The Lord designed His church to be very distinct. He placed a number of identifying marks for His church in Scripture, in order for man to be able to identify it when he finds it and to restore it as He desired it to be. One very recognizable characteristic of the Lord’s church is its worship. It is quite noticeable today that different religious groups worship in different ways, but is that in accordance with God’s standard and satisfaction? Let’s study this.
First, the Bible teaches that the New Testament is God’s pattern for acceptable worship in the church today. Colossians 3:17 comprehensively states, “Whatever you do…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” “Whatever” certainly includes worship. Our worship must be authorized by Christ.
Second, the Bible teaches that there are five avenues of acceptable worship in the church today. In the New Testament, you will find that the church was authorized in its worship to have preaching of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Cor. 14:24-31), giving of our means (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7), praying to God (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:14-16), observance of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29; Acts 20:7) and congregational singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). The Lord authorized these five avenues only.
Third, the Bible teaches that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed every Sunday. In the New Testament, the Lord’s church worshiped every first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7), and their purpose when they “came together” every Sunday was “to break bread” (Acts 20:7), which meant “to eat” the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20, 33). The Lord authorized the day of the week and the weekly frequency of this memorial.
Fourth, the Bible teaches that the church is to sing together as a congregation. In the New Testament, the Lord specified that the church is to sing “to one another” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), which involves every member and excludes one group singing to or singing in place of another group. Also, the Lord specified the music in worship as “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). By specifying one type of music (i.e., singing), He automatically excluded any other type of music (like playing an instrument). The Lord authorized exactly what He wants in His worship.
Fifth, the Bible teaches that the men are to lead the church in worship. In the New Testament, the Lord calls upon “the men” (i.e., males) to take the lead, and He does not “permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man” in the church (1 Tim. 2:8, 12). This is not chauvinistic or oppression, but just the Divine standard for order in His worship (1 Cor. 14:40).
If someone was searching for the Lord’s church today, there are some very specific avenues of worship that would help him to identify if what he finds is the church of the Bible or not! We must worship by God’s standard!