We studied the worship of the church in a recent bulletin article. We must worship God acceptably in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The pattern set forth in the New Testament shows that the Lord’s church engaged in five specific acts of worship. On the first day of the week (Sunday), local churches assembled to partake of the Lord’s Supper and take up a collection. Worship acts not restricted to Sundays are singing, praying, and preaching.
These congregational acts of worship are to be accomplished when the members assemble themselves together for this purpose. Notice the language of Scripture on this point:
“Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church… Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper…” (1 Cor. 11:17-20).
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14:26, emphasis mine – HR).
The church in Corinth was told to perform these acts of worship when they came together. This required the physical presence of each member. Christians are not to forsake their worship assemblies (Heb. 10:25).
Local churches have the ability to livestream their worship services. This means they are broadcast (much like live television broadcasts) on the internet and people can log in and watch them as they are happening. Some churches started using this technology during the pandemic as a replacement for in-person assemblies. Brethren were doing the best they could to navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic.
I believe there are benefits to a local church livestreaming their services. It allows those who are sick and shut-in to see and hear the services they are missing. Such can be uplifting to them. However, it can’t be said that they are joining in the worship. They are watching it. There is benefit to it, but it is not the same as assembling together. While we can all listen to a “live” sermon being preached through such technology, we can’t partake of the Lord’s Supper together. We certainly can’t teach and admonish one another with our singing through a live streamed worship service. Those in the assembly can’t see or hear those who are supposedly singing at home.
While livestreamed worship services provide a blessing for those who can’t assemble, they also provide an opportunity for those who don’t want to assemble. Local churches discovered this when the pandemic ended and some of their members failed to return to the assemblies. They got used to worshipping at home and decided it was good enough for them.
Not only must congregation worship be done “together,” there are other principles set forth in the New Testament that must govern our assemblies.
Congregational worship must also be done decently and in order. God is characterized by order, not chaos (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, the worship that honors Him will be conducted in a decent, peaceful, and orderly manner. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). Worship is not to be a time of distraction or spontaneous expression. Services must be conducted in a way that members can focus on participating instead of wondering what they are doing next.
Another principle governing the worship of the church is that things must be heard and understood by everyone present. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?” (1 Cor. 14:15-16). The men who lead in our worship need to speak clearly and use the microphones so they can be heard by everyone. It is important that they be heard by everyone.
Worship is not a casual activity. The nature of God demands that we offer Him our very best, whether it be individual or congregational worship. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).