|
Bro. Turner
 How
does one distinguish "worship service" from Sunday
morning Bible class or Wednesday night studies? GE
Reply:
What
is the difference in a "funeral service" and the
mourning and remembering done before or after that
"service"? Do we remember and honor the dead only when
formally assembled for that purposes or is the
"service" but a time especially set apart for such
honoring and remembering?
I
do not believe the "Assembly" is a
"sacrament" — some holy institution by which
blessings are administered. One does not worship by simply being
present; or by mechanically participating in the "five
items." I am saying these things to try and guide you in
the examination of traditional concepts of "worship
services." Previous articles on this theme can be read in
PLAIN TALK, V.14, No. 5, p.7; 12-12-7; and 9-1-7.
"Worship" is basically a frame of minds an attitude
toward God that manifests itself in overt acts. No amount of
"form" per se, can constitute "worship," nor
is a certain "service" worship, to the exclusion of
all other manifestations.
But
one with a proper attitude toward God respects the instructions
and information concerning worship to be found in the word of
God. He meets with fellow saints upon the 1st. Day of the week
to sing, prays study, give of his means, and partake of the
Lord's memorial supper because he has learned that brethren
under guidance of inspired Apostles and Prophets did this. Such
things are "authorized."
| |
I
do not know of a scripture that tells of a single assembling
where all of these things were done; although secular history
(Ante-Nicean Fathers) gives us several statements about such
practices of the church in very early times. I do not know of a
scripture that makes "worship" dependent upon
"five items." I believe it is a mistake to assume that
there is no "worship" done on Wednesday nights or in
Bible classes; but I also believe it would be a mistake to
assume that we had completed our service of worship on the First
Day, when we ignore or count as naught that which the early
church did on the First Day.
The
subject — question is often asked in conjunction with
questions about the conduct of women: may they speak or teach in
the "class" but not in "worship'"? I believe
man is over woman in all circumstances (1 Cor. 11: 3), and she
could no more take positions of authority over man in class than
in "worship." Her role as leader in teaching should be
confined to assemblies where no men are present. On the other
hands her role in "worship" is determined by this same
principle, and not by some "sacramental" character of
the "worship service."
In
the final analysis, it seems we worship and praise God in many
ways, every day of the week, alone or with others. But on the
First Day we follow the example of first century saints, and
come together to break bread (commemorative suppers 1 Cor. 11:
17-f; Acts 20:7), worshipping God and encouraging one-another as
a "team." We should make neither more nor less of this
than did the early saints.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
