Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
John 4:23,24 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.
How grievous to hear the people of God argue, debate, and even choose to leave bible-teaching churches because of “the worship.” The worship is too loud. The worship is not loud enough. They only sing “old” worship songs. They are singing “contemporary worship songs.”
Oh how Satan delights when the people of God make much ado and even break fellowship because of their personal preferences or style of music. Granted, we all have a preference that fits our personal “likes”. But was Jesus talking about a preference of worship styles when He was talking to the woman at the well? Was Lydia called a worshipper of God because she embraced a style or preference of worship?
While I delight in how God provides such a variety of musical preferences and expressions of worship to cater to all kinds of saints, I fear that the church is headed for an implosion when the deciding factor or main “draw” to a church is “the worship”. Really?
Faith comes by hearing the word of God. The Spirit-filled church in Acts continued in The Word. Neither Jesus nor the apostles travelled with a star-studded worship band. The straightforward, uncompromising teaching and preaching of the Word of God was the draw. And it wasn’t a make-me-feel-good-about-myself message.
The day is coming in our nation when public worship as we know it may be illegal and a crime. Then what “church” will we attend? How will those who depend on that one hour of “worship” to follow Christ be able to follow Christ any longer without a band or overheads or an “atmosphere of worship, ” whatever that may mean? May I suggest that if you and I depend on any style of worship for one hour a week to pick a church home or as a necessary ingredient in following Jesus Christ, the time may come when we may no longer be worshippers at all. Ask the woman at the well. Ask Lydia. Selah
