Ceremony? Why?

Today in our country most local churches will take part in some type of ceremony that is often referred to as a "worship service." Although these ceremonies vary somewhat in style, they are almost always scripted events that follow a similar pattern: welcome, announcements, singing, prayer, tithes and offerings, singing, sermon/message, singing, prayer.

Worship services are ceremonies that follow an order that is not to be deviated from. There is a quiet atmosphere except for the person who is speaking. People getting up to go to the bathroom and children making noise are viewed as distractions. Most of the people present sit in pews or rows of chairs that face a platform or stage. The vast majority of the people only speak during the singing part. A few "experts" do the majority of the talking.

This happens week after week after week.

What is the problem with this type of ceremony/worship service? The answer: it is foreign to the New Testament church.

In NT gatherings, we don't see a ceremony or a script. We read of much group participation. We see everyone free to be involved. We read of the entire body being encouraged and expected to use their spiritual gifts for the up-building of the church community. We don't see any particular people (including elders/pastors) leading or dominating the speaking. (Read more about participatory church gatherings by clicking here.)

The following four bible passages all clearly show that everyone was expected to actively participate:

I Corinthians 14:26, "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."

Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

I Peter 4:8-11, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Hebrews 10:24-25, "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, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

If we dare look at today's worship service ceremonies and then look at the biblical model for church gatherings, we will see a massive disconnect. The two bear little resemblance to one another. In form, worship services look much more like the Roman Catholic Mass than they do a New Testament participatory church gathering.

We must ask the uncomfortable question: will we allow the bible to inform every area of our lives? Additionally, will we let the bible speak about something as important to God as the coming together of His church?

If we answer "Yes" to the above questions, then we must at least begin to ask why we sit through weekly scripted ceremonies when the NT church did not. And remember, the apostles were part of the NT church - and they spent three years directly with Jesus Christ.

As for me, I can't sit through any more worship service ceremonies. On a subjective level, I find them repetitive and dull. More importantly, the bible speaks of something much better. The scriptures describe what church gatherings should look like. We see vibrant meetings in which each part of the body fulfills its task of edifying the whole. We see everyone involved in an orderly manner. We see the Holy Spirit leading instead of any man.

Don't settle for a ceremony when you can be part of something biblical: a participatory gathering where everyone is invited, encouraged, and expected to be involved.