All Christians have, more or less, looked into the Word of God (the Bible) to find the way of salvation, but it seems that very few, after being saved, have searched the Word to find out how the Lord would have them to assemble together for worship and ministry. Though all believe that there is only one way to be saved, many consider that each is left to himself to choose how he should worship. Today, in Christianity, it seems that Christians are doing what the children of Israel did in the days of the judges, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 17:6; 21:25; Deut. 12:8; Prov. 21:2). As a result, there is a wide variety of opinion as to Christian worship, and much of it is conflicting. Most Christians have gone on for years worshipping, each in his own way or style, peculiar to his personal preference and denominational affiliation. Literally, for generations Christians have accepted what tradition has given the Church without question. In fact, most think that it is God’s ideal.
The Bible—the Ultimate Authority
The question that we need to ask is, "Does God care which way His people worship Him, or how they meet together for ministry? Does He have an opinion on this subject?" The answer we believe is, "Yes." Since there is only one place to which we can turn for authoritative answers on this and other subjects—the Word of God (the Bible)—it’s time that we got back to the basics in Christianity and had a fresh look at the Scriptures to see what God has to say about the subject of Church order. Since it is “the church of God” (Acts 20:28), surely He must have something to say about how Christians ought to worship. We believe that the pattern for Christian worship and ministry, and Church government is in the Bible, but it seems that most Christians have missed it.
A Challenge Concerning the Scripturalness of Denominational Christianity
Since we are to be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asks” us about our beliefs on a variety of Biblical subjects (1 Peter 3:15), we ought to be able to give an answer from the Word of God as to why we worship the way we do. Can we then, give our authority from the Scriptures for the way in which we meet together as Christians for worship and ministry? Or are we merely following the traditions of men?
To stimulate our thoughts along these lines we ask the following questions as a challenge to all believers for their Biblical authority as to why they worship in the way they do. The following questions are not meant to criticize the present order of worship and ministry in the Church today, but to stir up our thoughts as to what God’s order really is.
1) What authority is there from God’s Word for setting up so-called denominational or non-denominational "divisions" within the Christian testimony, when the Lord and the apostles taught that Christians should walk in oneness and unity in all things? (John 10:16; 11:51-52; 17:11, 21; Eph. 4:2-4; Phil. 2:2) In fact, Scripture decries the making of sects and divisions among believers! (Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 1:10; 3:3; 11:18-19)
2) What authority do Christians have from God for calling their so-called “church” groups names, such as: Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Alliance, Christian Reformed, Anglican, etc., when we have no direction in the Bible to meet together in any other name than the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? (Matt. 18:20; 1 Cor. 5:4)
3) What authority do Christians have for naming their so-called church groups after prominent gifted servants of the Lord, such as: Lutheran (Martin Luther), Mennonite (Menno Simons), Wesleyan-Methodist (John Wesley), etc., when Scripture decries the forming of a fellowship of Christians around a leader in the Church? (1 Cor. 1:12-13; 3:3-9)
4) What authority from God do men have for establishing these churches on the lines of national distinctions, such as, “The Church of England,” “The Chinese Mennonite Brethren,” “Greek Orthodox Church,” “Filipino Baptist,” “German Church of God,” etc., when Scripture tells us that there are no national or social distinctions in the Church of God? (Col. 3:11)
5) What authority do Christians have for fashioning their places of worship after the pattern of the tabernacle and temple of the Judaic order in the Old Testament? Many of these church buildings have ornate furnishings of gold and other fine materials. Many have a "altar," though it doesn't resemble the Old Testament altar. Others have special parts of the building roped off as being more sacred than other parts. What authority do Christians have for borrowing things like this from Judaism, when the Bible indicates that Christianity is not an extension of Judaic order, but rather an entirely new character of approach to God? (Heb. 10:19-20; 13:13; John 4:23-24)
6) Is there any foundation from the Word of God for having steeples and crosses, etc., erected on these so-called "church buildings"?
7) Is there any foundation from the Word of God for calling these buildings “a church?” The Biblical definition for the "Church" is a company of believers who have been called out of both the Jews and the Gentiles by the gospel, and are united into one body by the indwelling Spirit of God, to Christ their Head in heaven. Hence, the Church is a company of redeemed people—not a literal building made with men's hands (Acts 11:22; 15:14; 20:28; Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 5:25).
8) What authority from Scripture is there for setting up a man in the Church (a Minister or a Pastor, so-called) to “conduct” the worship? Scripture teaches that the Spirit of God has been sent into the world for the purpose of guiding Christian worship (Phil. 3:3; John 4:24; 16:13-15). The Bible indicates that the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, is to preside in the assembly of the saints and direct the proceedings as He chooses (1 Cor. 12:11).
9) What Scriptural authority is there for having pre-arranged worship services in these churches? Often a program will be handed out describing the order in which the worship will be carried out on that particular day.
10) What authority is there from Scripture for calling the services that go on in these churches “worship,” when they usually consist of listening to music and having a man give a sermon?
11) What authority is there from New Testament for the use of musical instruments in Christian worship? The Bible defines Christian worship as being that which the Spirit of God produces in the hearts and mouths of believers—in thanksgiving, praise, etc. It is not something mechanical (John 4:24; Acts 17:24-25).
12) What Scriptural authority is there for rehearsing pre-written prayers from prayer books in church services? The Bible says that we should not have vain repetitions in our prayers, but that our prayers should be our own words expressed from the heart. (Matt. 6:6-8; Jam. 5:16; Psa. 62:8; 1 Tim. 4:5 – "freely addressing Him").
13) What authority is there for rehearsing the Psalms in those so-called “Christian” worship services, when the Psalms do not express the sentiments of believers who know Christ's finished work on the cross? The Psalms do not express the worship of those on Christian ground, who know the privilege of access into the presence of God as purged worshippers (Heb. 9:14; 10:19-22)
14) Why do most churches have the Lord’s supper once a month or every three months, when the habit of the Church in Scripture, once it was established under Paul's ministry, was to break bread each Lord’s day? (Acts 20:7)
15) What authority is there from New Testament Scripture for having a choir of trained singers to aid the worship?
16) What authority from Scripture is there for the use of robes and special garments in the services of Christian worship? The choirs inn these churches are usually dressed in robes, and the Ministers are often similarly attired—depending on which denomination they may be affiliated with.
17) What authority do these churches have for allowing women to publicly preach and teach when the Bible says that the role of the sister is in not taking a public place in the Church, either in administration, teaching, or preaching? Scripture says that they should be silent in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:34-38; 1 Tim. 2:11-12).
18) What authority is there for women praying and prophesying (ministering the Word in preaching and teaching) in these churches with their heads uncovered, when the Word of God says that the women should be? (1 Cor. 11:1-16)
19) What Scriptural authority is there for allowing only certain individuals (the Pastor or Minister) to do the official ministering from the Word of God? Why is there not liberty in these churches for all who are able to minister to do so, as led by the Spirit? The Bible teaches that when Christians come together in assembly that all (brothers) are to have liberty to minister as the Lord would lead them by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:6, 11; 14:24, 26, 31).
20) What Scriptural authority is there for the idea that a person must be ordained to be in the ministry? There is not one pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet, or priest in the Bible that was ordained to preach or teach! Scripture teaches that the very possession of a spiritual gift is a person's warrant to use it! (1 Peter 4:10-11)
21) What Scriptural authority is there for the idea that there are men on earth today who have power to ordain others? Where did those men get this power?
22) Is there any authority from Scripture for making a man a Pastor of a local church? Scripture never speaks of the gift of a pastor as a local office, but rather, is a gift to the Church universally? (Eph. 4:11) Moreover, what authority is there for naming these men who preach and teach “Pastors” (i.e. “Pastor Jones”), when in Scripture the gift of pastoring (shepherding) was never given as a title to someone?
23) What authority from Scripture is there for these so-called Ministers calling themselves, “Reverend,” when the Bible says that “Reverend” is the Lord's Name? (Psa. 111:9) Some clergymen take the name “Father,” even though Scripture says that we should call no man “Father!” Others take the title “Doctor” (meaning 'teacher' or 'instructor' in the Latin) which Scripture also says shouldn't be done (Matt. 23:8-10).
24) Is it a Scriptural practice for the Church to be choosing its “Pastor” or “Minister?” The usual procedure is that the would-be “Pastor” will be invited to a certain church group where he will be given an opportunity to prove himself by giving some sermons. If his preaching is acceptable, then the church (usually through a board of deacons) will elect him to be their “Pastor.” Is this procedure according to the Word of God?
25) What Scriptural authority is there for church denominations choosing their elders? There is not one assembly of Christians in the Bible that chose its elders.
26) What authority from Scripture do churches have for making holy days and observing Christian festivals, such as, Good Friday, Easter, All Saints Day, Lent, Christmas, etc.? Scripture says that Christianity is not to do with special days and seasons (Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16).
27) What Scriptural authority do those ministering in the pulpits of these churches have for teaching erroneous doctrines such as, Covenant Theology, A-millennialism, Conditional Security, Purgatory, Absolution, Law-keeping, etc.?
28) Is there any authority from Scripture for “testimonial” meetings, where a man will get up and tell the audience how he got saved, often dwelling on his past life of sins?
29) What authority from the New Testament is there for taking tithes (giving 10% of our income) from the audience, when tithing is clearly a Mosaic law for Israel? (Lev. 27:32, 34; Num. 18:21-24)
30) What Scriptural authority is there for the fund-raising efforts and the asking for donations from mixed audiences of saved and lost persons in these churches? The Bible indicates that the servants of the Lord took “nothing” from the unsaved people of this world among whom they preached the gospel (3 John 7).
31) Are seminaries and Bible schools God’s way of preparing a servant for a ministry? Is the giving and receiving of diplomas and degrees (i.e. Doctor of Divinity D.D.) supported by Scripture? The Bible says we are not to give flattering titles to one another (Job 32:21-22; Matt. 23:7-12).
32) Is there any foundation from the Word of God for these churches sending Ministers and Pastors to a particular place to carry on a service for the Lord? We have often heard comments like, “Pastor so and so was sent out by such and such organization.” Scripture shows that Christ, the Head of the Church and Lord of the harvest, sends His servants under the direction of the Spirit into the work He has for them, and that the Church is to merely recognize it by giving the servant the right hand of fellowship (Matt. 9:38; Acts 13:1-4 – J. N. Darby Trans., Gal. 2:7-9).
33) Where in Scripture do we get the concept of the Church being a teaching organization? We often hear people say, “Our church teaches that...” In the Bible, we do not read of the Church being in a position of authority whereby it formulates doctrines as a legislative body, but simply being a company of believers taught by teachers raised up by the Lord (Acts 11:26; Rom. 12:7; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 1 Thess. 5:27).
34) Is there any authority from New Testament Scripture for the Church "christening" babies, and having "dedication" services of Christian children?
"We Can Do Anything in Worship If Scripture Is Silent on It!"
Some Christians respond to these questions by reasoning that if the Word of God does not specifically address or prohibit something, then it is a non-issue with God. They believe that the Bible does not directly address the subject of how Christians should meet together for worship and ministry, and therefore, it is something that should be left to personal taste and discretion. Consequently, they see nothing wrong with implementing things into Christianity that are not in the Bible.
This view conveniently excuses the present order of things in the Church today. However, this assumption is quite incorrect because the Bible does address the subject of how Christians are to meet together for worship and ministry. God’s ideal is clearly found in the Scriptures. To think that the worship of God in Christianity is simply a matter of personal preference is ignorance. W. Kelly said, “She of Samaria [John 4] thought, like many an one since, that the worship of God was only a question of human opinion. Strange that even God’s children should doubt that God’s worship must be of God’s will! That He Himself should be denied a voice—the voice—in His own worship is indeed the climax of man’s incredulity. But so it has been, and so it is, that men see not the presumptuous self-will that does not allow God to decide what is His will for the worship of His children.”
Mr. Kelly also said, “Man’s will is bad enough anywhere, but it is specially so where it intrudes into God’s worship. Be assured that those who complain of lack of light on such a subject in Scripture have a far more serious question to settle. For this is as much a matter of revelation, and so of faith on our part, as the salvation of a man’s soul; the same faith which can trust God in one thing can trust Him in everything; while on the other hand, the incredulity which doubts God on one point is ready to doubt in all. I deny, as a matter of fixed principle, that the Word of God is obscure [on the subject of worship]: the allowance of such a thought arises from nothing but secret infidelity, and infidelity from an unjudged will.”
Furthermore, it is not a rationally sound principle to reason from what is not in the Bible to learn God’s mind on a subject (2 Tim. 1:7). In essence, what is being said is, “We can do whatever we want in worship and ministry as long as it’s not prohibited in the Bible!” This is not rational. It reminds us of what one well-meaning, but confused, brother once said: “There is more between the lines of Scripture than on the lines!” Surely this cannot be the right way to seek God’s will on this subject. If we applied that principle to other subjects that pertain to Christian doctrine and practice, there could be no end to what we could make them out to mean. The truth would be lost in no time. In fact, to a large extent, this is what has happened in regard to this very subject of how Christians should meet together for worship and ministry. The reason God gave us His Word is so that we might know His will (1 Cor. 2:12-13). The honourable thing for us is to “search out” the truth in His Word and seek by His grace to practice it (Prov. 25:2; Acts 17:11-12). The habit of the Apostle Paul was to “reason out of the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2); he didn’t reason into the Scriptures. This shows that we really do not have any right to take our thoughts to the Word of God and try to make it say something that we want it to say.
Perhaps the pattern for Christian worship and ministry is so simple that people have overlooked it and imagine that it is not addressed. Allowing for human ideas and preferences to have a place in the worship of God has resulted in the traditional order of Church government that exists in denominational Christianity. It not only has no foundation in the Word of God, but it plainly contradicts the statements in His Word. Mr. T. B. Baines said, “Either God has laid down an order for the assembly, or He has left it to man’s will to do so. If He has laid down an order, it is clearly obligatory upon all, and every departure from that order is an act of disobedience.” If we were honestly seeking God’s will, the only logical way to get help on this subject would be to go back to the Word of God and start from "scratch," so to speak, saying, “We will do nothing, but what is mentioned in the Bible in our worship and ministry?” This is what we will attempt to do as we pursue this subject in this book.
The Need for Unlearning Certain Things
Before we attempt to present God’s order from God's Word for Christians meeting together for worship and ministry, there are unfortunately, many false ideas that need to be cleared away first. Just as a builder digs deep to remove a lot of rubbish and untrustworthy material before he lays a single stone (Luke 6:48), we feel it is necessary to clear away certain mistaken ideas that have come to be accepted in the Christian world that simply have no Scriptural support.
Over time many things in the Christian testimony have been taken by the masses as being God’s way. It seems that very few have even thought to check whether those things are in accord with the Word of God—the Christian’s charter and guide. People have simply accepted it all at face value. One of the problems with this is that when we have lived so long with these things they tend to be ensconced in our minds as being truth, when really they are just tradition. Such pre-conceived ideas cloud our thoughts and hinder us from seeing the truth. Therefore, for many of us, learning the truth of God’s order for Christians meeting together for worship and ministry, will mean that we may have to unlearn some things that we have (wrongly) imbibed over the years. And that is not always easy.