Expectations and Emphasis
Frequently, when folks visit a group of worshippers, they leave with various impressions having been made. Often, some will say, "That's not what I expected." Yet everyone's expectations may differ from each other. The reasons for different viewpoints may relate to a variety of different backgrounds and experiences.
Those with a Pentecostal background might say, "The worship seemed dead," while others might say that they appreciated that things were done decently and in order. Some might say that they are more accustomed to pomp and tradition, while others say they appreciated the simplicity without an effort to be overly casual. Some have been known to comment that they missed hearing musical instruments while others were impressed that they did not have to endure an organ drowning out the singing.
Where do the assorted expectations come from? Some come from one's religious background, and it may be that they are looking for something that seems familiar. Maybe a person has just visited here and there and formed a few notions of what worship ought to be. One might have viewed some religious programming on television and derived some expectations from that, also.
The main question, however, should not involve one's previous background or exposure to religion; the question should be, "What does God expect and require in worship?" If we go by our own opinions and impressions, we set ourselves up as the standard: "I really liked this," or "I did not understand or appreciate that." The question all people (members and visitors) should ask is, "What pleases God?" It would be impossible to satisfy every person's preferences, but we can all satisfy God's requirements. Concerning worship, for example, the apostle Paul wrote, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). Some may prefer chaos, but God requires orderliness.
Christians have an obligation to do only what God has authorized in worship. First, there must be an attitude of reverence since worship is offered to a holy God. God must be the focus of our worship, although a secondary benefit is that we are also edified and built up spiritually. How is our worship to be expressed when we meet on the first day of the week, which is the day God authorized (Acts 20:7)?
We offer up prayers, in which one brother leads the minds of all of us. Of course, all who are Christians can pray at any time, but it is also what we do when we are together. The Word is also proclaimed when we meet. Bible teaching is the heart of the message. We do not meet to discuss politics or popular poets; we seek to increase our understanding of God's will for mankind.
We meet to remember our Lord's death each Lord's day, as was the custom of the church in the first century (Acts 20:7). The unleavened bread represents His body which was broken on the cross for us, and the fruit of the vine represents the blood that He shed for the forgiveness of our sins (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Giving on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2) is also authorized, and this money is used to continue the work of the church. We are also authorized to sing songs and hymns and spiritual songs to God, which also edifies ourselves (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). No one in the New Testament sang hymns to God with musical accompaniment—not Jesus, His apostles, or any of the churches. We can only practice what God has authorized us to do (Col. 3:17).
Our emphasis is upon truth (Pr. 23:23; John 8:31-32), which God has revealed and which all can understand. We try hard to keep His commandments and to please Him (1 John 3:22), and we invite you to do the same. The apostle John rejoiced that brethren walked in the truth (3 John 3-4), which is our emphasis, also.