We are told we must “Go to church on Sunday, every Sunday, pray, sing, preach, take the Lord’s Supper, return for evening service and then meet again during the week.” We are told me must “follow the pattern.”
God never gave such instructions. There is no trace in the bible that God, an apostle, or any inspired writer ever instructed the church to come together to “perform a worship service.”
There are a number of instances recorded in the bible where the early Christians came together, but never for the express purpose of engaging in “items” of worship. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,”
Why don’t we follow the 1st century example and meet to discuss and take care of problems? Maybe more would be active if communicated and worked out our problems instead of ignoring them. Some 1st century examples are the man who married his father’s wife, and the misinformed Christians who were taking each other to court. These problems were discussed and resolved, Often we see the disciples hammering out difficult issues and questions i.e. Acts 15. Certainly there are examples in the bible of coming together but never to perform public, corporate acts that we call worship.
Christians are to worship but worship is not building centered. Worship is constant. It’s every day, all day, in every activity, and every place. It is reverence and submission to the will of God. It is visiting orphans and widows in distress. It is doing for others what you want them to do for you. It is caring about the burdens of our brothers and sisters. It is realizing that God resides in us and that whatever we do to a brother or sister we do to Jesus. It is being devoted to Jesus and to one another.
Christ-centered worship has more to do with loving and voluntarily surrendering to him and to one another than it has to do with ritual.
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