that we see the difference between service and worship; between what we do as individuals and worship commanded by God that should be congregational. Perhaps it could be stated that all worship is service; not all service is worship. Worship is a part of service, but worship is not all of our service.

The difference is seen by Paul going to Jerusalem "to worship" (proskuneo), Acts 24:11 but was also "serving God night and day" (latreuo), Acts 26:7; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 12:28. Thousands of activities from fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, individual Christians, etc., (mowing the grass, rearing children, playing a ball game...) could properly be understood as service to God as well, but it is not worship. Therefore, it is a mistake to conclude that worship is a 24-hour, 365 day-a- year all-encompassing activity and cannot be confined to "5 acts of worship in an assembly."

One writer stated: "The TDNT [Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, tr] says that 'proskunein [worship]...remains limited to a single act.' It is the giving of reverence or homage to God by either thoughts alone or by thoughts combined with words or deeds. It requires specific action. It has a starting place and a stopping place. It is not an ongoing state. Nearing Mt. Moriah, Abraham told his servants to remain behind while he and Isaac 'go yonder and worship' (Gen. 22:5). Gideon 'worshipped' and then 'returned into the camp of Israel' (Judg. 7:15). Elkanah and his family 'rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah' (1 Sam. 1:19). David 'arose from the earth, and washed, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah and worshipped' (II Sam. 12:20). All of these occurrences show that worship begins and ends with overt acts and that daily routines such as bathing and changing clothes cannot be construed as worship" (Gary Workman, "What is Worship," ibid, p. 4-9).

Let us refuse to be forced into including myriads of service items into our worship that God never intended. The Bible teaches five acts of worship. It may be traditional, but it is the "tradition of the apostles" (2 Thes. 2:15) and sufficient to every child of God who seeks to worship God in "spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:24).

True Worship

Definition: (Greek: "Proskuneo," "Sebomai," and "Threskeia") "To kiss toward" - an act of veneration, from act of kissing hand or foot of the one worshipped; to prostrate before:

  1. John 4:24 - proskuneo

  2. Mk. 7:7 - sebomai
  3. Threskeia - Col. 2:18

The Practice of Worship

  1. John 4:20-24 - it is the will of God

  2. It is more than an attitude, being a specific act
  3. Isa. 66:23 - "come to worship"
  4. Zech. 14:16 - "go...to worship"
  5. Acts 8:27; 24:11 - "come to worship at Jerusalem"
  6. Ps. 42:1-2 - a soul's approach to God
      a. To give glory - Ps. 50:23
      b. To draw near to God - Heb. 4:16
  7. How?
      a. Speaking - Job. 1:20-21; Heb. 13:15; Rev. 19:1-7; Rom. 10:8-10; 2 Cor. 1:19 ("preach Jesus")
      b. Singing - Ps. 66:1-4; 95:1-6; 2 Chron. 29:25-30
      c. Praying - Gen. 24:26-27, 48; Ex. 34:8-9
      d. Giving - Deut. 26:10; 1 Chro. 16:29; 2 Chro. 29:27-28; Rev. 4:9-10

      e. Lord's supper - Mt. 26:29; 1 Cor. 10:16