Christian Worship
Its Nature, Objective and Content
Corporate public worship in biblical churches is the active expression of adoration and praise to the True Living God, the Triune God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Biblical worship rejoices in and bears witness to who the Living Triune God is and what he has done and continues to do in creation, providence and redemption by the power of his Word and Spirit (Ephesians 1:3-14). The principles of Christian worship are rooted in the teaching of God’s word as established by the practice of the Apostolic Church (Acts 2:1).
Although Christian worship involves the use of human talents of speech, singing and the use of musical instruments, it is not a humanly inspired entertainment activity. It must be governed by regulative biblical principles and content, expressed in a true sense of worshipful awe of the presence of the Holy, Almighty Living God and Savior. Christ himself asserted that worship must be “in the Spirit and in Truth.” The Holy Spirit applies scriptural truth which he inspired and guided the human authors of the Bible to record (John 4:21-26; Hebrews 4:12; 2Timoth 3:16). He is the divine author of the inspired Scriptures which is God’s revealed record of the truth which guides his people to grow in the grace of Christ who himself is “the way, truth and life.”
The objective of Christian worship is the glorification of the Triune God, the edification of his people and proclamation of his saving truth and grace to others. It is not aimed at the soothing of man’s carnal feelings or the fulfillment of man’s desire to be emotionally fixed or physically entertained.
The content of Christian worship must be governed by what scriptural truth reveals of God’s nature, attributes as well as his works and his will as contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. True knowledge of God is embodied and revealed in Christ’s incarnation, sinless life and authoritative teaching on earth, as well as his sufferings, death, burial, resurrection, glorification, ascension, enthronement and continued ministry as the One and Only Mediator in heaven on behalf of his saved people (1Timothy 12:5). The essence of biblical worship is the exaltation of Christ, the Son of God. This is will of God the Father and the Work of God the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, 15:26-27, 17:1-5).