Should Worship be Biblical or Fashionable?

Amongst evangelical Christians there is great interest in modern and contemporary worship styles.  The praise band has been introduced with the thought that this will appeal to younger people and help to enlarge the church.  In some cases, this approach works.  But does this mean the approach is correct?  Is there not a real danger of transforming worship to please people, to conform to a worldly mindset rather than pleasing God?  This is a subject of the utmost importance and relevance because we are worshipping God.

Dutch Theologian Abraham Kuyper wrote on this issue:

“There is a type of worldliness which is extremely prevalent in the church and is doing untold damage, yet is hardly recognised as worldliness….It is to count greatness as the world is wont to do, to stress externals at the expense of spiritual values…That church is said to flourish which grows rapidly in numbers, even though it does not grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord.  That church is deemed prosperous which has a costly stone structure and keeps enlarging it, even though it fails to build up its members as lively stones into a spiritual house.”[1] 

This is a form of worldliness which we must avoid.

On the matter of public worship the Westminster Confession of Faith makes this most telling statement:

“The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited to his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.”  

In other words, the way in which we worship God must be regulated by the Scriptures. 

Therefore, as a denomination we make the case that worship must be Biblical, not fashionable.

Public Worship; The Authorisation

We cannot over emphasise enough the importance of fellowshipping with God’s people in His house.  During the Covid-19 lockdown period, while we were grateful, for the technology which enabled us to communicate remotely, we were also deeply conscious that such methods did not and could not replace the personal gatherings of God’s people.  One of the chief duties and privileges of Christian life is to gather with God’s people for public worship.

Collective worship has long been a feature of church life.  In the Old Testament the tabernacle was called the tent of meeting, Exodus 29:43, because the people together met with God there. The veil into the sanctuary was torn apart when Christ died because post Calvary God is present wherever his people gather.  Public worship is commended by Christ’s example,  Luke 4:16, and by the practice of the early church, Acts 20:7.  It is also important that we train up our children by bringing them to the House of God morning and evening when the Church gathers to worship, 1 Samuel 1:24. 

Public Worship; The Attitude

When God met with his people in ancient times they were filled with a holy awe and reverence.[2]  Christ taught that, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst…”.[3] Therefore, we should come to God’s House prayerfully with open hearts expecting a word from the Lord.  We should have an awareness that God is with the assembling of the church as he is nowhere else on earth.  By this I mean – God manifests His covenant presence with His gathered people in a unique and special way in public worship. We should come punctually because as soon as the congregation is called to worship the people are ushered into the divine presence, it is an appointment that we should make every effort not to be late for.  We ought to leave carefully thinking about what God has been saying to our hearts.[4]

Public Worship; The Appearance

How should we appear before God on the Sabbath?  Is it unreasonable to insist that in our dress we should appear in a manner that reflects the glory of the one whom we worship? 

Ladies cover their heads because this is expressly taught in the Scriptures.[5]  The purpose for the head covering is to respect Christ as the head of the Church.  This is our understanding of 1^st Corinthians 11 and is one who characterised the Protestant churches universally until the latter stages of the Twentieth Century. 

On a general point it is difficult to argue that the casual culture which is drifting into church life today is truly showing God the reverence that He deserves.  Immodesty of female apparel while it ought not to have a place in society generally, most definitely should not be worn in God’s house as He is offended by such.[6]  Likewise, young men should not dress casually as they appear before God, for the public gatherings of the Church.  If one was appearing before royalty on official business would there not be a dress code?  How much more should we not pay attention to how we appear before the God of Heaven.  I understand that God looks upon the heart and the dress merit’s no-one redemptive favour.  But dress can at times reflect the respect we give to the one with whom we are engaging.

Public Worship; The Agenda

As we worship God it is important that we remain faithful to the agenda which is laid down in Scripture.

Praise; Matthew 26:30, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16. 

New Testament public worship has a place for praise.  Psalms as well as hymns are to be employed as we praise.  We worship God with words, not with music.  The fact that music is mentioned little in the New Testament teaches us that modern trends elevating this medium are without scriptural foundation.  As we sing our praises, music is certainly permissible as an assistance and we are grateful for those whom God has gifted and who use their talents for His glory and for the benefit of all in the congregation.  Music must not, however, be utilised in a way that undermines or diminishes the words or where the medium is elevated above the words.  The Psalms are a great example of this principle in action.  While a wide variety of instruments were employed in temple worship, the intricate and precise way in which the words are recorded show us that praise, even in the Old Testament, was expressed primarily through words.  The Psalms of worship and hymns of praise contain words which teach truth, which reflect the glory of God and therefore draw our hearts into communion with Him.  They ought to be sung thoughtfully, joyfully and with reverence.

Praise prepares our hearts for receiving the Word of God and must be viewed in its connection with preaching.  When praise stands alone without the other ingredients of worship it degenerates into mere performance and entertainment, which cannot be a substitute for worship.

Prayer;Acts 2:42, Acts 4:24. 

The early church constantly devoted time to united prayer instructing us that petitioning God must continue to play a part in our worship.  Tragically this aspect of Church Worship is often the most neglected.

Preaching;Acts 2:14, Acts 13:5, Acts 13:14-16, Titus 1:3, 1^st Corinthians 1:17-18. 

The abundance of references to the preaching ministry in the New Testament teaches us that this must be paramount, or worship does not exist.  It is preaching alone that builds up believers in holiness and which evangelises the unconverted:

“The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.”[7]

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[1] The Glorious Body of Christ, Abraham Kuiper, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1967.

[2] Genesis 28:17, Exodus 3:5, Revelation 1:13-17

[3] Matthew 18:20  

[4] Ecclesiastes 5:1

[5] 1 Corinthians 11:3-6

[6] 1 Timothy 2:9

[7] The Shorter Catechism Question 89, Westminster Standards.