WORSHIP OF GOD
WORSHIP OF GOD
Both spiritual and visible, private and public, by individuals, families, and communities, is not only a self-evident duty for all who believe in God, but is abundantly commanded in his word. See PRAYER.The stated assembling of all people for united worship on the Sabbath, in continuance of the temple and synagogue services enjoined by God and practiced by Christ, is most manifest duty. The very name church, meaning assembly, implies it; and the preaching of the gospel, the great means for promoting Christianity, requires it. The directions of Paul, not to forsake the “assembling of ourselves together,” to read his epistles “in all the churches,” and to join in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” and his rules for securing the highest spiritual edification of all when they came together in the church, all indicate the established law of Christianity.”Worship” is sometimes used of the form of homage paid by subjects to kings, or of honor to one held entitled to it, Dan 2:46 Luk 14:10 . In the East, this is still often rendered by prostrating the body and touching the forehead to the ground, Gen 33:3 Mat 18:26 .”Will-worship,” Col 2:23, is a term descriptive of such forms of adoration and service as are not prescribed in God’s word, but are offensive in his sight. Such are the masses and penances of Popery.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
WORSHIP OF GOD
(cultus Dei) Amounts to the same with what we otherwise call religion. This worship consists in paying a due respect, veneration, and homage to the Deity under a sense of an obligation to him. And this internal respect, &c. is to be shown and testified by external acts; as prayers, thanksgivings, &c.
Private Worship should be conducted with,
1.Reverence and veneration.
2.Self-abasement and confession.
3.Contemplation of the perfections and promises of God.
4.Supplication for ourselves and others.
5.Earnest desire of the enjoyment of God.
6.Frequent and regular.
Some who have acknowledged the propriety of private worship have objected to that of a public nature, but without any sufficient ground. For Christ attended public worship himself, Luk 4:1-44 : he prayed with his disciples, Luk 9:28-29. Luk 11:1; he promises his presence to social worshippers, Mat 18:20. It may be argued also from the conduct of the apostles, Act 1:24. Act 2:1-47 : Act 4:24. Act 6:4. Rom 15:30. 1Co 14:1-40 : Act 21:1-40 : 2Th 3:1-2. 1Co 11:1-34 : and from general precepts, 1Ti 2:2; 1Ti 2:8. Heb 10:25. Deu 31:12. Psa 100:4.
Public worship is of great utility, as,
1.It gives Christians an opportunity of openly professing their faith in and love to Christ.
2.It preserves a sense of religion in the mind, without which society could not well exist.
3.It enlivens devotion and promotes zeal.
4.It is the mean of receiving instruction and consolation.
5.It affords an excellent example to others, and excite them to fear God, &c.
Public worship should be,
1.Solemn, not light and trifling, Psa 89:7.
2.Simple, not pompous and ceremonial, Isa 62:2.
3.Cheerful, and not with forbidding aspect, Psa 100:1-5 :
4.Sincere, and not hypocritical, Isa 1:12. Mat 23:13. Joh 4:24.
5.Pure and not superstitious, Isa 57:15.
We cannot conclude this article without taking notice of the shameful and exceedingly improper practice of coming in late to public worship. It evidently manifests a state of lukewarmness; it is a breach of order and decency; it is a disturbance to both ministers and people; it is slighting the ordinances which God has appointed for our good; and an affront to God himself! How such can be in a devotional frame themselves, when they so often spoil the devotions of others, I know not.
See Watt’s Holiness of Time and Places; Kinghorn and Louder on Public Worship; Parry’s Barbauld’s Simpson’s and Wilson’s Answer to Wakefield’s Enquiry on the Authority, Propriety, and Utility of Public Worship; Newman on early Attendance.