Having noticed that the Scripture requires us to worship God primarily with our words and that in spirit and in truth, we want now to dwell upon what constitutes the components of acceptable Biblical worship.
How do these principles which we have noticed work themselves out in each of the worships services that we engage in? What elements does the Word of God warrant us to include in a service of public worship? For that matter we can apply the same rule to private worship as well.
The Scriptures warrant four essential components: [1] Praise [2] Prayer [3] Reading the Scriptures [4] Preaching.
If we hold to the Scriptures, and we do, as our final rule of faith and practice then these are the only four elements that have scriptural warrant. We have already mentioned in passing other elements that are sadly creeping into that which claims to be the worship of the Lord.
Some of these elements are relatively uncontroversial. Others somewhat more so.
For example, what part of a service ought to be given to praise or to preaching? Again for example, within the element of praise, what do we sing is an issue? Are we to sing only the 150 Psalms of the Psalter and no hymns at all? If hymns then what type of hymns?
Another topic within this element will be the part that music plays. Is there scriptural warrant for the use of music in worship? Again what type of music is appropriate for the house of God and for the worship of the Lord?
We want to consider scriptural examples, precepts and principles that will govern our understanding of what is right in this matter before God.
We are going to commence with the component of reading the Scriptures |
