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| How important is it?? |
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| Good morning to all, After dodging trucks on the freeways for 12 hours yesterday I finally arrived back in Amarillo from Houston. Mike and I were talking about the subject of "group worship." My belief is that we worship God individually as we go about giving our bodies as living sacrifices to Him. When we get with other Christians it is for OUR benefit as we encourage and edify one another, as we walk the "narrow" road to heaven. If we think about it, even the Lord's Supper is not to worship God, but is that we may remember His sacrifice for us. The many examples in the scriptures (N.T.) were for encouragement as the Christians interacted with one another. The special gifts in Cor. were for this reason as EACH had a gift to use in the encouragment. So my question is: How important is it that we follow the examples in the N.T.? Just wondering, Nelta |
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| To add a comment to "How important is it??" |
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| February 14, 2007 |
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| Hi Nelta,
I'm thankful the Lord answered my prayer and brought you home safely. I am thinking of at least 3 examples off the top of my head where Paul encouraged those he wrote to in the epistles to follow his example. And certainly part of the reason our Lord's ministry lasted 3 years before giving His life for us was to leave us an example, perhaps THE example, of how to live for God.
And both Jesus' and Paul's examples included group "worship" as both spent a lot of time in synagogues, the Jewish equivalent to our church services! ~mike |
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| February 14, 2007 |
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| I think I know what you're saying Nelta. Worship is one-on-one with God. We must be careful to not equate worship with something we can only do at church (or in a group). That would be like saying "I'm going to the library, or book store so I can read."
The ONLY qualifier for worship is: it MUST be in spirit and truth. It is not (any longer) limited to a time or place. Jesus made that clear in Jn.4.
That's certainly not saying we can't or don't worship together in a group or church setting. But as we worship, whether alone or with others, God is enjoying each individual heart that is bowing to Him in spirit and truth/reality.
Charlie |
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| February 14, 2007 |
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| Charlie,
This blog was created as a continuation of the following thought, previously posted by Nelta:
"If I belong to a Church, I would not be following His plan for my life. If I belong to a Church I would be engulfed in an institution, and I don't want to be/do that."
I attempted to make a general case for the benefit of Christians to worship together in community (in addition to personal, moment by moment worship). I wholly agree w/your point too!! ~mike |
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| February 14, 2007 |
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| Hi Mike and Charlie,
Thanks for responding. Yes, it is possible for individuals to worship God when they are in a group. But that isn't group worship. We do that because everything we, as Christians do is worship to God. He judges the hearts of mankind. But to set up acts of "worship" and the whole group "worships together" is what is not biblical. One in the group may be giving God praise in his heart to God, while others might be wishing the "formal worship service" was over so they can go to Luby's for lunch.
Nelta |
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| February 15, 2007 |
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| Ok, Nelta. Now I am starting to understand where you are coming from. I love to hear when fellow believers state "everything we, as Christians do is worship to God." AMEN! Of course, many may say it, but I fear few live that way.
Regarding "worship together", yes I agree that within a group of believers engaged in the act of worship some may not actually be focused on God, so the group as a single unit cannot be said to be worshiping collectively. However, Scripture is full of examples of folks (OT Israelites, NT Jews, NT Christians) coming together to lift God up in praise/worship. And what a joy it is to join your voice with others in praise, community worship is a special privilege! ~mike |
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