Worship in The New Testament Church?

Worship in The New Testament Church?: Worship in the New Testament Church? Please point me to the verses which tell about "the worship" of the church in apostolic times. Thanks.

Read what Thomas Aquinas and most early church writers said about singing versus teaching.

Ray Downen challenging the WORSHIP word. #6 Paul's word for the ONE ANOTHER assembling themselves is a form of the word SYNAGOGUE. The synagogue was a school of the Bible and never had a praise service. Paul's unique "in the spirit" worship word is to GIVE HEED to God in Christ by reading and giving heed to His words which are Spirit and Life.

The worst part is that PRO instrumentalists use a hate crime against those who will not bow down when the pipes sound: Jesus refused. The term ANTI-instrumental is used as a RACA word and those who will not affirm instruments are identified, as by Tom Burgess and Charles Dailey in terms close to a "an ignorant, southern, red-necked mentality." Milton Jones who sold out a church of Christ and Rubel Shelly adde the word RACIST.

The fact is that ALL pro-instrument arguments are based on a PERVERTED view of Scripture. All of the scholarly quotations by Dailey and Burgess on the word PSALLO are taken from scholarly, published writings and NONE from the spoken Koine. Furthermore, 100% of their quoted resources PROVE that INSTRUMENT PLAYING always MARKED the prostitutes or Sodomites who performed for the men's gatherings marked by pederasty.

Non-Instrumental Position Must Be Destroyed: Introduction: Dwaine E Dunning submitted by Ray Downen
Instrumental Music Will Untie the Gordian Knot #2
1ST-CENTURY INFLUENCES on Instrumental Music? #3
See Was Instrumental Music Only For Israel #4
Making Melody in the Heart #5

A. Ralph Johnson in Instrumental Music, Sacred or Sinful.

1. Tom Burgess in Documents on Instrumental Music reviewed. Psallo and Instrumental Music: Proofs do not prove anything but the "music-homosexuality" connection. See more on Strabo's definition of the worship of Apollo or Abaddon or Apollyon: his MUSES are the locusts or musical performers in the book of revelation.

2. Tom Burgess More Review of Plutarch: if Psallo authorizes "church music" it authorizes a homosexual gathering.

3. Tom Burgess on Moralia confirms the "Music-Heresy-Perversion" connection which has no historical exception. 10/20/04

4. Tom Burgess on John Chrysostom: are the anti-instrumentalists ignorant rurals? 10/21/04 What about Paul and Martin Luther and John Calvin and Zwingli and--everyone who believed the Bible as authority.

Charles Daily Northwest College of the Bible Part One ..... Part One A .....Part Two ..... THRESKIA or CHARISMATIC

The pro-instrumental thesis is the latter day belief

> The Bible doesn't command any kind of collective singing.

> However, you sing without instruments and "violate the law."

> Therefore, we are free not only to sing but to add instruments even if it sows discord among brethren.

<< I decided to share with the Viewpoint Discussion

group this exchange between me and Kenneth Sublett.

-- Kenneth, Thanks. You wrote -->>

 

Date sent: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:18:26 -0600

From: kenneth sublett

To: Ray Downen <outreach@sofnet.com>

Subject: Re: A defense of the "law of silence" (5)

Questioned Statement by Kenneth Sublett

Now, churches of Christ continued for 1800 years plus, a practice which all ancient scholarship agrees was the Biblical system. They did not add something to the worship ...

You may want to click here to see that when identified the church has always been named the church of Christ (it belongs to Him) or generically the church of God: Zechariah prophesied that Jesus or Joshua would sit on ONE throne as both king and priest. The NAME means Jehovah- Saved. Those who introduced instruments told the judge (with a straight face) that the instrument was not used for worship. The Judge didn't bite that one. However, the notion of the Core Gospel strips away all but a few facts about Jesus; the motive being to add their own "apple" back onto the core. By defining-away congregational singing as worship it is possible to add instruments as worship.

Next, Jesus didn't build a church or worship center but an ekklesia or synagogue or school of the Bible: there was no praise service in the synagogue. Indeed, it never occurred to the historic churches to think about MUSIC when they assembled. The word assembled or gathered used by Paul is a form of the word synagogue. Paul's almost unique WORSHIP words mean to give heed to the Word: that's what you do in school. Paul instructed Timothy the evangelist (who MUST go) to give attendance to the public READING of the Word.

The normal, moral people focused on the word SAY and not SING. Rhetorical singing or even reciting poetry in a stilted, poetic way was a MARK of sexual or homosexual tendencies. It always LED to spiritual anxiety and to homosexual feelings.

However, the new "praise craze" holds that the church "in plenary session" has only one purpose: to worship God. And the primary means is singing secular (self-composed) songs with "organic" instruments or mechanical instruments. Worship in the New Testament church never involved "praise" or "music" which is the word symphonia.

All ancient scholarship saw worship in the New Testament church as reading and studying the Word, eating the Lord's Supper and reading Biblical material to teach the Word. When the Greeks "read" a poetic piece they were said to "sing."

The purpose was to TEACH which means PREACH. The resources are "that which is written" as the only way to glorify God with ONE VOICE and ONE MIND (spirit) (Romans 15).

Before putting our trust in Greek words for music we should note from Britannica Online (cheap membership) that:

These musical fragments show that Greek music was predominantly vocal, although instrumental pieces were sometimes presented.

The music was homophonic; i.e., it consisted of single melodic lines. One of the most important compositions was the dithyramb, a poetic text set to music and sung by a chorus in honour of Dionysus.

Ancient Greek was a pitched language, so melody had to be an outgrowth of the natural inflections of the spoken language.

Greek vowels had long and short values that corresponded to long and short notes in the musical settings. Thus musical rhythms were derived from metric forms, and melodic movement was governed by the natural rise and fall of the text.

Ancient Greece appears never to have had a developed instrumental art. Percussion, brass, wind, and string instruments were all played, but

the two primary instruments were the aulos, a double-reed pipe that accompanied the chorus in the dithyramb, and the kithara, a hand-held lyre used to accompany solo songs.

The exact nature of the accompaniment style is unknown, but since no evidence of counterpoint or harmony appears in contemporary accounts,

the accompaniment probably played a version of the melodic line, occasionally adding two-note plucked chords.

It would have been insulting to have recited a poet's piece and backing it up with a "musical worship team" or orchestra. It was the introduction of worship as RELIGION which introduced both singing and playing instruments which was an insult to men like Homer who would be honored by the NORMAL singing which was well-developed RECITING. It is a well known fact that when the LESBIAN singers began to SING instead of SPEAK or SAY, history always repeats itself. First, music or rhetorical speaking was both a MARK and CAUSE of sexual and perverted sexuality in "worship." There is no exception as far as I can determine.

The word PSALLO is not a musical word: it simply means to PLUCK or pull out or tear or "grind into a powder" as is the base of SOP which Jesus hand ground for Judas. If one PLUCKS out the pubic hair then it was a MARK of the male prostitutes who were also flute or harp players. If one PLUCKS Abaddon's bow string to send a "singing" arrow then you could get anxious because one of two things was about to happen: you were about to get a literall arrow into your heart so that you "made melody" by the beat of the kicking of your heels. Or, most often, it meant someone was about to send you a LOVE ARROW in the drinking symposia which elders were not to COME NEAR. I can find of NO example of PSALLO meaning to both sing and play an instrument. However, if one SHOT FORTH A HYMN you might interpret that as MUSICAL. See Tom Burgess and some of the parallel words where PLUCKING was always HURTING you.

Clement of Alexandria noted:

Accordingly, Solomon says,

"My son, if thou receive the saying of my commandment, and hide it with thee, thine ear shall hear wisdom." He points out that the word that is sown is hidden in the soul of the learner, as in the earth, and this is spiritual planting.
Wherefore also he adds, "And thou shall apply thine heart to understanding, and apply it for the admonition of thy son."

For soul, me thinks, joined with soul, and spirit with spirit, in the sowing of the word, will make that which is sown grow and germinate. And every one who is instructed, is in respect of subjection the son of his instructor. "Son," says he, "forget not my laws."

Christ being Son to the Father meant that He spoke what He heard as "Mind" blows breath (spirit) through the lips (double edged sword) to produce words.

And if knowledge belong not to all (set an ass to the lyre, as the proverb goes), yet written compositions are for the many.

"Swine, for instance, delight in dirt more than in clean water."
"Wherefore," says the Lord, "I speak to them in parables: because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not, and do not understand; "

not as if the Lord caused the ignorance: for it were impious to think so.

But He prophetically exposed this ignorance, that existed in them, and intimated that they would not understand the things spoken.

And now the Saviour shows Himself, out of His abundance, dispensing goods to His servants according to the ability of the recipient,

that they may augment them by exercising activity, and then returning to reckon with them;

when, approving of those that had increased His money, those faithful in little, and commanding them to have the charge over many things, He bade them enter into the joy of the Lord.

Churches of Christ did not add something to that worship in the form of instruments.

Therefore, one of the key thesis of my total site is that Christianity is not about worship in the modern sense of the word. That is why you cannot "aide" it or "facilitate it." However, there was no MUSIC involved in the "in spirit" worship of God which never changed from the garden of Eden until worship in the New Testament church.

The externals were not called "worship" in the Synagogue or early church but "school."

The national worship of Israel on the way to captivity consisting of frequent animal sacrifices has been completed by Christ's one-time "worship" of offering Himself for the sins of the world: we remember that each Lord's Day but we don't force Jesus to suffer through the pagan Eucharist.

We worship what and whom we "give attendance to" or meditate about.

So, it is a fact that people believe themselves involved in "worship" with instruments although it may be vain worship. If they are "giving heed" to the sermonizing then they are worshiping the sermonizer. If they are giving heed to the musical performers who believe that they are mediators then they are worshiping the musicians. Churches of Christ did not add anything not Biblical to which one is diverted from the Word of God and the New Testament Church. There was no instrumental music as the Biblical ideal for 1800 years and therefore churches of Christ did not add or subtract in the instrumental sense. It is a fact that most have tried to do a legal end-run around "direct commandments" by using the "organic organ" and be self-justified by claiming that we are still "singing." But then, teaching and not singing is the subject of Paul's writings.

Ray Downen << Please explain to me where you find in the New Testament "the worship" of which you speak. Does Luke mention the worship practices of Christians during the time Paul was traveling to start new churches? Does Paul talk at any length about "the worship" in Corinth or Ephesus or the churches in Galatia? When Jesus wrote to the seven churches of Asia to commend and condemn, does our Lord describe the worship you speak of? I'd really rather not be told about "ancient scholarship" and what historians "agree" the early Christians did. I'd prefer you to tell me from the New Testament itself about this doctrine you hold and claim the apostles taught. Please point me to the verses which tell about "the worship" of the church in apostolic times. Thanks. >>

Paul uses only one key word for worship: it means to give heed to the Words of Christ. Because Jesus died to found an ekklesia or synagogue or school of the Bible he did NOT establish a worship center in terms or RELIGIONISM which was always pagan and always musical and usually perverted. Jesus commanded that we worship in the NEW PLACE of the human spirit and in TRUTH which is the Word of God. That is the meaning of worship in the synagogue "which had no praise service."

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

Dilligent search is:

Ekzeteo (g1567) ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Ac.15:17

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Ro.3:11

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe.1:10

Ek (g1537) means point of origin or "out of."

Zeteo (g2212) dzay-teh'-o; of uncert. affin.; to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life): - be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (* will) seek (after, for, means). Comp. 4441.

IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek (g1567) those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col.3:1

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Cor 14:12

The Spirit of Christ and salvation are still hidden from the "many"

Thomas Campbell sought unity based on the clear fact that CHURCH was "A school of Christ" even as Jesus founded "A school of the Bible" or ekklesia or synagogue. Campbell also said that WORSHIP was reading and discussing the Bible as just minimal common sense. Paul identifed the assemblies NOT as churches but a form of the word SYNAGOGUE and we KNOW that there was no praise services in the synagogue. His UNIQUE "worship" word was to "give heed to the Words of Christ" or "that which is written." To the elders the DIRECT COMMAND was to "teach that which had been taught." And to Timothy the ACT of worship was to "give attendance to the public reading of the word." Then, as in the synagogue, he would exhort people to obey THAT PORTION of the Bible which had been read and to the DOCTRIN explicitly taught in that portion of Scripture. The early churches were NEVER mistaken into believing that chanting or speaking the Psalms was a MUSICAL performance.

Isaiah 2:3. " For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord From Jerusalem." Compare 8:16. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." See 11:12.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me,
........... These are the true sayings of God. Rev 19:9

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant,
........... and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
........... worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

Proskuneo (g4352) pros-koo-neh'-o; from 4314 and a prob. der. of 2965 (mean. to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

Those who are flaunting their body and talent are assuredly not involved in the worship of God but of their own human talent.

> I have never claimed that singing "Twila Paris" to complex harmony without instruments is "an act of worship in the New Testament church." The operative word is not "sing" but teach or preach. The COMANDED RESOURCES were "that which is written, the Spirit or the Word of Christ." You cannot teach by using Twila as resource and presenting it with four different groups singing four different sets of words at four different times to four different tunes. That is the ultimate message of instruments in Exod 32; Job 21; Isa 5; Ezek. 33 and Amos 5, 6 and 8: "We will not listen to your words any longer."

> The thesis of Dwaine E. Dunning is that worship is acceptable to God using instrumental music. Furthermore, refusing to participate makes one evil.

> Dwaine Dunning also attacks those who "added a law" to exclude instruments. But you cannot exclude that which was never included.

> My rebuttal was that the totality of scholarship, including the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, is that instruments were borrowed from paganism (CE under "Candles") and was never the Biblical ideal. If you repudiate all historical scholarship but then claim that same scholarship as authority for instruments then you have told God: "I will not listen."

> My conclusion was that non-instrumentalists could hardly be the sectarians by refusing to do what they and their spiritual ancestors in all ages had not done from the institution of the "assembly" in the New Testament Church for edification but never called "the worship service."

> Yet, I am fearful that the urge to claim that the Spirit did not prescribe collective worship is to conclude that "we therefore have a blank silence into which we can add our own acts." And that authority is so overpowering that it justifies "sowing discord" and "offending those for whom Jesus died" without authority or without the need.

> > Since the "worship words" of the theologians are mainly the "bowing down" or serving variety, I want to introduce some new worship words which define what all those whom God seeks have always done even under the Monarchy period and commanded by Jesus and the Apostles.

There are several words translated as "worship" but they all have to do with literally bowing our body, our will and our attention to God in and through Lord Jesus Christ. If the speaker waves his hands or stomps his feet on the podium (the holy place) then we have no option but to "give attention to the speaker." If he speaks his "cut and past" view of Scripture then we give heed to that view. By analogy, a cut-off head is still a human body but it is not a living body: cut up words are still God's words but taken out of context they cease to be inspired.

Because synagogue was not a place for worship but for "giving attention to the reading of the Word," the worship in the New Testament church is never said to be the purpose but the result the giving heed to the word: edification or education.

At the same time, during the Lord's Supper if we "remember" or give our attention to the sacrifice of Christ then this attention is clearly worship.

If the "server" is smoke-infiltrated then we give heed or attention to someone getting that fellow to "church" by getting him on the "program."

If the "mediating praise team" feels like humming or singing as "background" to enhance the "experience" then they deliberately and with a high hand destroy any ability to "remember" Christ. I cannot "see Jesus" with you in my face.

There is no legal act of "taking up a collection" but if we serve Christ by serving others then clearly "giving" becomes our worship. Paul said that he wasn't issuing a "command" so it is not a "legal act." Here is what the early church which repudiated "located" prophets or apostles said about giving:

Didache 1:5 Give to every one that asketh of thee, and ask not again;

for the Father wishes that from his own gifts there should be given to all.
Blessed is he who giveth according to the commandment, for he is free from guilt;
........... but woe unto him that receiveth.

For if a man receive being in need, he shall be free from guilt;

but he who receiveth when not in need, shall pay a penalty as to why he received and for what purpose; and when he is in tribulation he shall be examined concerning the things that he has done, and shall not depart thence until he has paid the last farthing.

Didache 1:6 For of a truth it has been said on these matters, let thy almsgiving abide in thy hands until thou knowest to whom thou hast given.

(1 Corinthians 16:1f asks to "lay by him in store" or to save up an amount for later collection. Then four or five pairs of hand would carry it to Judea to the poor only. Collections were taken from the "prosperous" for the "poor" and the poor were never asked to give.)

And yet giving of help to others becomes an act of worship.

If the "song leader" is waving his hands and blowing bubbles and yelling then the message is that we are to "give attention" to the leader. And this is not Christian worship but "the idolatry of talent."

Singing ancient songs was always a way to honor the dead composer now a "god" in the nether world. Therefore, if we sing the song of a human composer then we are giving heed to the composer and not to the Spirit of God. Their songs may contain religious sentiment but they quite often include false teaching or are erotic and sentimentally weakening. I have witnessed a total "service" built around honoring the dead composer.

Worship--Not What But Where?

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? Mal 2:17

BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal 3:1

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap: Mal 3:2

Seek is: Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).

The Messenger Fulfilled this Prophecy:

When the messenger came, many refused to worship God by "rejecting the counsel of God by not being baptized."

When the Lord Jesus suddenly came, He honored the Father by speaking only what He heard in His Mind which is the Spirit (1 Cor. 2). Of course, this does not exclude dialog or explaining in human terms spiritual concepts. Nor, does it exclude using parallel passages to support the passage.

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. Jn. 12:49

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Jn 12:50

We can only conclude that when a sermon is built on a "proof-text" as launchpad, there is no intention of imitating Jesus or of transfering "Spirit" in either sermon or song. See Dabney on how Christ wanted "preaching" to take place.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

God only Seeks Those Who Obey the Model and Command of Jesus:

Because the prophets were powered by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11, Rev 19:10) His words put spiritual meaning into the Old testament words.

The seeking or worship Jesus commanded is not in the PLACE of the Gerizim temple or Jerusalem temple. Rather, worship is in the PLACE of "in spirit." That means in the mind. Worship is "in truth" which means to "dialog" with God through listening to HIS Words and reserving our words for prayer. The specific "worship" words agree with the statement that any other kind of worship will not find God listening.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
........... God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata: Or go to the bee, and learn how laborious she is; for she, feeding on the whole meadow, produces one honey-comb. And if "thou prayest in the closet," as the Lord taught, "to worship in spirit," Note 75 Note 75: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret (Covered or hidden); and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matt 6:6 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col.3:3 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. John 4:23 Proseuchomai (g4336) pros-yoo'-khom-ahee; from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship: - pray (* earnestly, for), make prayer.   Prosecho (g4337) pros-ekh'-o; from 4314 and 2192; (fig.) to hold the mind (3563 impl.) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: - (give) attend (-ance, - ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to, unto) have regard.   Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1Ti.4:13 For the Jews require signs," in order to faith; "and the Greeks seek after wisdom," plainly those reasonings styled "irresistible," and those others, namely, syllogisms. "But we preach Jesus Christ crucified; to the Jews a stumbling-block," because, though knowing prophecy, they did not believe the event: "to the Greeks, foolishness; "for those who in their own estimation are wise, consider it fabulous that the Son of God should speak by man and that God should have a Son, and especially that that Son should have suffered. Whence their preconceived idea inclines them to disbelieve. For the advent of the Saviour did not make people foolish, and hard of heart, and unbelieving, but made them understanding, amenable to persuasion, and believing. But those that would not believe, by separating themselves from the voluntary adherence of those who obeyed, were proved to be without understanding, unbelievers and fools. "But to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31
........... And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Continue is:

Meno (g3306) men'-o; a prim. verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), * thine own.

The New Testament Church is not the building, so worship in the church must take place somewhere else. If we are in the building and "worship in spirit and in truth" then we are engaged in worship in the New Testament church. However, being in the building does not mean that the activities are "the worship service" if someone has a calculated intention of forcing me to "give heed" to them.

This does not mean "worship externally with a good mental attitude." Nor, does it mean to worship "enthusiastically" in order to produce "exhilaration." Paul confirms that our spirit is the PLACE where spiritual worship takes place.

And be renewed (neos) in the spirit (mental disposition) of your mind (nous); Eph 4:23
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:17

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:18

Worship in the spirit does not mean charismatically or musically which means sexually but SPIRIT is contrasted to OUR flesh.

For we are the circumcision, which
........worship God in the spirit,

and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
........ and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

The reason was that if you CRACK the process to make it PHYSICAL or related to the flesh [music appeals totally to the flesh] then you permit the professionals to climb on:

Beware of dogs [catamite, flute-players], beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Phil 3:2

Theree is no exception to the rule that the URGE for music or the PERFORMANCE of music was a MARK of the flute-girls or harpists who "got you piped down with wine" so that you COULD NOT hear the words of Christ. Getting drunk on wine also meant to "get piped down with spiritual arrogance."

I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Re.1:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:

worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

So, God is "giving attention" only to those who are "giving attention" to Him.

That probably cannot be done in the modern collective "church" sense. So, what do we do?

Jesus said that "the kingdom is within you" and Paul said that to find Jesus we have to "go outside the camp" of the masses.

If we can find the commands or examples of this kind of worship we will know what Jesus meant. And we will find that the non-Biblical term "music" has no role to play in that worship.

We believe that Paul commanded this form of worship and that the New Testament churches engaged in it. More often, the Corinthian church defines modern worship but it was not Christian worship.

Worship is wherever or whenever we give attention to God by giving attention to His Words:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:10

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:12

Remember that Jesus defined worship as "in spirit" and "in truth." Sure, we eat the Lord's Supper but that too is a teaching or showing forth effort and does not earn us points which is the usual understanding of "worship."

Jesus also commanded that prayer be in the closet and in the mind (nous) rather than in the physical holy place or (naos). Jesus commanded that alms be from my "hand" to the "hand" of the needy. Jesus stood up to read the word and demonstrated the common decency to "sit down."

If someone is saying their own prayers next to me they are to make sure that it has rational meaning because I may want to say "amen." However, they cannot lead prayer for me. Therefore, personal worship is the same worship defined in the New Testament Church if it is done both "in spirit" and "in truth." It has to be Scriptural and it has to be done with the involvement of the human spirit. It may be collective but since we have about 166 personal hours and maybe 2 'church' hours devoted to collective worship, our worship is most often "speaking to ourselves" using God's Word and meditating in the heart.

Paul obeyed that as "an approved example":

The Colossian church lived in harmony because they refused to allow room for human teaching to infiltrate. Nevertheless, there was danger.

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; Col 2:2
........... In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2: 3

Or as Paul says later,

Let the word of Christ (spirit Eph 5:18; John 6:63) dwell (inhabit) in you richly in all wisdom;
........... teaching and admonishing one another
........... in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
........... singing with grace in your hearts
........... to the Lord. Col 3:16

[In the Greek OT all of these are forms of Biblical Psalms]. IN defines WHERE the singing takes place.

If the churches ever "worshiped" collectively we have to believe that what they did was defined as worship for the New Testament church. Therefore, it defies the sense of the Bible and all church history to deny that they "assembled" to worship collectively which was reading the Word and chanting the poetic Word.

If we are not happy listening to His words then we tell Him: "We won't listen to you any more."

If you listen to what Paul called "super apostles" or trained rhetoricians you are in mortal danger. Therefore, use Christs "thesaurus" and you won't get slick willied like Eve.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing (pacifying) words. Col 2:4

Beguiling means using "para-logic." That is, the songs and sermons are sound-alikes. They get close enough to logic to look like "gospel sermons" or "gospel songs" but they are just to fool you. The "tares" look much like "wheat" but tares are weeds. Therefore, sermonizing and versifying are most often tares to, like Amos 5, 6, 8, starve you to death.

"The system of sermonizing on a text is now almost universally abandoned by all who intend that their hearers should understand the testimony of God." Alexander Campbell

Clement of Alexandria, Recognitions: Chapter XXI.-Heathen Oracles. See Alexander the Oracle Monger

Apollyon or Abbadon are names for Apollo who had a "money tree" oracle at Delphi. Paul alludes to this "uncovered prophesying by women" and indites the ancient Chaldean "familiar spirits" which had been updated from empty, polluted wineskins to large bronze echo chambers and ringing bells.

"Whence it is evident that they since they are demoniac spirits, know some things both more quickly and more perfectly than men; for they are not retarded in their learning by the heaviness of a body. And therefore they, as being spirits, know without delay and without difficulty what physicians attain after a long time and by much labour.

It is not wonderful, therefore, if they know somewhat more than men do; but this is to be observed,

that what they know they do not employ for the salvation of souls,
but for the deception of them, that by means of it
they may indoctrinate them in the worship of false religion.

But God, that the error of so great deception might not be concealed, and that He Himself might not seem to be a cause of error in permitting them so great licence to deceive men by divinations, and cures, and dreams,

has of His mercy furnished men with a remedy, and has made the distinction of falsehood and truth patent to those who desire to know.

This, therefore, is that distinction: what is spoken by the true God, whether by prophets or by diverse visions, is always true; but what is foretold by demons is not always true.

It is therefore an evident sign that those things are not spoken by the true God,
........ in which at any time there is falsehood; for in truth there is never falsehood.

But in the case of those who speak falsehoods,
........ there may occasionally be a slight mixture of truth,
........ to give as it were seasoning to the falsehoods.

Campbell agreed with Paul who said:

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Col 2:5

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Col 2:6

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:7

Sermonizing never establishes in the faith and does not speak what has been taught. If it die then the sermonizers could become evangelists if they are hardy enough and self-sacrificing enough.

It was important to teach "the explicit Words" delivered by Christ because the moment men begin to improvize or "meet your needs" or try to make spiritual changes through external means, you have opened the door to an unholy spirit: and they always come in where invited:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (sophistry)
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2: 8
........ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col 2: 9
........ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2: 10

Paul does not exclude human philosophy or the learning of the age. However, that information may provide background to the Corinthian madness but it is not authority for Christian doctrine.

Paul describes how this false sermonizing works and concludes:

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Col 2: 23

Will Worship:

Ethelothreskeia (g1479) eth-el-oth- race-ki'-ah; from 2309 and 2356; voluntary (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, i.e. sanctimony: - will worship.

Will worship, for instance, seeks to add mechanical music to "worship" God. Jubal and his sibblings are represented in many ancient texts as inventors of the Babylonian form of musical worship.

And his brothers name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Genesis 4:21

Handle is:

Taphas (h8610) taw-fas'; a prim. root; to manipulate, i. e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield; spec. to overlay; fig. to use unwarrantably: - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, * surely, surprise, take.

The "tambourine" and "Tophets" as a symbol of hell came from this word.

This was visible worship and will worship. Therefore, there must be true worship which does not depend upon the will of men.

Wrong or vain worship (para-worship) has a true worship as counterpart:

Threshkeia (g2356) thrace-ki'-ah; from a der. of 2357; ceremonial observance: - religion, worshiping.

From the orgies of Orpheus:

"Nor are these Thracian orgies, from which the word Worship (threskia) is said to be derived; nor rites and mysteries of Orpheus, whom the Greeks admired so much for his wisdom that they devised for him
........... a lyre which draws all things by its music. Nor the tortures of Mithras

Throughout the world music is played at religious ceremonies to increase the efficacy and appeal of prayers, hymns, and invocations to divinities.

The power of music to charm the gods is movingly expressed in the Greek story of Orpheus. This mythical figure goes to the underworld to try to have his dead wife, Eurydice, restored to life.

By means of his lyre playing and singing he is able to win over even the god of death, so that Eurydice is allowed to leave the underworld. The continuing potency of the myth (including its tragic conclusion--Orpheus is forbidden to look back at his wife but does so and thus loses her again) is shown by the fact that it has been retold in Europe by numerous composers of opera since the early 17th century.

The word in the Bible is:

Threskos (g2357) thrace'-kos; prob. from the base of 2360; ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), i.e. pious: - religious.

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Acts 26:5

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (method or means) which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,

believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:14

Believing is to entrust on'e spirit or have total trust in. Paul made it clear that worship according to the WAY was worshiping God in the spirit or mind which was in direct contradiction to "worship in the flesh."

For we are the circumcision, which
........ worship God in the spirit,

and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
........ and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

"Spirit" is contrasted to "flesh." Therefore, it is not possible to worship God with the flesh or in the flesh.

One does not just "believe" as a one time act but worship or giving heed to God means to give heed to what He has written for our learning.

And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16

Askeo (g778) as-keh'-o; prob. from the same as 4632; to elaborate, i.e. (fig.) train (by impl. strive): - exercise.

To the Corinthians. Paul claimed that he would not speak a foreign language "in church." Therefore, we assume that by speaking the Word of God he endorsed the collective church as one of the places for "worship in spirit and in truth."

The Corinthians "speaking in tongues" was singing out of their own "spirit." And Paul told them not to do that.

So, how do we "worship" or get on the way to truth?

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: Acts 15:16

That the residue (tiny remnant) of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Acts 15:17

Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6

You simply are not even remotely "seeking" God if you "give attention" to secular "make you spiritual" sermons taken from the latest book review. In fact, there can be no attempt to lead people into this kind of worship when we substitute our selves through our words.

Of David before the Warrior Levites were assigned under the king and commanders of the army for the future Temple:

In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory;
........... he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker. Ecclesiasticus 40: 8.
........... He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. Ecclesiasticus 40:9

Using a "musical" term, the Psalmist noted of all "spiritual worship" even under the law:

I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Ps.77:3
I call (Mention, burn incense) to remembrance my song (h5058) in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Psalm 77:6

Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).

"Song" can be instrumental but David "spoke to himself in Psalms and made melody in the heart."

David is never said to have "worshiped" God by singing with a harp band. David never LEAD congregational worship.

Arnobius notes: For it is not he who is anxiously thinking of religious rites, and slays spotless victims , who gives piles of incense to be burned with fire,

not he must be thought to worship the deities ,
or alone discharge the duties of religion.
........ True worship is in the heart,
........ and a belief worthy of the gods;
........ ........ nor does it at all avail to bring blood and gore.

Arnobius also notes that "music" or sound was part of this sacrificial system. Therefore, he says in many ways: "it does not avail to bring mechanical instruments."

If we hire the Top Gun of the Brotherhood in order to try to hang on to a huge congregation, we obviously are not seeking after the lord.

Diligent search is available only to that tiny residue of those who, in the words of Amos, do not go from sea to see searching for the Word to keep from hungering and thirsting for lack of the Word. Before quoting Amos note that the almost-universal view of Amos is that it was false:

"Sacrifices, rituals, festivals honoring Yahweh abounded, but these rites were tangible evidence of lack of knowledge, for they expressed the popular belief that Yahweh could be pleased and pacified by cultic ceremonies.

"The condemnation of cultic rites introduced in 4:4 f. and 5:4 f. is picked up again with new vehemence. It has been argued that Amos was not opposed to cultic ritual per se but condemned the mind set of the people by which responsibility to Yahweh was performed perfunctorily and without relationship to daily life and society.

"If we take Amos' words as they stand, there seems to be little doubt that he condemned the entire religious pattern--feasts, sacrifices, ritual music, offerings, tithes--everything. Gerald LaRue, History of the O.T.

See that the idolatry of musical worship at Mount Sinai caused God to take away THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT and give Israel THE BOOK OF THE LAW. Along with that He added the curse of "turning them over to worship the starry hosts" (Stephen in Acts 7). Israel condemned by Amos continued this idolatry. Otherwise even in the vilest paganism did singers or instrumentalists go into the holy precincts. See Amos Five.

Their musical worship was evil becaus the leaders said "we don't want to hear your words" and it caused the people to hunger and thirst for the Word and to go into captivity and death:

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: Amos 8:9

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:10

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: Amos 8:11

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8:12

Seeking the Word of God is "worship in spirit and in truth." In Amos, true worship was not religious festival "worship" but:

Seek is: Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).

Because Israel "gave heed" or sought God in wine, women and song, they failed. Consistent with the ancient stories of Enoch and parallel accounts, when they finally discover that they are dying they go SEEKING the Word of the Lord but they cannot find it.

After God's Messenger came to save us and put down pagan worship involving the external senses, the "little flock" would worship by seeking:

Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).

The prophets understood that they were "filled" or "breathed on" to speak prophecy which was still "hidden from the foundation of the world." The prophets worshiped God by seeking to know the Mind or Spirit of God:

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe 1:10

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pe.1:11

The root of seek is really the only true "worship" concept in the Synagogue (assembly) or church (assembly). We know that the Jews considered the Synagogue as collective "worship" and so did the early church. Whatever they did, the true worshipers were searching for and giving heed to the Mind or Spirit of God:

Zeteo (g2212) dzay-teh'-o; of uncert. affin.; to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life): - be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (* will) seek (after, for, means). Comp. 4441.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying (teaching) of the church. 1 Cor 14:12

In the "singing" passages Paul laid the foundation to make our joint effort "worship."

IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek (g2212) those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col.3:1

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:2
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:3

This is what Jesus demanded:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship (prostrate self) him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Or as the Psalmists says:

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Ps.119:148
........ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Ps.63:6

Meditate means to "speak to yourselves in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs."

This is how to "worship" because God isn't seeking those who cannot worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Affections or Mind is

Phroneo (g5426) fron-eh'-o; from 5424; to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by impl. to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction)...

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, (mind) the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:5

The human spirit has the same meaning:

Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, doemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Comp. 5590. (Rational or immortal soul)

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:27

From this we grasp that God doesn't look to our mouth or body or hand clapping or getting sexually stimulated by the nerve stroking of music. Rather, God seeks those who seek Him in mind or spirit.

Anything which diminishes the power of the "audience" to worship in spirit is anti-worship and therefore anti-Christ.

However, when two or three are gathered together the goal is unity. If you speak the words of Twila Paris and I do not agree with her "theology" then you sow discord and it is not possible to worship in spirit and in truth collectively.

Therefore, we have to establish an atmosphere and not provocation from the pulpit about personal opinions. The way to do this is to collectively speak the words of God by reading or reciting:

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col 3:13

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col 3:14
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:15