A LOOK AT NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP By Garland Elkins We do not have the right to do just anything in our worship, and still please God. Christ stated the component parts of worship to God when he said, God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth (Jno. 4:24). Please observe that he pointed our that we must worship the right object, God. He further pointed out that we must worship God with the right attitude, in spirit. Finally, pointed that we must worship god in truth. Jesus informed us as to what truth is when He said, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (Jno. 17:17). There are five acts, or avenues of worship. These are clearly set out in the New Testament. 1. The church of the first century taught in worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7). 2. Prayer is an act of worship. Christians are told to continue in prayer (Col. 4:2), and to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer is to be addressed to God, not Mary or some saint, and prayers are to be prayed in the name of Christ (Eph. 4:20). 3. The congregation in the days of the apostles gave their contributions as the Lord prospered them, on the first day of every week (1 Cor. 16:1,2). This was a free will offering. Though many Christians give more than ten percent, yet the tithe is not bound upon the church of the New Testament. The New Testament church is not bound by the Old Testament law of tithing. (Heb. 7:12). Personally, I would not think of giving as little as ten percent buy this is of my choosing (11 Cor. 9:6-8), and not because I am bound by the Old Testament law of tithing. The Lord’s church does not resort to raffling contests, socials, and other such methods of raising money for the church. Such was not done by the congregations under the direction of inspired men of the first century, and those who do such things today are not identical to the congregations of the first century. 4. The church of the first century sang as an act of worship (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). We read in Hebrews 2:12 the following: Saying I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Note please, —in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. The New Testament nowhere authorizes Christians to play in the midst of the church but the scripture teaches that we are to sing in the midst of the church. The Christians of the first century were limited in their making of music in worship to God to vocal music, and not just to vocal music but a specific kind of music, namely, singing. They did not use organs, pianos, banjos, guitars, or other mechanical instruments in their worship to God. Simply stated: they sang but they did not play! Any church today that employs mechanical instruments in its worship is not identical to the New Testament church. The true church of Christ now limits her music to singing just as did the church of the first century. Those who attempt to defend the use of mechanical instruments in the worship of the New Testament church appeal to the Old Testament, what is said about heaven in the book of Revelation, and to certain Greek words and other quibbles, but let those who seek to defend the practice give us the passages which authorize the use of mechanical instruments in the worship of the Lord’s church. No man has ever been able to produce even one passage which authorizes the use of instrumental music in the worship of the church of Christ. Further let it be kindly but confidently stated, that one setting out to produce a single passage which authorizes the use of mechanical instruments in the worship of the church would be undertaking an impossible task! 5. The early church partook of the Lord’s supper on every first day of the week. Jesus commanded His disciples to partake of the supper (Mt. 26:26-28; Lk. 22:19). Paul mentions the same thing in 1 Corinthians 11:24,25. It is certain that the Lord commanded His people to eat of His supper; not only so, but the Lord’s people are commanded to assemble (Heb. 10:25). This command implies that some day is necessary What is the connection between eating the Lord’s supper and the assembly? Simply this: the disciples ate the Lord’s supper when they assembled (1 Cor. 11:20). They were perverting the institution by making a full meal out of it, and therefore they were reprimanded for that. But this passage does reveal god’s will in the matter. They were not to come together in public assembly to eat common meals – they were to eat such meals at home (1 Cor. 11:35). The Lord’s supper is the only thing God has ever required Christians to eat in a public assembly! Now, if we can learn when Christians assembled, or came together to eat the Lord’s supper we will know what day we are required to partake of the Lord’s supper. Here is the passage: And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. No one can scripturally partake of the Lord’s supper on any day other than the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). There are religious people who take it on Thursday or some other day of the week. When they do so, they do it without any Bible authority. The Lord’s church partook of the Lord’s supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Since every week had a first day in it this means that they ate the Lord’s supper every first day of the week! POWER is a monthly publication of the Southaven church of Christ. This article may be re-printed and freely distributed. 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Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:42:01 +0000
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