WORSHIP, OLD AND NEW
The venue was a lecture theatre in Wycliffe College in Oxford. It was packed with staff and students who had come to hear a visiting Bishop from East Africa talk on the subject “Worship, Old and New”. He began.
“When the missionaries came to us they imported a churchmanship based on the Old Testament. We built churches like temples. We dressed up our ministers like religious priests, reminiscent of the Levites. We put up altars and some even went as far as reoffering the sacrifice of Christ on them in the form of the Mass. Clergymen were called “Father”. Our people were encouraged to think that so long as they attended “worship” regularly and were good people, they were fulfilling what God required. The Holy Spirit became a matter of theological debate. The effect is that we became lifeless. Few of our church members loved reading their Bibles or prayed regularly. Even fewer really wanted to talk to their neighbours about being right with God and knowing Jesus. Few outsiders wanted to join the Christian family. We were dying.”
“Then we came to understand that in the New Testament worship is described as something very different. Remember that the early Christians had no church buildings for four hundred years or so after Jesus. They did often meet together in secret, sometimes at risk to their lives, in order to read the Scriptures, pray, sing, and so encourage one another to go out and live a life of worship. The holy temple had now become the holy people of God (2 Corinthians 6 v. 16). There were no longer priests who enacted religious rituals, Jesus had done away with the need for that. He had already made us holy by dying for us (Hebrews 13 v. 12). We realised that the sacrifice Jesus offered of himself was final, complete and never to be repeated. The sacrifice he wanted us all to offer was ourselves (Romans 12 v. 1)! He required us to talk to others about Jesus (Hebrews 13 v. 13), and often that is a costly sacrifice! We learned that the Holy Spirit was not just a doctrine, but someone who changes peoples lives so that they long to pray, read the Word of God and share him with others.”
The bishop then smiled at the audience, many of whom were due to be ordained. “ Please do not, in your future ministries fall into the trap of being Old Testament type Christians. Encourage all your people to study the Word of God for themselves. It really is God breathed and its teaching is clear. Teach them to worship as Jesus and the apostles taught. Teach them that the Holy Spirit is not just a doctrine to be debated, but a powerful person whose presence in Christians can be seen by their love for Jesus, love for His word, and love for His people. In our church all members are now full-time priests, with the responsibilities of such. Their role is to live holy Christ centred lives and to tell others about their Saviour. Our worship now lasts seven days a week not just one hour. We do of course have recognised clergy with major teaching and pastoral responsibilities. Our church meetings have changed into a joyous celebration. Now many more outsiders come into this warm atmosphere where they hear the Bible taught and consequently many are born again too. The Christians themselves look forward eagerly to meeting together now, it is no longer largely a duty. This is New Testament Christianity!
BVP
