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Recently
someone asked, "You have a radio program each Sunday morning, is it
worship? Does one have to be in a church auditorium to worship?"
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There are several important matters that this question touches upon that
need to be clarified. First, it addresses the subject of teaching and, in
this particular case, with the teaching that is done by means of the radio.
Second, it deals with another very important subject and that is: worship.
First, let's consider the matter of teaching. Jesus made clear that we as
members of the church individually, as well as, the church collectively have
the responsibility of teaching others God's word (Matt. 28:18-20). Nicodemus
recognized Jesus as a teacher come from God (John 3:2). In the first century
church there were evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11). Paul described himself as "a
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity" (I Tim. 2:7; II Tim. 1:11). The Hebrew writer said that there
were some who should have been teachers, but they, in actuality, needed to be
taught "the first principles of the oracles of God (Heb. 5:12). James warns those who would be
teachers that they will receive a heavier (greater) judgment (Jas. 3:1). It
is clear then that the Scriptures give us the responsibility to teach and
that the content of what we teach must be God's word. However, the expedient
method of getting this important job done has been left up to human judgment.
Preaching and teaching God's word by means of the radio is but one method,
among many, that may be used in teaching others about their responsibility
before God. It is a powerful method and a great opportunity to teach our
communities. Therefore, a congregation may choose to teach and to preach
God's word by means of the daily newspaper, the radio, as is referred to in
the case of this question, public television, the printed page etc.
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Please consider the second important point, that
being, the matter of worship. John 4:24
states, "God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth." The word "worship" is a word, which
conveys an act of reverence paid to God. The translators of The American
Standard Version (1901) give a good definition of this word in the footnotes
to Matthew 2:2. There, in connection with the word "worship" they
state, "The Greek word denotes an act of reverence whether paid to a
creature (see ch 4:9; 18:26), or
to the Creator (see ch. 4:10)."
Their reference emphasizes that worship is an act of reverence that is paid
to God. Even though one may be involved in such an act of reverence one's
worship may be misdirected (see Paul and his sermon on Mars Hill, Acts 17:22-31). One's worship may be in vain
(Matt. 15:8-9); or one may be involved in what Paul calls "will
worship" (Col. 2:23), which is a worship that pleases the worshiper, but
not the Lord, as it was not authorized by the Lord. Everyone should strive,
of course, to be engaged in scriptural worship which are acts of reverence
paid to God that have been authorized by God in His word. There are five acts
of worship, which the first century church engaged in for their assembly. For
instance, we read where they sang hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16); prayer was an important act of worship (Acts 2:42); they would teach
and preach God's word (Matt. 28:19; Acts 4:2; 5:21; 9:20; 11:26; 20:7; I Tim.
4:11; II Tim. 4:2); we read about them giving of their means (Acts 20:35);
they also observed the Lord's Supper each first day of the week (Matt. 26:29;
Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7). Even though there are a number of biblical
principles that govern worship, still these five acts of worship describe
what New Testament worship was like. The Lord's church everywhere was to
follow this divine pattern for worship (I Cor. 4:17;
7:17; 14:33-34; 16:1). It is obvious from this that God wants
true worshippers (John 4:24), but
he has not left the matter of worship up to us to decide what true worship
is; he has revealed this in the Scriptures. The Scriptures and the Scriptures
alone become our standard for what God wants, not our likes and dislikes (II
Tim. 3:16-17). That is why the
Scriptures are so important; they must be studied, embraced, and taught so
that one may know what to do and how to do it in order to know what pleases
God (Acts 17:1,2; II Tim. 2:15; Col. 3:16; II Tim. 4:2).
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The question asks, "Is our radio program
worship?" The answer is better understood now that we know more about
what worship is. The answer is no; it is not worship as is characteristic of
the Lord's church, when it assembles together. It is a teaching opportunity. In
such a situation as this the emphasis is to teach the Bible and how the Bible
applies to us today. It certainly honors God, and pays honor and respect to
the word of God. However, it is not worship in the same way, as the church
would assemble for worship. Worship, on the other hand, is a conscious effort
of the heart and mind to pay acts of reverence to God. May one teach without
being involved in worship? Yes, he can. Our teaching might be outside under a
tree, in a building, or over the radio. Therefore, a distinction must be made
between teaching the Bible to someone and the worship of God. Remember, that
one does not accidentally worship God. One goes to the assembly with the
purpose of worship being in mind. It is the conscious reverence paid to God
by means of the authorized acts one reads about in the Scriptures. Does this
mean that worship is confined to an auditorium? No, it does not. Such
purposeful and conscious acts of reverence, worship, may be conducted in a
beautiful building, a rented hall, a run down shanty, or outside in God's
creation. John 4:24 is significant
both for what it says and for what it does not say. We are to worship God in
Spirit (the right attitude) and in truth (according to what God has
authorized in his word). It does not say that one must have an imposing
cathedral in which to worship, nor does it say that one must wear long
flowing robes, or have a tremendous crowd of people to worship God
acceptably. We must never forget that the church you read about in the New
Testament was an assembling body, which came together for the purpose of
worshipping God and to edify one another. They were admonished to do this
faithfully and they were taught to do so according to God's divine plan.
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Therefore, teaching the word of God to someone,
which is an important duty, such as, over the radio, is not to be confused
with the matter of the public worship assembly of the church. Both matters
are vitally important to the child of God and should be to all people
everywhere.
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Jim Laws
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