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Public vs. Private Worship
Elder
Philip Conley |
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Inspired Scripture includes various and sundry commands and
admonitions for different circumstances and situations. It behooves the Bible
student to investigate passages and contexts to discover which circumstance
properly fits the admonition. Is this exhortation primarily for an individual,
a church, a family, or some other focus group? Many times, the exhortations
reach across different groups and apply to several, but some cannot be done in
an individual setting like they can in a church setting. It is this type of
exhortation that we wish to investigate through the looking glass of public vs.
private worship.
A primary point in worshipping God Almighty is praying unto Him,
seeking His face and counsel for our lives here. Paul even says, -Pray without
ceasing.- (I Thessalonians 5:17) Therefore, this command is incumbent upon us in
all seasons, but the topic of discussion begs the question, -What does it take
for proper prayer?- Is it acceptable for public worship, private worship, or
both? James tells us, -The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.- (James 5:16) Notice the language here. The text says -a righteous man.-
Proper, effectual, God-honouring prayer can be accomplished through the sole
effort of one righteous man. While we should be thankful to have a host of
people praying on our behalf, the effectiveness of prayer-s power can be
accomplished through the act of one person!
Another pivotal point of worshipping God and showing proper
respect and honour for what He has enjoined unto us is to learn about Him, study
His word, and seek to do better than we have in the past. The Bible is not a
roadmap to heaven, but it serves as a complete furnisher for us here in our
decisions and behaviour. Therefore, we need to be digging into it to uncover
the rich truth of God-s promises and our behaviour to show in accordance with
those promises. Paul exhorts the young minister to, -Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.- (II Timothy 2:15) Again, notice the language of the text:
-a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.- Study to shew -thyself.- How many
people does it take for effective, God-honouring study of His written word? The
answer is again just one individual.
Moving into the realm of preaching and the assembling of the
saints for public worship, let us consider what it takes for proper public
worship. We have already proven that prayer and study can be effectively
measured privately in the home or elsewhere. What does it take, on the other
hand, to worship God publicly? Scripture again tells us that the Lord spoke to
a woman of Samaria about public worship, -But the hour cometh, and now is, when
the true worshippers 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) Reading the verses
prior to this one, we discover that they are discussing public worship, and our
Lord impresses upon the woman that location is not nearly as important as the
mode. Spirit and truth must be upheld for public worship to be acceptable to
God, but what does the language speak of about the number of people? The
passage uses the words -they- and -worshippers- not -he,- -she,- or
-worshipper.- It speaks of a plurality of persons for public worship to be
effective.
Therefore, the conclusion of the matter must be clear. prayer
and study can be effective with singular activity, but public worship must have
multiple persons for a proper mode. While the context of Matthew 18 is that of
church discipline in matters pertaining to offenses, we read that two or three
met together in His name is needful for Him to be in their midst as far as
assembling is concerned. (Matthew 18:20) So, if we can study effectively as
individuals and pray effectively as individuals but only worship properly as a
group, why would the church gather for a purpose other than a public worship
mode? Let us be clear about this matter. Public worship must be held in a
superior position in our minds than the private nature of prayer and study.
While prayer accompanies public worship, that is not the -long and short- of
public worship. While private study should go before and follow public worship
(prepare for the assembly in God-s house and search out what is heard daily to
see whether these things are so), it is, by its nature, not on the level of
public worship.
God instituted preaching as the superior teaching mode. (I
Corinthians 1:21) Why should the church meet using an inferior teaching mode
that is more acceptable and fitting for the private worship of an individual or
a family group? The answer, from Scripture designation of worship, should be
clear. When the church gathers, let us strive to go up in our worship to a
level that we cannot attain by ourselves. As members of His body gathered
together, we are able to do greater things than a bodily member can do
singularly. For example, a finger is able to grasp a small object by itself,
but a hand, fingers, arm, shoulder, and chest are able to grasp and lift things
together that the finger cannot do singularly. Therefore, if the other members
are present, may we strive to do collectively what we cannot do singularly.
Then, as individuals, may we do privately -what we can- until the next occasion
to meet together with the saints and uplift Him in singing, preaching, and
prayer. May the Lord bless us all to rightly divide the two areas of worship
and be found so doing with every fiber of our being to honour Him not only as we
can but also as we should.
Philip N. Conley
Written: 12/7/2008
Revised: 12/9/2008 |