Worship in a Glorious Assembly

[Alex Thornhill]

Praise the LORD brethren!

 

I'm hoping you all were blessed with a great New Year and some R&R.

 

I was thinking today about a topic for discussion, which I think is fairly broad and could allow for a lot of dialogue.  As the church is working its way to becoming that glorious church without spot or wrinkle, there are the functions of the church that need to be considered.  Leadership and teaching have often been discussed, and rightfully so, but I am curious as to thoughts of the brethren on this site in regards to corporate worship.

 

I'm wanting to leave things very open-ended in this first post and see what thoughts people are thinking of in regards to worship.

 

I've been in many apostolic assemblies and worship styles have varied quite a bit and this is understandable (ie. gospel, contemporary, folk, traditional music, ect...) due to location and culture, but there are also nuances that are appearing in some apostolic assemblies.  There are dowel rods, signing ministries, praise dancers and secular songs that are being played/sung in assemblies.  Even the way worship is conducted is being questioned by many who are seeking to restore the church to ways that are presumed to be more apostolic (ie. spontaneous song leading).

 

So, I've thrown some things out there in regards to worship styles and nuances.  Perhaps someone might want to share a feeling that they have on one of these matters and get the ball rolling, or perhaps someone has a thought concerning worship that I didn't mention here and would like to take things in another direction.  As a young person I am not looking to lead things in this discussion, I am just hoping to get the brothers to dialogue on this topic for the enrichment of myself and others.

 

-Bro. Alex

[Michael V. Frazier]

Forgive my ignorance, but I had never heard of "dowel rods" being used in worship before.  Perhaps I'm too sheltered (LOL).  I had to do a web search just to understand the concept.

[Alex Thornhill]

I'll share another thought since this topic of worship was discussed a bit tonight during a meal with some brethren after Bible study.  

 

I went on youtube (always an interesting place) and I found two videos that I'll post here.  One video is of a large charismatic Christian concert, and the 80's song "You Turn Me Right Round Baby" is changed to "You Turn Me Right Round JESUS."  When I read the video's description I was surprised to find out that this 80s song was actually a popular song among the gay community!  However, among many charismatics, sadly enough, almost anything goes and I would bet some charismatics would respond that their new rendition of the song redeems the song and makes it acceptable to the LORD.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP5CTnuY5m4

 

However, our goal here is not to bash charismatics, and an examination of what we find in the LORD's true church is much more helpful than pointing out flaws in false churches.  I have attached a 30 second video clip below of Bro. Wayne Francis performing his "Kung Fu for JESUS" routine.  I am not out to bash Wayne Francis, and I would be glad to dialouge with him, should he see this thread and share with us his rationale for his Kung Fu for JESUS routine, but from what I sense in the spirit, I am uneasy with routines like this during worship or during preaching as they seem to detract from the reverent atmosphere that our gatherings should have.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av_EIvinl94

 

I share these two things simply to share some of my burden in seeing worship in the apostolic church to be perfectly restored to its apostolic ways.  I fear that a lot of irreverent things have crept into worship, and I think the church will have to do some weeding out of these ways and to come to an understanding of what proper worship is as we hone in on what pleases and displeases GOD in worship.

 

-Bro. Alex

[Donnie Gillum]

Bro. Alex, I just watchted "Kung Fu for JESUS"...can't hardly picture all the apostles doing this myself.  To reach this level of worship, there is going to have to be a huge wave of healing take place!  I fear I wouldn't last but a minute or two at this.  Then again, it might be a little easier than some: see my blog, Ever Had a Service Like This?

[Adam Hoppenbrouwer]

This is a very good topic bro Alex. As I watch the videos that you posted, I wonder the same, why people worship the way they do and what way of worship is acceptable and not acceptable to God. 1Co 14:26 says "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying". Is singing the song "You Turn Me Right Around Jesus" or jumping around being a ninja edifying? In John 4:23-24 Jesus said "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth". People that worship God without spirit and truth will not be able to please Him, for they must worship Him in spirit and in truth. 

[Mike Gibson]

 

Hi all,

 

I like seeing Apostolic Churches doing more of the "good" Charismatic praise. I came up around Charismatics and the "Jesus People" movement and am partial to it. This would be a good example.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_jkf5Fw-0&feature=related

 

And another in the same vein.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_jkf5Fw-0&feature=related

 

 

[Mike Gibson]

 

Alex,

 

I watched the Rick Pino video as much as I could take anyway. There are certain flavors of Charismatic worship I dont care for either. Then the Kung Fu praise UPC fellow I suppose its better we cant actually see most of what hes doing.

 

I submit this worship from Hillsong as a great example of what I think it will be around Gods throne. What I love is when you see the the people in the Church worshipping. Practically everyone seems to be praising the Lord!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

 

 

[Mike Gibson]

 

Woops I see I posted the same video twice. Sorry guys.