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Christian worship

Worship ordinances versus circumstances

Ordinances (religious duties) Circumstances (incidentals of worship) Topics

Meeting on the Sabbath

Time of meetings (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:18)

Past

Prayer to God

Prayer and praise

Future

Bible reading (Mark 4:16-20; Acts 13:15; 1 Tim. 4:13; Rev. 1:13; Acts 1:13, 16:13; 1 Cor. 11:20)

Bible reading (Acts 1:13, 16:13; 1 Cor. 11:20)

Present

Administration of sacraments (the Lord's Supper)

Proper clothing (1 Cor. 11:13-15; Deut. 22:5)

God

Hearing the Word of God

Seated, standing, kneeling (Luke 4:20; Acts 20:9)

Man

Fellowship (Heb. 10:25)

In one accord (confession, forgiveness)

Others

Preaching the Gospel

Meeting place (Acts 20:8, 17:10; 1 Cor. 14:28)

World

References

Ageless issue

If you thought the problem of instruments in the church pertains to our era alone, think again. Erasmus describes the same problem they had during the days of the Reformation 500 years ago:

We have brought into our churches a certain operose and theatrical music; such a confused, disorderly chattering of some words, as I hardly think was ever heard in any of the Grecian or Roman theatres. The church rings with the noise of trumpets, pipes and dulcimers; and human voices strive to bear their part with them.... Men run to church as to a theatre, to have their ears tickled. And for this end organ-makers are hired with great salaries, and a company of boys, who waste all their time in learning these whining tones. —Erasmus (classical scholar and humanist), In Novum Testamentum...Anno-tationes (1522).

If Erasmus came to life and saw what was happening in the churches today, he would roll over in his grave.