Worship: Part 2 – Value of Corporate Worship

During the past year of pandemic, online learning, and “online worship,” many Christians are rethinking their own approaches to worship.  What attitudes and conditions are necessary for God-honoring worship?  Do we have to “go to church” in order to worship?  In “Worship: Part 1 – A Wider View of Worship,” we considered how a healthy lifestyle of worship should be a part of our work, recreation, and rest.  When this is true, our spiritual focus of each weekday can create a seamless connection to a more God-honoring and personally satisfying corporate worship.  

Turning our attention to corporate worship, what attitudes and actions in particular ought to characterize followers of Jesus Christ who gather to worship Him?  Warning: This is not a heavy treatment of the vast subject of worship.  This writer is only a layman with some points to share, and your responses will add much value.  (See “Comment” link at the end of this article.)

“Church Family” Gatherings
By definition, a church is an assembly of called-out believers in Jesus Christ.  After Jesus’s death and resurrection, His followers adopted the practice of continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2: 42).  As members of “the Body of Christ,” these “brothers and sisters” by faith in Christ were united by the Holy Spirit into a “faith family” in common love for their Savior.  Today we read from the Book of Hebrews the challenge to avoid forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10: 24-25).

According to the Bible, God’s design and His desire as our Creator is that His redeemed children come together each week to “worship Him in spirit and in truth (e.g. John 4: 24).”  Spirit-filled Christ-followers enjoy being together as a “church family.”  Meanwhile, God is continually drawing non-believers to “come and see” His church in the process of worshiping and serving God and loving one another (John 13: 35).

God created us to be members of both a spiritual family and a biological family.  Spiritual and biological families each have aspects that unify their respective members.  Within each family, members are unified by their common lineage, their shared history; and ideally, their shared values and affection for fellow family members.  However, because we all have a sinful nature and tend toward pleasing ourselves rather than pleasing others, both biological and spiritual families often experience strife and disunity for some of the same reasons (Philippians 2: 3-6).  Therefore, it will be helpful to consider how certain behaviors and their adverse effects within biological families could provide insights into how to identify and understand the dynamics within our church families. 

“Biological Family” Gatherings
Let’s begin by considering how a biological family plans to host a summer family gathering or reunion.  Then, we’ll compare the dynamics and behaviors that make for a great family reunion with those that are necessary for a God-honoring local church family? 

Maybe you are already having mental flashbacks of past family gatherings.  While we’re at it, let’s reason through the steps as if you were planning a family reunion at your home.  We will need to schedule a date, list who to invite, and plan for food, activities, games, etc.  Men in our family tend to think in spatial terms, selecting outdoor games and arranging their locations, or planning alternatives for bad weather—“Better rent a tent, or maybe clear out the barn or garage,” they say.

Meanwhile, women handle the guest list and food.  Should we plan for a large-scale barbeque, or just order-in the meat already prepared?  How about having each family bring a covered dish and a salad or dessert?  Should we invite the “patriarchs and matriarchs” of our family?  How can we honor them?   Will we have music or other media.  If so, who will perform or coordinate the entertainment? 

Once the plans begin to take shape, who can best serve as the host, or emcee?  Our family gatherings are usually not overly structured, but we have several naturally gifted entertainers or emcee-types.  Nothing like a good host or emcee to keep things running smoothly.  The host may call the family to attention in order to grant honor to elders, recognize the latest accomplishments of younger family members, and otherwise make everyone feel welcomed, involved, and loved.
 
Worship As a “Church Family”
By now, you may realize that our comparison of a biological family gathering to the assembling of God’s people to worship may be a bit far-fetched.  Shouldn’t there be a striking contrast between the two types of gatherings because of the greatness of God and His worthiness to be worshiped?  We believe so. Great as family reunions are, gatherings of God’s people as a “church family” ought to have several distinct qualities that demonstrate heart-felt worship, love for God, and unconditional love for one another. 

Rather than attempt an exhaustive treatment of the subject of corporate worship, we will list several qualities which, according to the Scriptures, should characterize true worship of God.  Remember, this writer is not an expert on worship, or even a person who “has it all together” spiritually—ask Abby about all of these.  So, after reading, feel free to critique, criticize, and add helpful comments.  See the “Comment” link below.  We can all learn more if we are willing to share Scriptural insights based on God’s Word and our experiences.

Come with Preparation of Heart
We know what it means to carefully prepare for and anxiously anticipate an upcoming family reunion.  How much more should we prepare to join with our spiritual family to worship Almighty God?  Weekly worship and preaching from the Word of God can help us be victorious over our sin each weekday.  In “Worship: Part 1 – A Wider View of Worship,” we emphasized how a spirit of worship should be an integral part of the lives of Christ-followers every day.  Daily worship and reliance on God, in turn, helps us worship in congregation.    

The psalmist David was aware of both his sinful tendencies and his need for a “lifestyle of repentance” (See Psalm 32).  Nevertheless, David continually aimed toward a daily life of integrity and whole-hearted devotion in preparation for those regular times of corporate worship of God (See Psalm 119: 9-11).  In Psalm 15 and Psalms 24-26, David asks questions like, “Who may dwell on God’s holy hill?” David’s answer: “He who walks with integrity.”  We must realize with David that maintaining our integrity each day enables us to come with hearts full and ready to worship in congregation.  Psalm 26: 12 expresses this relationship: 
My foot stands on a level place;
in the congregation I shall bless the LORD.

Come with Glad Anticipation
David wrote and sang this song (Psalm 122: 1): 
I Was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD”

We ought to come to church with glad anticipation.  What a privilege to offer to God our expressions of His “worth-ship!” Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us (Revelation 5: 12)!  Some who are reading this article are used to going to worship regularly with glad anticipation in spite of difficult circumstances or limited religious freedom.  Others may anticipate assembling in spite of severe penalties or even threats against their lives. When we remember to pray for our Christian brethren who are persecuted in many nations around the world we are more prone to lay aside our petty concerns.  When we join fellow believers in corporate worship we join millions around the world who are responding to God's invitation to come in glad anticipation to praise the Lamb who was slain for us.  Psalm 95 conveys this glad invitation:  
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!
Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

Come to Encourage
Do you have a sense of glad anticipation as you make your way to church?  As a young family, we were not always glad and harmonious on Sunday mornings—ask our son and daughter.  But our family struggles often reminded us of how much we needed to be with fellow struggling followers of Christ to hold one another up in the presence of our Savior and Gentle Shepherd. 

As noted earlier, Scripture urges us not to forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another (Hebrews 10: 25).  We gather to worship, but also to encourage one another.  To encourage (Greek, parakaleō) means “to come alongside, to exhort,” or “to comfort.” For more on the importance of comfort, literally “to come with fortification in faith,” see “Hearing the Voice of Jesus –2: When Suffering Comes.” 

Coming together as a spiritual family to encourage one another means the depth of our conversations ought to be greater and our purpose more intentional than in biological family reunions.  Conversations at family reunions range from very casual “Hi, how have you been?” to greater depths if we are willing to take the time and open up a bit about some of our family burdens.  Much more so, when God’s people gather as a church, it ought to be assumed if not evident that all of us are bearing at least some physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens.  Therefore, let us be intentional, according to Hebrews 10: 24-25, to consider how to lift up and encourage those with whom we gather to worship.  

Jesus Christ did not give His life blood to purchase followers that found “country clubs” where everyone comes “neat and tidy.”  Instead, as someone has said, the church of Jesus Christ is like a hospital where Christ-followers, carnal Christians, and unsaved sinners can come together.  Here, they can expose their spiritual bruises, emotional struggles, questions, and doubts; and be encouraged in a safe and loving environment where God is worshiped and His Word is central.  Does this description fit your church family?

Come to Focus Upward to God
Some biological family gatherings may express praise and thanks (vertically, upward to God) for the blessing of being together, for safe travels, for delicious food, and for God’s many blessings. Family members like to enjoy one another’s company and to catch up on the blessings, adventures, and accomplishments of each other since our last gathering.  Here, the main focus is on enjoying and strengthening human relationships—i.e. horizontal and not vertical and upward to God.

When Christ-followers gather as a church, the main focus ought to be on Almighty God and offering Him reverence, adoration, and thanksgiving.  The focus ought to be primarily upward.  According to Isaiah 6: 1, the Prophet Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord and was immediately humbled to worship. 
I saw the Lord seated on a throne,
high and exalted;
and the train of His robe filled the temple. – Isaiah 6: 1
Likewise, when we realize that we are coming to worship Almighty God, we will come with preparation of heart and glad anticipation to be encouragers who lift up our brothers and sisters. 

Our natural tendency is to focus on ourselves in ways that do not elevate our church experience above a family reunion—for example, what dress or slacks we will wear, who we will speak to, what to say to “Sally” who just separated from her husband, how much we will place in the offering plate, whether the choices of hymns or praise songs will be worshipful, who will give the message, whether the message will include memorable illustrations, will the pastor give an invitation?  If these concerns dominate our thinking, we are in need of a higher focus and purpose.

The Book of Psalms is filled with uplifting invitations to worship God:
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.  – Psalm 40: 5

Hear the Call to Worship
Many corporate worship services begin with a “Call to Worship.”  This “call” is intended to be “God’s call” for us to gather with our “focus vertically” in worship of Him.  To respond in obedience to God’s call is to come before Him with preparation of heart and glad anticipation.  We pray that the points we have offered above will cause readers, especially Christ-followers, to reflect on the quality of our obedience to God who is worthy of our humble worship.

But the Scriptures also remind us to come with a “horizontally focused” sensitivity so we can encourage one another in our faith. As we listen to God’s Word, respond in song and prayer, and submit to God’s Spirit in our lives, we are less likely to become distracted by the methods and means, including the music chosen to assist us in worship.  We have found this Spirit-led focus especially helpful when it comes to accepting the choices of music for worship.  In “Worship: Part 3” we will consider “Music for Worship.”

Would You Care to Comment?
Now it’s your turn to respond.  How has this article affected your thinking about the way we ought to worship God?  Is there an error in our thinking, or a missing point that you would like to add?   Often, readers who take time to use the “Comment” link below will add much to the value of an article.  Or, if you’d like to comment privately, just email to silviusj@gmail.com   Thank you for reading.