WORSHIP - When, Where, How?

[Reformer]

REFORMATION RUMBLINGS
BUFF SCOTT, JR.
_________
 
   WORSHIP
When, Where, How?

   

An Interesting Question

    "Buff, in your recent column on the negative aspects of church structures, as opposed to renting a building, I'd like to add that a rented building is also set aside for worship services. So what's the difference between a rented building and a church building?"—Pete.
 
    Pete, even the Living Room can become an idol like church structures if sanctified or set apart for "worship services." The believer's heart is the only article to be sanctified—set apart—for worship, and that's to be incessant, not only when we meet at some church structure. Jesus confirmed this when He informed the woman at the well that in this current age, under the new covenant, worship would be anytime and the place where we are. To phrase it another way, worship for the believer is to be continual or incessant. Jesus makes it clear.
 
    "The woman said to Him, 'Sir, I perceive you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.' Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father...But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth...God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.' " [John 4:1-26].
 
       That time is here, and has been for 2,000 years. Paul wrote, "Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do it all to the glory of God." No committed believer can do anything "to the glory of God" without worshiping Him. This means that worship for the committed believer is a 24-hour-a-day matter, not just at certain times and places.
 
    To express it another way: In the grace era a committed believer's worship never ends. It cannot be confined to special locations or restricted to certain hours. Whatever believers "do to the glory of God" and "in the name of Jesus," whether inside or outside our meeting places, is worship. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him" [Col. 3:17]. Any committed believer who lives his life "to the glory of God" is worshiping Him. This means that worship for the faithful believer is a 24-hour-a-day matter.
 
    Under the Old Covenant and Moses, worship was more of an external methodology in that formal worship was scheduled for seasons and times and places—such as Jerusalem. But ceremonious worship under Jesus and the New Way ended when it was superseded by perpetual phrase.

[Texas Conservative]

Nothing written answered the question by Pete. 

[Reformer]

Nothing written answered the question by Pete. 

PART OF MY REPLY TO PETE: Pete, even the Living Room can become an idol like church structures if sanctified or set apart for "worship services." The believer's heart is the only article to be sanctified—set apart—for worship, and that's to be incessant, not only when we meet at some church structure. Jesus confirmed this when He informed the woman at the well that in this current age, under the new covenant, worship would be anytime and the place where we are. To phrase it another way, worship for the believer is to be continual or incessant. Jesus makes it clear.

[Reformer]

Fellow Scribes:

I think you will enjoy my next post, probably within the next day or two.