Worship Is For Christians Only
Puritan Lad
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
The church growth movement has been marketing the plans of several megachurches as the ideal method of evangelism. For example, one church planting team sent a questionnaire to the “unchurched” within their community with the following questions:
- Do you actively attend a local church?
- Why not?
- What is it that makes it difficult for you to attend?
- If such a church existed that was not like this, would you be interested in attending?
- If we start such a church, may we call you?
At first glance, this strategy seems to have worked, for it has produced one of the largest churches in the country today. So what is the problem?
The ineffectiveness of the church growth movement has been chronicled for some time now on this blog as well as in others. While these types of strategies may increase attendance in individual cases, it is clear that very little true conversion is taking place. John MacArthur laments concerning the worldly methods invoked by the church to reach the “unchurched”:
“That is precisely my concern about today’s pragmatic church-growth strategies. The design is to attract the unchurched. For what? To entertain them? To get them to attend church meetings regularly? Merely “churching” the unchurched ccomplishes nothing of eternal value.
Too often, however, that is where the strategy stalls. Or else it’s combined with a watered-down gospel that wrongly assures sinners that a positive “decision” for Christ is as good as true conversion. Multitudes who are not authentic Christians now identify themselves with the church. The church has thus been invaded with the world’s values, the world’s interests, and the world’s citizens.” (Ashamed of The Gospel by John MacArthur)
The problem is that this approach treats the church like any other organization. In this case, evangelism is being confused with church marketing, and this it’s methodology is rooted in the premise that “if we give the sinner what he wants in the church, he’ll come.” As a result, the church is failing to change the world. Instead, in direct violation of Romans 12:2, the church is conforming to the world in the name of “relevance” (“Relevance” is simply another word for “worldly”). The world is dictating to the church how it should worship. It’s telling the church how and what to preach, and how to evangelize.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Jesus was very clear. The church is supposed to influence the culture, not try to imitate it. Therefore, it’s no wonder that church attendance is on the decline. Afterall, why go to church to get what the world offers? In this contest, the church is out of its element. The world does worldly things better than the church does. Robert Godfrey draws the clear line between worship and entertainment.
“The call for entertainment in worship in our time is often cast in a particularly seductive form. Entertainment is often sold in the name of evangelism. We are told that we must make worship interesting and existing for the unconverted so that they will come to church and be converted. At first glance that argument is very appealing. We all want to see many brought to faith in Christ. Who wants to be against evangelism? But we must remember: entertainment is not evangelism, and evangelism is not worship. People are evangelized, not by a juggler, but by the presentation of the Gospel. And while evangelism may occur in worship as the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, the purpose and focus of worship is that those who believe in Christ should gather and meet with God.” – Robert Godfrey
The Scriptures give clear instructions as to how the church should evangelize, worship, and what to preach. Any attempt to “improve” upon God’s instructions in order to make them “relevant” is not only a recipe for failure, but is strictly forbidden by Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:30-32).
“To worship God – that is the primary reason why the Christian should go to church. In today’s church climate this is a radical idea. Nevertheless, Christians should go to church, not to evangelize, not to provide a comfortable “consumer-friendly” setting for the unchurched, not even primarily for the benefit which fellowship with other Christians provides, and definitely not just for lectures and devotionals, but in order to worship God. Christians should also understand that evangelism and the missionary task are not the most important tasks the church has.
Such efforts exist among the nations, as John Piper argues in his Let the Nations Be Glad, only because worship of the true God among them does not! … For decades now evangelical churches have been conducting their services for the sake of unbelievers. Both the revivalistic service of a previous generation and the “seeker service” of today are shaped by the same concern–appeal to the unchurched. Not surprisingly, in neither case does much that might be called worship by Christians occur. As a result, many evangelicals who have been sitting for years in such worship services are finding their souls drying up, and they have begun to long for something else.” (Robert Reymond – A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith)
True revival will come by the Sovereign hand of God when His people begin to obey His Word regarding worship, evangelism, and preaching.
Heritage and Destiny 