May 7th: Worship - Why keep it traditional?

Speaker: Duncan Wyncoll

The contemporary worship scene makes an examination of this subject of critical importance. The new style of praise is not a matter of taste but of disregard of biblical principles.

(John 4:7-24)

Introduction
·         Major change in Christian churches over the last generation
·         Traditional worship is becoming almost unique in the Christian world
·         Splitting many previously good churches – some believers don’t know the arguments
·         My own experience – Brethren, C of E, High Church Masses/almost Catholic, Charismatic churches, Christian music scene (Greenbelt), & then the Tabernacle
·         It affects – Attitude before the service, Choice of hymns, Manner of the service leader, & Tone of prayer – all affected (also solos, choirs, choruses, instruments, & poetry)
·         Also affects other areas of the Christian life… (Sufficiency of Scripture, Reverence & Fear of God, & Seriousness)
·         Imagine the potential harm for seekers, unbelievers etc…?

It’s another ‘big lie’
‘We can use any style in our praise & worship services, God will accept it.’ ‘Come as you are’ attitude
Effect: Neutralises biblical discernment
Sadly… ‘Traditional’ & ‘contemporary’ worship proponents speak different languages

Does God give any direction in His Word as to how to worship?
Worship – continually being redefined, but traditionally it’s reverence & devotion
‘Worth’ – to honour, & ‘ship’ – to create. i.e. creating or assigning & attributing honour to God
English word doesn’t convey the totality of what God is saying about worship
Hebrew – Shachah [shaw-khaw] – ‘to prostrate, bow down, crouch, fall down flat, humbly beseech, pay obeisance’
Greek – Proskuneo – ‘to prostrate oneself in homage, to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand’
Is our attitude in keeping with these words? – ‘But where’s my dignity & self-esteem’?
Look at Muslims who prostrate themselves – God is not fooled by the form BUT…
He desires a broken & penitent heart, but our attitude can be too far from the mark

Regulative or Normative?
Much was changed at the Reformation, but not worship - This was left to the Puritans
Regulative Principle – founded on the principles in scripture
Normative – can worship be in any way unless prohibited by Scripture
Rom 12.1,2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. & be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, & acceptable, & perfect, will of God.
All of life is to be regulated by scripture
Calvin – “God disapproves of all modes of worship not expressly sanctioned by his Word”
Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 22 - The acceptable way of worshiping the true God, is instituted by himself, & so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imagination & devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures

So, where is this taught?
Exod 25.40 - & look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount
Exod 20.2-6 – the 1st & 2nd commandments (Enduring Law of God) showing God’s particular care with respect to worship. & How about the incident of the Golden Calf? & The Strange Fire of Nahab & Abihu (Lev 10)
1 Sam 15.22 - And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice
·         This was God’s rejection of non-prescribed worship
Matt 15 - Jesus’ rejection of Pharisaical worship according to the “tradition of the elders”

So what are the Results of how worship should be conducted?
1. Reading scriptures - 1 Tim 4.13 - Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine
2. Preaching - 2 Tim 4.2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering & doctrine
3. Singing - Col 3.16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
4. Prayer - Matt 21.13 - It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer
5. And all done in a spirit of true worship? - John 4.24 – ‘God is a spirit: & they that worship him, must worship him in spirit & in truth’.

But what does this mean? – 4 things
1.     A product from the heart & soul, with intelligent words
§   Opposite of ‘Aesthetic worship’ – an offering of beauty, art & skill
Illus: Allegri’s – Miserere Mei, Deus (Have mercy upon me – Psalm 51) banned for years… Pope wouldn’t allow it to be published or written down – until Mozart heard it…
§   True worship: no ‘physical’ dimension is required
§   Shouldn’t act like – ‘God is the audience; we are the performers’
§   Even the way the organ is played must be controlled…
Only one offering counts, or has merit – Christ!

2.     ‘Truth’ part means ‘right & understandable’
§   Opposite of ‘Ecstatic worship’ – emotional simulation
§   Manipulation of the feelings with music, bypassing the understanding
Illus: Catholic worship with images, smells, rich music etc
§   God wants – Intelligent thoughts resulting in legitimate spiritual feelings
‘Worship is words…’
§   Listening to preaching can be the highest form of worship
§   NT principle: ‘The law of the sound mind’
§   Even beware of – ‘tear-jerking preaching’ > short-lived repentance
§   Is it the result of shallow preaching that the people require this?

3.     It must be sacred & not profane
§   Profane – Treating sacred things with irreverence & disregard
§   Is the modern entertainment scene/music scene profane? Yes - Anti-moral, anti-authority & anti-God
§   Modern worship methods borrow extensively from the world
§   The Lord calls for submission to His standards
1 John 2.15,16 – ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, & the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world’
James 4.4 & 6 – ‘Ye adulterers & adulteresses, know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God’, & ‘God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble
§   Example of Abraham called out of this world…
§   Applies to private music at home as well as in the Church
§   Ring tones on phones, music lists on iPods etc
Pastor’s book ‘Worship in the melting pot’ repeatedly asks…
Why would a church wish to change its customary worship practices?

4.     It must be with Awe & Reverence
§   Worship is complete submission, respect & humility to God
§   Worship must produce a sense of fear – opposite of free & easy
§   With ‘Godliness’ – appropriate attitude to God
§   Affects other areas of Christian life – e.g. how we handle the Bible – flippant or full of respect?
§   Instinctive for new believers
§   So…, arrive early & be prepared

There is a slippery slope…
Traditional/Contemporary
1. What is the primary purpose of the worship service?
To prepare hearts for the preaching/To usher people into the presence of God

2. What tends to be emphasised?
The preaching/The music

3. What is the primary motive in selecting music?
Does it please God?/Do the people like it?

4. What is the secondary motive for selecting music?
Do the people like it?/Does it please God?

5. What is the primary indicator of a successful service?
I was really convicted by the Word of God today (Truth-based)/I really enjoyed worshipping God today (Experience-based)

Some say: ‘Isn’t it just a matter of personal preference?’
Shouldn’t judge one another – different people, & different tastes
God of diversity & creativity
Illus: Famous US preacher came to speak to pastor about ‘Worship in the melting pot’ book – Read it, don’t agree, but I don’t know why…!

1.     Avoid any association with evil - 1 Thess 5.22 - ‘Abstain from every form of evil.’
§   Not even a hint of immorality amongst us
§   Avoid all worship styles associated with today’s evil & immorality

2.     My freedom in Christ has limits
1 Cor 10.23 – ‘All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient’ – i.e. good & profitable
§   We should honour our brother’s needs above our own freedom

3.     Don’t let your preferences put obstacles in your brother’s path
·         Illus: Christian ‘rock’ music

4.     It’s ‘pharmacy’ to ignore the Word

Conclusion
·         Worship is Not a ‘celebration in words & music’
·         But it’s spiritual & truthful
·         Highest intelligent exercise of the mind – arrive early… & prepared
·         Remember the lessons of the Jewish Temple