Myth #4 - TO COLLECTIVELY WORSHIP GOD

A lot of things have been said about coming together to worship God. The latest craze of chorus singing presumes this to be the fundamental reason why saints come together, although there is not a syllable in all of Scripture affirming such to be the case. I know it is like attacking motherhood to question this postulate, but we will do it anyway. We are admonished to "try the spirits," and test them we must. All of this seems to underscore the glaring absence of worship in the hearts of such people during the week. There really is no support for this contention in Scripture.

Those in Christ occupy a unique position. It is said of them, "We are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). This is not how the people of God OUGHT to be, this is how they are! You can no more keep a worshiper from worshiping than you can keep a singer from singing.

Jesus spoke of a time when "true worshipers" would become dominant. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23- 24). Here, worship is not an objective, but a result. Our Lord was speaking of the "day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2), when the hearts of men would be changed. We are living in that time! Those in Christ are the "true worshipers." In fact, they are the exclusive worshipers! They do not worship because they have to, or because they have been commanded to do so. They are "the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" Phil. 3:3). When they come together, they worship; but that is not WHY they come together. Believers are nowhere portrayed as coming together to worship. Rather, they come together BECAUSE they are worshipers.

The saints of God come together to edify one another and provoke one another to love and good works. The good fight of faith depletes our spiritual resources, requiring a refurbishing or our strength. Everything that is done in the assembly is to be edifying. Even the prayers are to be so spoken as to result in an "Amen" in those that hear them (1 Cor. 14:16). Singing is to result in teaching and admonishment (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).