Is there a Biblical Way to Worship or is it Just Human Preference?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

mcubed

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2013
1,449
218
63
#1
I was talking today with some in Bible study about praise and worship. He does not believe in people "getting happy", shouting, dancing, and so on.... I asked him if he was at an Ohio State game and we scored that winning touchdown he would not shout.?. And people are shouting for the Creator of the Universe... G-d Himself and they are happy in Him!?!... (He never shouts according to him, not even at a game... I did not ask his wife...lol). I get different personalities like to worship different ways... I told him he needs to go to a Church of Christ that only uses a pitch-pipe....lol...

The question is, is there a "Biblical" way to worship, or is it just human preference?
 

OstrichSmiling

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2018
1,027
418
83
#2
I was talking today with some in Bible study about praise and worship. He does not believe in people "getting happy", shouting, dancing, and so on.... I asked him if he was at an Ohio State game and we scored that winning touchdown he would not shout.?. And people are shouting for the Creator of the Universe... G-d Himself and they are happy in Him!?!... (He never shouts according to him, not even at a game... I did not ask his wife...lol). I get different personalities like to worship different ways... I told him he needs to go to a Church of Christ that only uses a pitch-pipe....lol...

The question is, is there a "Biblical" way to worship, or is it just human preference?
Weird isn't it? People will deny charasmatic worship, people dancing and reveling in the spirit of praise and worship. And yet if their favorite team is winning a Monday night football game, they'll cheer to the rafters and high five their buddies with no constraint at all.

I knew someone who condemned music in worship. Any kind of music. Somber piano, organ, even just singing .
What a boring time that would be. Praise God in song, we're told. I didn't have the hart to tell them what the Book of Psalms really was about.

You'll find all manner of differences of opinion among Christians. Even those that say the Sabbath is no longer to be observed. Yet, they'll go to church on Sunday after condemning those who worship according to the scriptures. Saying that is for the Jews and not for us anymore.

I don't think God is going to hold anyone in contempt if they worshiped him with a sincere heart. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath. He was the same God that created that day to be holy.
It's the 21st century. Sometimes we can get off on that holy day if our employer is amenable. But really, isn't every day an opportunity to praise God?
God knows a sincere heart and mind.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#3
I was talking today with some in Bible study about praise and worship. He does not believe in people "getting happy", shouting, dancing, and so on.... I asked him if he was at an Ohio State game and we scored that winning touchdown he would not shout.?. And people are shouting for the Creator of the Universe... G-d Himself and they are happy in Him!?!... (He never shouts according to him, not even at a game... I did not ask his wife...lol). I get different personalities like to worship different ways... I told him he needs to go to a Church of Christ that only uses a pitch-pipe....lol...

The question is, is there a "Biblical" way to worship, or is it just human preference?
We must stick to the doctrine of Christ in order to stay His church and not become a branch-off church. "They worship Me in vain, their doctrine is merely human rules." We cannot worship whichever way we want. It is called worship service for a reason- we are serving God, not ourselves. He is the only audience of our worship. We are not there for entertainment, but to worship Him in the way He wants to be worshiped. Therefore how we worship must be backed by new testament scripture.
 

OstrichSmiling

Well-known member
Jun 17, 2018
1,027
418
83
#4
We must stick to the doctrine of Christ in order to stay His church and not become a branch-off church. "They worship Me in vain, their doctrine is merely human rules." We cannot worship whichever way we want. It is called worship service for a reason- we are serving God, not ourselves. He is the only audience of our worship. We are not there for entertainment, but to worship Him in the way He wants to be worshiped.
How precisely is that described? And using scripture to support the answer please.
 

mcubed

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2013
1,449
218
63
#5
We must stick to the doctrine of Christ in order to stay His church and not become a branch-off church. "They worship Me in vain, their doctrine is merely human rules." We cannot worship whichever way we want. It is called worship service for a reason- we are serving God, not ourselves. He is the only audience of our worship. We are not there for entertainment, but to worship Him in the way He wants to be worshiped. Therefore how we worship must be backed by new testament scripture.

If I thought about worshiping N.T. Scripture than, logic says the music we grew up on is the music we like, wouldn't Messiah like best the Jewish music of His day (on Earth as human)...? So should all worship music be from His time and none of ours in the 21st century?
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
464
83
#6
How precisely is that described? And using scripture to support the answer please.
OneFaith attends the Church of Christ. They do not believe in using musical instruments in worship. They use this verse to support their belief:

Eph 5:
19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

The CoC believes that since the verse contains no reference to musical instruments, musical instruments are not permitted in worship.

No offense intended, OneFaith.. Please let me know if I got this wrong.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#7
If I thought about worshiping N.T. Scripture than, logic says the music we grew up on is the music we like, wouldn't Messiah like best the Jewish music of His day (on Earth as human)...? So should all worship music be from His time and none of ours in the 21st century?
Why did Jesus get baptized? To wash away His sins? No, He didn't have any. He got baptized because we must follow His lead. "Whoever wants to be My disciple must take up his cross daily and follow me." It is a cross because we must do it God's way not our way. Jesus said "Will I not drink of the cup My Father has given Me? " and "Yet not My Will but Your Will be done." So, what way did Jesus show us? When He sang hymns with the apostles there were no instruments, no choir.

God is specific. In the old testament He said to use physical instruments. In the new testament He says to make melody in our hearts to God, and to use the fruit of our lips (singing). He says that we must rightly divide the Word- what is of the old testament stays in the new testament, and visa versa. We cannot bring old testament practices into new testament worship.
 

mcubed

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2013
1,449
218
63
#8
Why did Jesus get baptized? To wash away His sins? No, He didn't have any. He got baptized because we must follow His lead. "Whoever wants to be My disciple must take up his cross daily and follow me." It is a cross because we must do it God's way not our way. Jesus said "Will I not drink of the cup My Father has given Me? " and "Yet not My Will but Your Will be done." So, what way did Jesus show us? When He sang hymns with the apostles there were no instruments, no choir.

God is specific. In the old testament He said to use physical instruments. In the new testament He says to make melody in our hearts to God, and to use the fruit of our lips (singing). He says that we must rightly divide the Word- what is of the old testament stays in the new testament, and visa versa. We cannot bring old testament practices into new testament worship.
That is funny I just brought the human into the human.... Y-shua did grow up with music of His day... Do you not know ancient Jewish music... There was at least a harp!!!

If He is still 100%human and 100% G-d would He not like His music best? ... So all else is relative to us!!!
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#9
OneFaith attends the Church of Christ. They do not believe in using musical instruments in worship. They use this verse to support their belief:

Eph 5:
19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

The CoC believes that since the verse contains no reference to musical instruments, musical instruments are not permitted in worship.

No offense intended, OneFaith.. Please let me know if I got this wrong.
God clearly shows (and says) that the physical ways of the old testament were only an example of the real (spiritual) ways of the new testament. "These were only a shadow of things to come, the reality however is found in Christ." (When Christ took authority from Moses- Matthew 28:18, Romans 7:1-4). Here is a list of physical things that are not practiced in Christ's new testament church...

Physical rest on a physical day (sabbath)- we practice it spiritually, and it is called 'the peace that surpasses understanding'.
Physical sacrifice of a physically perfect physical lamb- Jesus is our spiritually perfect Lamb if God, sacrificed one time for all people.
Physically take adulterers outside the city and stone them to death- we do this spiritually by having them die to their selves in order to live for God.
Physical laws written on physical tablets- now God writes His laws on our hearts and minds spiritually. And the laws themselves are to be obeyed spiritually. For example, you could not physically murder in the old testament, but now we must obey this law spiritually- which means that if you hate your brother you are already guilty of murder, whether you carry it out physically or not.
●Physical shout to the Lord (Jericho)- our spiritual prayers to God move mountains.
●Physical circumcision- we are spiritually circumcised by Christ blood during baptism.
●Physical instruments- our spiritual praise to God comes from, as He says, the fruit of our lips, and the melody of our hearts.

God says to rightly divide the Word- old testament=physical worship, new testament=spiritual worship. It is not just a scripture or two that we go off of, it is the whole pattern that we can clearly see. Jesus did not use physical instruments, and He has all authority over God's people today. Did He give you authority to use physical instruments in His church? A church that does not stick to the doctrine of Christ is not Christ's church.

"They worship Me in vain, their doctrine is merely human rules."
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#10
True worship has nothing to do with movement of any muscle, it is just the knowledge of God which God Himself imparts in us.

Jer 31:33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD, I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 34No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins nomore.”
 

LW97

Senior Member
Apr 10, 2018
1,140
260
63
#11
Weird isn't it? People will deny charasmatic worship, people dancing and reveling in the spirit of praise and worship. And yet if their favorite team is winning a Monday night football game, they'll cheer to the rafters and high five their buddies with no constraint at all.

I knew someone who condemned music in worship. Any kind of music. Somber piano, organ, even just singing .
What a boring time that would be. Praise God in song, we're told. I didn't have the hart to tell them what the Book of Psalms really was about.

You'll find all manner of differences of opinion among Christians. Even those that say the Sabbath is no longer to be observed. Yet, they'll go to church on Sunday after condemning those who worship according to the scriptures. Saying that is for the Jews and not for us anymore.

I don't think God is going to hold anyone in contempt if they worshiped him with a sincere heart. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath. He was the same God that created that day to be holy.
It's the 21st century. Sometimes we can get off on that holy day if our employer is amenable. But really, isn't every day an opportunity to praise God?
God knows a sincere heart and mind.
Agreed
 
M

Miri

Guest
#12
Best way to worship God is in spirit and in truth.

Providing that applies, I think the right way will automatically follow.
Incidentally David danced with all his might before God. He was mocked
for it and the person concerned remained barren for the rest of her life as
a result.

Moral of the story if someone is genuinely worshipping God in spirit and
in truth. Don’t dare despise them for their exuberance.


2 Samuel 6:14-16,20-23 NKJV
[14] Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David
was wearing a linen ephod. [15] So David and all the house of Israel
brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound
of the trumpet. [16] Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City
of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King
David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

[20] Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the
daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious
was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of
the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly
uncovers himself!" [21] So David said to Michal, "It was before
the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house,
to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
Therefore I will play music before the LORD.


[22] And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble
in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have
spoken, by them I will be held in honor." [23] Therefore Michal the
daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
 
Feb 7, 2017
1,605
140
63
#13
If it was just a human preference there would be no need for the Holy Scripture.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
113
#14
Amen Miri...

I've yet to find anywhere in the Scriptures a 'thou shalt not' use musical instruments,
and most certainly Yeshua gave man the 'pattern' to create musical instruments -

PS. 87:5-6-7.
And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and The Highest Himself shall establish her.

The LORD shall count, when He writes up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

(As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all My springs are in Thee.)

hub and I have sang and praised our Saviour with all of our hearts for many, many years,
with and without instruments, and we are assured that it was well pleasing to Him...
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,968
13,624
113
#15
"in spirit and in truth" and "neither on this mountain nor some other"

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things
(Acts 17:24-25)
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
464
83
#16
God says to rightly divide the Word- old testament=physical worship, new testament=spiritual worship. It is not just a scripture or two that we go off of, it is the whole pattern that we can clearly see. Jesus did not use physical instruments, and He has all authority over God's people today. Did He give you authority to use physical instruments in His church? A church that does not stick to the doctrine of Christ is not Christ's church.

"They worship Me in vain, their doctrine is merely human rules."
There is no doctrine of Christ that says we cannot use musical instruments in worship.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,968
13,624
113
#19
If I thought about worshiping N.T. Scripture than, logic says the music we grew up on is the music we like, wouldn't Messiah like best the Jewish music of His day (on Earth as human)...? So should all worship music be from His time and none of ours in the 21st century?
like this then?

:D


 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,968
13,624
113
#20
That is funny I just brought the human into the human.... Y-shua did grow up with music of His day... Do you not know ancient Jewish music... There was at least a harp!!!

If He is still 100%human and 100% G-d would He not like His music best? ... So all else is relative to us!!!

since He created all things, would "His music" be the sound of wind in the fields and trees, birdsong, and the hum of thousands of insects and frogs in the evening?