The “Worship Experience” & Idolatry
The “worship experience” led by a “praise team” has largely become “idolatry” in much of modern Christianity. “Worship music” is often portrayed as the vehicle to either bring God’s presence into the assembly, or to “usher” the congregation into the presence of God, (which is why it is almost always placed before any teaching/instruction). But this is not biblical and may actually be anti-biblical. This is because the “worship experience” replaces the genuine mechanism for drawing God’s presence. Jesus Himself told His disciples exactly what would bring the PRESENCE of the Father and the Son into the assembly by means of the Spirit. This is found in John 14:15-24 — KEEPING JESUS’ COMMANDMENTS (which are summarized in the Sermon on the Mount – Matt. 5-7). And this can only occur when the leaders/shepherds are consistently “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 18:20) and the members are genuinely pursuing this. After the presence of God in the Spirit came to the assembly on Pentecost, here is what they did continually thereafter:
Acts 2:41-47 (NASB)
“41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were CONTINUALLY devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day CONTINUING with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
What specifically was “the Apostles’ teaching” mentioned above? It is what did Jesus command His disciples to teach all nations! “… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20 NASB). Note here also Jesus’ presence in His Assembly “unto the end of the age” is tied directly to teaching His people to “observe all that I commanded you” — Jesus’ commandments.
There is nothing in Acts 2 (or the rest of Acts) about “worship” music. “Praising God” was the byproduct of what God was obviously doing in their midst, not the mechanism for conjuring up the Spirit of God, or “ushering” the people into God’s presence. Notice the order (which indicates priority) of the things they continually practiced in Acts 2:41-47. First is the “Apostle’s teaching.” Praise occurred naturally as a result.
What is portrayed as “worship” in many modern churches is nothing but PATRONIZING God. Consider what Jesus said about directly addressing God. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matt. 6:7 NASB). The word “worship” literally means to bow down prostrate before someone as a display of complete submission! And submission means obedience, just as Jesus said repeatedly in John 14, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
When I compare Acts 2 to many “worship experiences” in much of modern Christianity it reminds me of the stark contrast between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. “And it came about when midday was past, that they RAVED until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention” (1 Kings 18:29 NASB). Now contrast their “RAVE” with what Elijah did. He did not need loud amplification, a loud hypnotizing beat, a fog machine and flashing stage lighting or pyrotechnics for a fake Mt. Sinai experience! He did not try to conjure up the presence with a paid professional worship team. “36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.’ 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God’.” (1 Kings 18:36-39 NASB). Note how the WORSHIP (they fell on their faces) and the PRAISE (they exclaimed God’s sovereignty) followed after the presence of God showed up.
Many churches have replaced the “Apostles’ teaching” with a so-called “worship experiences” which are skillfully designed to elicit a human emotional response as a REPLACEMENT for the real presence of God. Many churches also augment this with fake prophets and fake spiritual gifts. This is the epitome of “idolatry.”
Our home fellowships should not seek to imitate the modern church fads meant to bring in the numbers (and money) and entertain the crowds. They should focus on teaching obedience to Jesus’ commandments, and they should be patterned after the early home assemblies described in Acts and the epistles after they had received instruction of the Christ-appointed Apostles.
One more important point for home fellowships: The “Apostles’ teaching” was not primarily about what we call “doctrine.” While doctrine is important as a foundation, the “Apostles’ teaching” in Acts 2 concerned how to obey and follow Christ, and it involved setting the example to follow. Those who only teach “doctrine” are going to fail, because they are not leading believers on to maturity (Heb. 5:12- 6:3). Doctrine is the “milk”; the “meat” is in shepherding them to become mature. If “milk” is all they get, they very well may end up like those described in verses 4-8 when the “storm” comes and beats upon the house they built.