Worship 5 When Form Follows Function

[HKHaugan]

What was Jesus' view of congregational worship? Wasn't personal worship, the small group worship, the synagogue, enough? Was there more to worship? Is there a form that He blesses? The answer is yes and no.

Jesus did start a movement built on a heritage of groups and assemblages for study and worship but He did not start an institution for men to control. The form of worship will vary with the group that is worshiping but there are certain elements that are part of the heritage Jesus practiced. The heritage of God's people was assembly, community, synagogue and Temple worship but the goal was always the hearts of people honoring the heart of God because He was the ultimate worth, the only One worthy of worth-ship, worship.

From the earliest times recorded in Scripture there was this collective sense that families and groups of families should recognize the worth of God together. Even in Cain's desperation and guilt he agonized over being separated from God's presence (Gen.4:13-14) and the immediate generations that followed him lamented about their fallen condition in spite of which they believed God was to be honored even in their sinfulness, “At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord (Gen.4:26).” They wanted and needed to exalt His worth and progressively began to find a way and a place to come together to practice giving Him offerings of praise and exaltation. Whether it was building an altar of stone or the famous Tent of Meeting in the time of the wilderness journeys, gathering for worship was elementary, necessary and of course directed by God in the Law.

Worship was not suggested but ordered by God for the good, the distinctiveness and the uniqueness of His people. Worship was not only a practice it was a way of life. In Jesus we see worship as an act of love that, as already mentioned, involved all of the mind, heart, soul and body. When we as individuals realize the depth of God's forgiveness, find our place in a group that shares their hearts and searches the Scripture to grow in grace through sharing and prayer we look to celebrate that glory. This is when we come together in a community of faith to celebrate. We celebrate what has been going on in our personal lives and our group lives. We celebrate the Lord's ongoing blessing of our minds with His truth, our hearts with deeper sense of His presence and His Spirit moving our spirits in ministry in the Body and mission outside the Body.

So what is the form that is basic to wholehearted worship? Let's lay aside for a moment our cultural experience of worship. You know, the Sunday morning 'go-to-church' routine, the 'what-do-we-wear', 'will we be on time,' 'how long will the service last'? 'I hope the sermon isn't too long,' and so on. Also is worship about how good the preacher is, how attractive the buildings are, what kind of people go there, the numbers in attendance, the kind of programs, music and activities that please me and do they talk a lot about money?

OK, let's make it simple. Congregational worship, that is the worship when small groups come together, is a celebration that culminates in having kissed God and God having kissed us. Remember proskeuno, the Greek for 'kiss?' Our real worship begins with expectation of that kiss. In some way we are anticipating an embrace with God because of what He has been doing in our lives. For some it will take place in the music. For others during the prayers, for others during a teaching or a meeting with others. But it's the 'kiss' of God we celebrate when our mind has met His mind, when our heart has been touched by His heart and when His Spirit has enveloped our spirit. And it may very well be all of those.

The elements of worship in the Bible have always contained praise, teaching, prayer and a physical touch with God. There is a wholeness in worship, a way to be totally involved in mind, heart, spirit and body. If there is one experience that Jesus gave us to experience worship that involves the whole person it is the Passover meal the night before He was crucified. Jesus is the Passover from death to life, from sin to righteousness and from earth to Heaven. He gave us a Supper, His Supper, the Lords' Supper as a way to proskeuno, kiss and be kissed, by God. It's the taste of the Kingdom in this world.

Now I know there are many people who because of historical events have gone through different kinds of separation adjustments and have built forms that don't include each of the above elements. There are legitimate controversies due to abuse and avoidance of the Word of God that have derailed us in our attempts to be worshipful. The controversies that have occurred tend to do that. Especially noted are those where institutionalism and its power mongers, like the Sadducees, the Pharisees and the priesthood, allow the spirit of control to join the spirit of fear to form hierarchies that believe they have to govern the masses in 'right way' or they will end up in heresy. It's almost like they believe they have to defend God. That is presumptuous to say the least.

But let me go back to Acts 2:42-47. The four elements, the teaching of the Apostles, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer were the four pillars on the foundation, Jesus Christ (1Cor.3:11), through Whom every group and gathering of groups found its form of worship.

The Apostles taught the Scripture and shared their personal testimony.

Fellowship was an understood term for being bonded by the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent to seal them to Him through spiritual gifts, ministry and mission.

The breaking of bread (the emphasis on breaking) was the repetition of the Lord's Supper to remind them of His sacrifice for them, His Body broken on the Cross and the wine, His shed blood.

The prayers that are both individual and communal, from the heart and openly shared.

Each of these four elements is the kiss of God and our kiss directed to Him. There is no greater image of worship than when our whole body, mind, heart, spirit and flesh are released to Him in praise, prayer and practice. Isn't it interesting that this is the form we use to bring every family meal together, to make ourselves a meal for ministry, for mission, for every day we move about among others and then find new ways to let the Lord be known through us? Every day it's a liturgy we repeat based on that Acts passage because that's how Jesus lived. He didn't just appear on a Sabbath to worship or on another feast day because it was His duty. Everything He did was for the worship of His Father from His heart. “The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me (Jn.14:31).”

Again, worship in the Lord's Supper is the pattern for 24/7 worship. We take ourselves, we give thanks for being His image, we break ourselves and we distribute ourselves. We take the bread of our mind, heart and spirit. We give thanks for each of those being from Him. We break away from our sin and fear by repenting. Then, in the Holy Spirit, we offer our mind, heart and spirit for Jesus to control each part to be given in His service whenever, wherever and with whomever we are. Take, thank, break and give. In essence, when we bear Jesus for others we become living symbols of His bread for the world, “I am the bread of life” He says (Jn.6:48).”

Therefore, congregational worship is a celebration, an opportunity for praise, a thanksgiving to be part of the blessing the Lord continually brings in the intimacy that is unique to each one of us. The form it takes depends on the fullness we are willing to let happen when His Word is obeyed. It's a heart thing, an attitude, a release of self to Him from waking to sleeping, from group meeting to meeting and then celebrating it all in the gathering of His community, the Body of Christ. Now read John 3:16, now...