Worship Services

We talk a lot about churches and where they differ from the Bible in our blogs and podcasts. Most of the time we’re talking about doctrine and the church as a corporate building. But what about the delivery of the message being preached?

The early church met in homes. In my studies, I could not find any scripture where the owners hired or recruited the brethren for a band to liven things up. There are verses that speak of singing. One such verse is Hebrews 2:12 “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” I believe giving praise to God whether it be by word or song is part of church. What I don’t believe is part of the church is a band, concert lights and a pastor “peacocking” on the altar. For those of you who have never been to a southern Baptist church, peacocking is described in the “Meekness” blog. Paul says he did not preach using enticing words, 1 Corinthians 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

Music(k) is mentioned one time in the New Testament (Luke: 15:25) and it is what the elder son heard as he got close to his father’s house after the prodigal son returned. Nothing to do with church. The only time the word “song” is used in the New Testament to refer to singing aloud to others (on earth) is in Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” The word “sang” is also used once in Acts 16:25. The word “sing” is used six times from the book of Romans to Revelation and the only mention relating to the church is the one listed above in Hebrews 2:12. All this to say, where were the church concerts? Where were the church theatrics? Where were the guitar riffs? Where were the singing solos for each member of the “worship” band? Where was the choir? Where were the special songs by a few and musical guests? Can these all have a place in the body of the church? Perhaps, but not in what we call worship services.

Going to “church”, in many cases, has been reduced to a social event and/or a show. We are called to gather together to strengthen one another through God’s word. “Entertain” appears in the Bible twice in the same verse in the context of helping others. It is not used in the context of worshiping God.