In today's world, most people are largely driven by their own personal wants and desires. People have come to expect that they can have almost everything "their way"--they can get their car outfitted their way, they can get their food made their way, and they can even get their computers and their cell phones personalized their way, as well. And that's just the beginning.
Driving down the interstate, you might have seen billboards urging you to
"Visit the church of your choosing."
That sounds so nice, so convenient, so easy, so self-satisfying, doesn't it?
And doesn't it fit in with our expectations in almost every other aspect of life?
But does God really approve of us doing things our way all the time?
Does God really approve of us choosing the church of our choosing?
Does God really approve of us even living our own lives our way, for that matter?
NO!
He certainly does NOT!
The Bible is God's Word, and in it God tells us what He expects of our lives--how we worship, how we conduct ourselves in public and in private, and how we do basically everything in our lives.
"But God gave us free will," some might say.
"Doesn't that just mean God will be happy with whatever choices we make?"
The answer again is "NO!"
God does give us free will, true. We can choose to do what His will is, or we can choose to do our own. But with those choices come consequences. If we do God's will in all things, then He will reward us with a crown of life and a home with Him in heaven when our life on this earth is over. If we choose, however, to do our own will (instead of God's), then God will not grant those blessings to us. If we make those choices, we by our own actions actually condemn ourselves to Hell and everlasting punishment. So, while we CAN choose to either obey God or to do what we want to do, God will only be pleased with us if we do what He wants us to do.
With worship, however, we MUST NOT decide to do things just because we think they are best for us, or because we want or would like them to be that way, and certainly not because that's the way we've always done them or that's what our parents, family, friends, or anyone else may expect.
In worship--as in all other aspects of our life--we must do what is pleasing to God.
There is only one definitive source that Christians can turn to to find out exactly what God wants and expects from us in EVERY aspect of our lives--the Bible. The Bible tells us how we should live our lives, and it also guides us as to how we are to conduct our worship. So, we must turn to the Scriptures to see what they have to say about the issue of worship in the New Testament church.
This is where Scriptural authority comes in. In order for our worship to be pleasing to God, we must have authority directly from God, an authority that is given to us only in God's Word.
There are only three ways that we can justify any action within the church.
They are as follows:
1. God and/or Christ has given us a direct commandment via the Word, the Bible.
2. We have an approved example presented to us in the Bible.
This means that the saints in the first century church clearly performed these activities and God approved of them. These things are clearly illustrated in the New Testament.
3. It is an approved and implied action ("necessary inference") that needs to be done to perform any activities approved by #s 1 and 2 above.
The following links will direct you to explanations of various different issues within the church.
Those pages contain discussions--which are backed up heavily with Scriptures--that will explain what God has and has not authorized us to do in these various areas of worship and daily living.
Please carefully and prayerfully consider what God's Word says on these issues.
I have endeavored to present everything here in spirit and in truth (John 4:24),
and I've also endeavored to present the whole counsel of God on these particular subjects.
I am aware that the Bible says that those who teach will receive a "stricter judgement" from God (James 3:1), and that is probably since so many souls are at stake, which is obviously a very serious matter. Therefore, if I am teaching anything in error, I would consider you my friend if you will lovingly bring those things to my attention and show me with the Scriptures how I may be wrong.
Thank you for your time and consideration on all these matters.
May God grant you wisdom and all Spiritual knowledge in your studies of His Word.
Humbly in Christ,
Brian Rukes
Important Issues: Further Discussions on This Site
Baptism: Is It Essential?
Fellowship Halls and Kitchens?
Supporting Institutions?
Musical Instruments Allowed?
Separation of Church and State???
Driving the Speed Limit--What the Bible Says
