On Corporate Worship

I was asked recently to provide a simple look at worship and applications to making worship a more worthy endeavor in the Christian life.

My assigned area is worship. My specific focus is corporate worship.

So, what is significant about corporate worship? First, a definition: “Corporate worship is the formal gathering of the people of God on the Lord’s Day where God gives gifts to his children and his children respond in praise.” Corporate worship is to be distinguished from private worship and informal gatherings of the saints throughout the week. The Bible assigns a specific day called the Lord’s Day as a day when the people of God come together and offer themselves to God in truth by the Spirit and where God comes and gives of Himself to His people in Word and Sacrament.

Hebrews picks up this theme and says that we are not to forsake this gathering, because forsaking this gathering may lead to destruction. It may lead to the worship of false things.  Ambrose Bierce, in his class, The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary, says that a heathen is “a benighted creature who has the folly to worship something he can see and feel.”  Essentially, a pagan worships that which can be created.The Christian worships the one who is a consuming fire, whom the Bible refers as Holy, Holy, Holy, Father, Son, and Spirit.

Why is it important? It’s important because corporate worship is the most power Biblical method used by a Christian to wage war against the world. When we gather, there is a general biblical consensus in the Bible, that what we are doing is changing the world. The first response of the Christian in crisis is to worship. This is what we were created to do first and primarily. We are worshipping beings (homo adoranis).

Finally, what practical steps can we take to steward this area of corporate Christian worship?

First, we can begin to train ourselves and our families to practice worship throughout the week. By practicing worship throughout the week in Scripture reading, prayer, and singing, we will be more equipped to worship corporately on Sunday.

Second, instead of passive creatures on Sundays, instead of merely watching or listening to worship like a passive individual, we are called to participate wholeheartedly in the task of worship. In whatever tradition we may be a part of, we are called to joyfully engage in what is happening in worship. Sing with joy. Pray with fervor. Love one another as you have been called to love.

Finally, and most importantly, be present. As Randy Booth once said, “The decision as to whether I will be in Church on Sunday is a decision made once in a lifetime, not every Saturday night.” Corporate worship is a requirement whether you are on vacation or a home.

When you worship God together as a people, you can begin to see why our forefathers sang so passionately, “ I rejoiced when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”

 

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10 Replies to “On Corporate Worship”

  1. Brother, true corporate worship begins with the calling of God’s people who follow Paul’s instructions of how to first come before His presence. A single Priestly vestment is required, which represents a visable creed of creation, acknowledging His authority, and covers mans glory in order that only God’s glory be visible. It is worn because of the angels. After 1900 years of practice it has been abanded. Yes, our culture now reflects the sanctuary.

  2. I am not capable of discerning your language here. Some of your language sounds highly pietistic, but I still do not know what you mean.

  3. Paul begins his teaching on corporate worship in 1 Cor 11:2. This practice has been abandoned in our modernity. We actually believe we know better than the entire church in history. Our culture reflects our modern sanctuaries. It has never been nor is a pietistic practice, but a simple obedience to the King we approach.

    1. Thanks, Steve. I still don’t know if you are arguing against my original post, which served as a primer on Covenant Renewal Worship (see Jeff Meyers) or if you are simply adding your thoughts to the conversation.

  4. Meyers book is excellent! But I’m perplexed with it, and your post? To address and teach the people of God how to rightly worship, and yet not even mention Paul’s very first principal of how to approach our King is troubling. Half a chapter, connected with communion, a symbol packed with meaning, practiced by the entire church in history until now, a tradition Paul says we are contentious if we do not practice. Paul’s first principal and teaching on corporate worship not addressed by you or Jeff. The question is why?

  5. Brother, asking why you don’t even mention Paul’s teaching from
    1 Cor 11 on how we are to corporately come before his throne is cryptic? As you know women from all denominations have historically worn a covering, a veil or hat, as taught by Paul. God calls us into his very presence, before the angels, and says to wear this and explains why. You don’t even mention it. And I’m only asking why?

    1. Ah, so you are making a point about head covering? Have you considered that perhaps Jeff and I have different interpretations of said passages?

  6. Greetings Uri. You brought Jeff up, and so I just commented that both of you never addressed Paul’s 1st commandment in the call of God’s people in worship. I’m simply asking why is it being skipped? Regardless if you have different opinions. I’m interested in your reason. Thank you for this dialog.

    1. I don’t find it relevant, but I’d encourage you to read Jim Jordan’s work on it in his I Corinthians study on wordmp3.com and search for Greg Strawbridge’s paper on the subject on wordmp3 as well.

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