Conservative Post

I have talked, increasingly, with more and more Pastors who define worship as a private singular event that has little to do with what goes on in our churches on any given Sunday. Not that they see this view as a problem. But, that they see this view as correct theology. As I see the new methods and programs employed in our churches today I have become suspicious of the motives behind this new definition of worship. But in so many pulpits today the preaching of the word of God is set outside of their definition of worship as is all other forms of service.Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and godly fear:

Here we see that worship must be :

1. Acceptable to God
2. Done with reverence and godly fear
3. Done by the grace of God.

The word serve in this verse is the Greek word “Latreuo” which is a form of the word worship. In the NT this word is used as “serve”16 times, “worship” 3, ” do the worship ” 1, and “worshiper” 1.

Another form of the word “worship is the Greek word “Therapeuo”. This is most often seen as the word “heal” and is used in reference to the healing of others. In the NT it is seen in every case of Jesus’ healings. Interestingly enough it is the where we get our word therapy from.

“Proskeneuo” is another Greek form of the word worship. It is always used in the context of simply paying homage. This is seen clearly in 1 Cor 14:25.

“Sebazomai” is used only once in Romans 1:25 and is used in the sense of honoring religiously.

““Sebomai” is used in the sense of reverence and can be seen in Acts 16:14. We see this same word used in the sense of vain worship of God (Matt 15:9) Not all worship even directed at God is acceptable worship or correct.

Worship is defined by scripture as any act done in correct doctrine, (spirit and truth John 4:24) and for the Glory of God (reverence 12:28). The teaching of the word of God was included in the worship of those in Acts 2:42-47. There can be found no where in scripture a division between the preaching of the word and “worship”.

When the church reaches out to that single mother who can’t seem to make ends meet and provides a washing machine in the name of Christ, God is given sufficient adoration and praise. We give Him the credit, we direct our joy and thankfulness toward God as a result. Service is worship when done in that manner.

When a Christ centered message is delivered form the word of God as handed down from Him to His angel, God is most certainly lifted up, given adoration, peoples hearts are melted, changed, encouraged, and God is worshiped. Corporate worship is a biblical mandate.( Heb 10:25 ) All events that happen during the service are to be done with worship in mind. We are not to go to church to get something. For we cannot worship God and ourselves at the same time. Such worship is idolatrous. It is a focus on self rather than God. We should go to the worship service expecting to give God our praise, adoration, and thanks proclaiming His excellence, making known His majesty and declaring His glory. We are to give with no expectation of receiving anything in return. For a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ( Ja 1:8 )

When God is lifted up and worshiped then the residual outcome is we ourselves are encouraged, but it is an encouragement found in Him. We are fed but it is a feeding founded in the Father. This godly and spirit lead worship gives us the freedom to worship God in spirit and truth with no need of self concern. (Matt 6:33)

In all that we do we are to worship God. I am quite sure we fail that from day to day but our hearts are to be unceasingly worshipful from moment to moment as I have shown through scripture. We are to have worshipful lives, not just worshipful moments. Truth is if we practiced this it would keep us from more error and more sin than anything else. It is a shame it is not often being preached from our pulpits. And what is being practiced in our Baptist churches on a regular basis has no bearing on the truth of scripture. And it is no wonder that out churches are filled with fighting and problems. True worship ( John 4:24 ) is ignored and people come to only get self fulfillment. And that is at the foundational level of greed and rebellion.Worship isn’t just about  a private singular moment anymore than it is just about corporate worship. It is a life style not an event.

Now, here is why I am suspicious. If we redefine worship and in essence remove worship from our sanctuaries then we can employ any and all measures, methods, and programs in the church with little to no boundaries.  However, if we define what is to happen in our sanctuaries as worship then we are held to a narrow and specific standard that inhibits our activities. Amazing how many ways rebellion finds to display itself.

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There is a false movement by liberals to equate conservatism with the pharisees of Jesus time. It is false in that there is no real connection. The pharisees were in fact wrong on many practical doctrines. Jesus spent much time correcting them on their incorrect stance on doctrine ( Matthew 5)

Another reason why such a comparison falls short is that the pharisees were lost, without God, on their way to hell. I do not doubt at all that there are the lost in or churches who faithfully fill pews. They come to church, want things done only their way, and go home only to worry about themselves. This is a result of the five minute gospel that immediately invites anyone claiming to be saved on to our membership roles with no evidence of a true conversion. We have not been good door keepers. And our churches are full of people who will never have a true conversion in part because they think they are alright in their pew and in their stoney heart.

But true conservatives are and have been reaching out to the lost, the hurting, and the weak. There is a balance to be maintained between standing against premarital sex, out of wedlock births, and ungodly dating habits with ministering to single mothers (those divorced and never wed). There is a balance to be maintained between standing against drug and alcohol abuse and ministering to the addicted. There is a balance to be maintained between standing against the homosexual lifestyle and ministering to those with aids as a result and are dying.

Lost people are like children and only care for themselves. Even those who fill the pews from Sunday to Sunday. For their day to day happiness and future hope are only tied up in what comes from within themselves. But those who rely on the salvation that comes only from God have an inner peace that gives them the freedom to serve others without any thought of self gratification.

We cannot minister to a lost and dying world if the holiness of God is set aside. What is being dubbed as doctrinal correctness is in fact a concern for the true nature of God. You cannot lead people toward salvation by means of scriptural proclamation if your articulation lacks any semblance of provocation. For the love of God shows you the state of your true condition. You have to get them lost before they can get saved.

Words like judgment and condemnation are battered around in defense of withholding the holiness of God. Are those who are quick to catapult such words merely fearful for the lost, or are they also fearful for their own lives? Why would a child of God avoid the conviction that brings them closer to the heavenly Father? It is my position that the conviction of God is a bitter sweet necessity that should be cherished and not disdained.

First it reminds us that we are the children of God. And for the lost it tells them that God has yet to give up on them. There is no sweeter news to the righteous nor to the lost in all of creation. Second it reminds us of our true state as created and imperfect beings in need of the grace of God to walk in the Spirit day by day.

The term “doctrinal correctness” is a pejorative of late describing the stance on the holiness of God. Such holiness should be ever before our face and should be placed before the faces of the lost and the dying. The woman that was a sinner ( Luke 7:38-39) understood all to well the holiness of God as she wept at Jesus feet. Sinners cannot come to Jesus joyfully with the only motive to simply “follow Him”. Such nonsense bypasses the work of the cross and makes it of none effect. Those who understand the holiness of God have a love of God that drives them to the feet of God ( Luke 7:47 ).

May we, the church, always stand for the holiness of God ( doctrinal correctness ) so that the lost world may see Him as they should.

Isaiah 6:5-8

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me

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