Worship Service

The American/western way of “doing church” strongly cultivates the idea that God-pleasing worship consists of specific activities performed in a sacred space by a community of believers. This is common knowledge: we “go to church” in order to worship God with other believers. We have a liturgy – an order of specific activities – generally performed or managed by professional clerics.

We are directed to “worship the Lord in song” and then we all sing, or we are encouraged to “worship the Lord with our gifts” and then the collection is taken. We have a “communion service” which is a symbolic meal – a ritual to commemorate the events of Luke chapter 22. Central to all of this is a sermon or “message” – presumably insights gleaned by the professional from his/her deep study of the Word. This all is ostensibly done to worship God and equip the believers to go out into the world – the “mission field” – and serve the Lord where they are sent.

Within this model, we worship as a community, and then we serve as individuals. We worship in a sacred space, and then we serve in the secular world. This unscriptural dichotomy is visually reinforced by the picture above, and is certainly still regularly expounded from many American pulpits.

If you search for “worship service” or “spiritual worship” in scripture, you will discover Romans 12:1-2 where Paul wrote:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The phrase “reasonable service” above is translated from the Greek word latreia (Strongs G2999) and means “worship service.” We are worshiping in the New Testament sense when we demonstrate by our transformed lives that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect. And this is not done while sitting in a building singing songs or listening to a lecture; neither is some sort of corporate setting necessary. The modern ideas of liturgical “worship services” are foreign to the New Testament.

The point of this post is simple: ALL of life is supposed to be worship. To compartmentalize, or divide between “sacred” and “secular” is to make a division that God does not intend under His new covenant with us. To live IS Christ, as Paul said. We are to live out His presence in us in all places and at all times. In our speech, in our actions, in our “social media” and television choices and all other things. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.“

Modern church culture – strongly supported by the professional Christians among us – has foisted on us the idea that we must be gathered together in a Christian community and participate regularly in liturgical exercises in order to acceptably worship God. They may point to historical records of the activities of the early church, such as Paul taking up a collection, the Corinthians celebrating the “Lord’s supper”, the disciples singing songs or hymns, or Peter preaching. In some modern churches, baptism is part of the “worship service.” This, they assert, is what God wants from us and expects from us.

But it isn’t! This distinction is a conscience-killer. When you don’t see ALL of life as worship, then suddenly it’s okay to spend an hour scrolling social media or watching violence on TV. As long as God gets His two hours on Sunday morning, we can be (allegedly) “free in Christ” to do anything for the rest of the week.

I am not proposing legalism or Christianity-by-guilt-trip. But if Colossians 1:27 is our reality, and not just a philosophical abstraction, then when you are watching garbage on TV, you are forcing Jesus to watch it with you. Everything you do, every place you go – the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart – “everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.“

This post could be an encouragement, a rebuke, or a wake-up call. Matthew 7:23 should be a sober – and perhaps frightening – warning to many of us. Your own “religious professionals” may comfort you in this area, but they may be among the most vocal protesters when Jesus holds them accountable.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV

I’m not complaining, criticizing or judging. I’m just observing that the church no longer seems to be impacting the culture in any meaningful way, and suggesting one possible reason why. We continue our downward spiral. The “Nineveh warning” of recent history was largely unnoticed or ignored, and national repentance has not been forthcoming. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and wisdom seems to be sorely lacking. We don’t live in His presence. We’re like the people of Ezekiel’s day who said, “The LORD has forsaken the land and the LORD does not see.” But He DOES see.

Perhaps it’s because we have neglected worship. Maybe we’ve lapsed into serious idolatry. It could be that the Great Tribulation of Rev. 2:22 will be visited on most American Christians. Maybe, despite the exuberance of our “worship services” there is really very little true worship going on. Perhaps in the midst of all our religiousity, we have forgotten God, and that’s why all this is happening.

If you’re interested in a more in-depth and historical video presentation of this topic, I offer the work done by Dr. Tom Wadsworth entitled Why the Early Church Didn’t Have Worship Services.

Closing With Clarity: And hopefully with charity. I’m just looking for the truth. Just as the “Federal Reserve” is not federal and has no reserves, a “worship service” appears to be other than either worship or service. What is it? It’s fellowship, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Get together regularly with your friends, sing songs you all enjoy, listen to an encouraging message, meet new people. It’s all good … but is it transformational?? Are you, by virtue of these activities, becoming more of the person God wants you to become? Are you more gracious, more compassionate, less worldly, less bitter? Is your life characterized by hunger for holiness? Love, joy peace, patience, kindness and the rest?