https://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2024/gino77-1.htm

Dear Gino:

You raised a lot of questions.  I think scripture answers some of them, and I have a few ideas.  But I am NOT an authority - I'm trying to correct an error and offer a little encouragement.  So anyone who reads what I write is free to disagree or offer other/additional ideas.

In John 4 we read of a conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.  Her concern was worship:  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  The Samaritans wanted to worship, and would have been happy to go to Jerusalem, but they were the despised half-breeds and were not welcome.  Still, they thought that LOCATION was significant, indeed ESSENTIAL, to acceptable worship.

Jesus' response is well-known but maybe not well understood:  "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."   Spirit and truth - not rituals or location, or a "community of believers" or really much of anything we have been told - is proper and acceptable worship.

Some of the folks in the prophetic community are simply immature trouble-makers who like to stir up dissent, and what better place than in the area of eschatology, where LOTS of opinions and ideas are presented and defended.  But then there are those who are genuinely prophetic, who see both the problems in Laodicea and the direction this is going.  And they have also been "shown the door" - branded with deprecating labels like "End-Times-Eddie" and while their presence and their money may be welcomed at the "worship service" they can keep their passion to themselves.  Ostracism.

And when they finally leave, it's with a guilt trip that they have to be "in fellowship" in order to worship.  I deny both the guilt trip and the premise upon which it rests.

Acceptable worship rests on the foundation of an obedient life.

As we know, the Old Testament prescribed specific activities, places and times for Israel to come before the Lord as a community and worship Him.  That was OLD testament - and one thing that I think the Lord intended to demonstrate is that this was NOT transformational.  His people did all the right stuff and did it well, but still lapsed into idolatry, wickedness and sin. 

Some things never change.  We in America still have our "worship services" and yet - well, you tell me:  does God show up?  Do our "worship services" bring people under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit?  Are these transformational experiences?  Do people change their lives, change their spending habits, change their TV preferences, change their taste in music, change their attitudes toward those around them? 

If so, then why is America under judgment??

You asked:  what would be the recommendation for any of us, after we've finished reading it?  Should we no longer consider the singing and giving that is done as a congregation, to be worship, but that it is actually something else? If it is not worship, then what is it?

These are valid questions.  First, my recommendation is that we each process the question and decide whether my concern bear up under Biblical scrutiny, or if I'm just another schismatic who is "mad at church" (or maybe mad at God).  My conclusion is that, while there is certainly nothing WRONG with getting together with other Christians and singing or listening to a sermon, it is NOT "worship" in the Biblical sense.  It's something else:  usually just fellowship.  And again, nothing intrinsically wrong with it.

My second recommendation is that you imagine your life to be projected moment-by-moment on giant Jumbotron screens in heaven, before God and all His hosts.  Maybe in your imagination, these heavenly hosts include all of your dearly departed loved ones: spouse, children, parents, siblings as the case may be.  EVERYTHING you do "...is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  Live your own version of "The Truman Show" - would your life be different?  If so, how?  If you lived moment-by-moment in His presence and for His glory, then THAT would be a life of worship.  Getting together with your buddies to sing and listen to a Bible teaching may be a part of your worship, but it would not REPLACE your worship.

Imagine everyone in heaven AND ON EARTH were watching everything you did, hearing everything you said, and knowing the thoughts and intentions of your heart.  Would you live differently?

You also wrote:  "Yes, most of the activities churches do on the first day of the week, is tradition.  However, as long as it doesn't involve false doctrine, immodesty, or glorifying someone else beside the LORD, but it is all done decently and in order, is it wrong?"

I would suggest that a lot of what goes on in church "worship services" is NOT to glorify the Lord, but rather to exalt the church and its activities.  No doubt some churches are worse than others, but remember:  in America each church is also a business, and the health of the business supports the viability of the church.  As for immodesty, you look around and tell me what you see.  As for false doctrine:  well, what's the test you use?  If someone is preaching an irrelevant message, would you consider it "false doctrine"?  If someone uses scripture to lead to an incorrect application, is it "false doctrine"?  I've been to churches where the scripture is simply a point of departure for launching into a TED talk centered on the pastor's opinions.  But it's probably case-by-case, and outside my scope anyway.  My central thesis is that all of life is supposed to be worship - not just a few structured and formalized/liturgized hours on Sunday morning.  If this statement challenges or convicts anyone, then let that person take it for action.

You asked:  Like some churches have used bongos for centuries, some only use an organ, some use banjoes, and some Brethren congregations, believe in no instruments at all.  Who's wrong? Who's correct? Are they all wrong?  This is outside my scope.  This is a red herring on the question of worship.  I do not have standing to offer an opinion.  Romans 14:5 is probably relevant to your question.

What about Messianic Jewish Christians worshipping together on the sabbath? What about other Christians worshipping together on the first day of the week?  Is one correct, the other, neither, or both?  Interesting question but, again, totally irrelevant to the question I am addressing.  This invites discussion of related questions.  I refer you again to John 4:21-24.

Is it possible that we are simply attempting to mimic what David arranged for the upcoming temple that Solomon would build, involving the Levites?  Anything is possible.  The very human desire to gather together and do things corporately is as old as Nimrod and the tower at Babel.  "We all need the human touch" as Rick Springfield famously sang.  We like getting together with like-minded people, and we all crave acceptance.  Whether this is mimicry, or whether it matters - I don't know and it probably doesn't matter.

Or are we only following a script that a pastor has written for us, believing that we are doing the right thing?  I don't know.  That "corporate worship" is scripted is hard to deny.  Most congregants most probably believe they are "doing the right thing" or at least not doing anything wrong.  Is it "God-pleasing"?  Maybe.  Is it worship.  In most cases, I would suggest it is NOT.

Or, that by Paul not scripting this, was it therefore left up to the individual churches, to decide for themselves, how they would worship?  NO - we do not, as churches or as individuals, decide how to worship.  God decides, and He has made His decision known:  in Spirit and in Truth.  He's not a part-time god who only deserves part-time worship.  He is ALL God ALL THE TIME, and He deserves our total commitment and obedience and praise and worship and thanksgiving.  We don't "worship" God for a few hours, then go out into the world and "serve" in some sense.

Since you brought up some strong points, rather than dismissing what you said, I wanted to know what you recommend to be done with the information you offered?  I hope I've answered all your questions.  I hope everyone reading this will think it through, process it, and come to Biblical conclusions.  This flies in the face of a lot of garbage theology foisted on trusting Christians, who believe their paid leaders won't steer them wrong.  But we can't put any of this on our "leaders" because they are conflicted too.  We must take worship seriously and personally. 

Best,

Steve