“Reformation centers upon worship, and nothing is more urgent than to begin to restore biblical worship after it has been corrupted or lost. Central to this work is the calling of the ministers who lead worship back to their holy duties. They must lead the church to cleanse away all that offends the Lord and to sanctify God’s temple, which in Christ is the people themselves. They must take both the structure and content of worship from the Word of God.”
- Joel Beeke
You can see where a church is failing when you see where worship is not faithful to the God’s Word. What made King Ahaz’s leadership so detrimental to the people of Judah is that he greatly distorted corporate worship. He not only abandoned God but he brought in idolatrous worship.
We might not set up actual idols in our sanctuaries but the way our worship is structured, the content of our worship, and the emphasis of our worship can reveal our idols. Is it about God or is it about us?
King Hezekiah, at only twenty-five years old (2 Chr. 29:1), did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. And what was the “right” that he did? He restored worship.
Reforming Corporate Worship
Hezekiah clearly had one main goal in mind when he took over as king: Restore and reform worship. He started early. “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them” (29:3).
He brought in the priests and Levites and spoke to them about the need to restore the worship of Yahweh. He ordered sacrifices to be brought, the Temple to be restored, and people to be consecrated.
What does this look like for us today? If you have been reading any of my poor-man’s writing recently, you can probably guess by now that I will provide a bullet-point list. So, not to disappoint you, here are ways we must reform corporate worship today:
Recognize and repent of unbiblical worship
Structure
Not everything we put in our worship services is according to God’s Word. It might be tradition or it might be trendy. If it is not according to God’s Word or according to faithful application of God’s Word then it ought not to be in corporate worship (no matter how attached to it we might be).
Content
Too often we settle for average content rather than providing the best content for our people. This does not have to do with talented musicians. This has to do with the what of our worship. Is our content rich in biblical doctrine, definitions, and terms? Does our content emphasize the work of God or the work of man? Is our content emphasizing more of the Law (what we must do or how we must feel) or the Gospel (what God has done for us)?
Heart
There is a difference between emotion and affection. In our age, we often see people trying to stir themselves up into an emotional high during worship. It is not at all wrong to feel good during worship. Often that is what God provides! But, we need to see that often the emphasis today is placed on the ecstatic emotions that it appears to be that we worship good feelings rather than our good God. Reforming worship does mean we must seek to evoke godly affections but it happens in accordance with the truth that is proclaimed, prayed, and sung. Sometimes those affections are solemn, sober, and somber. Sometimes they are joyous, peaceful, and exhilarating. Nevertheless, it must all be in accordance with the truth.
Determine to order worship according to God’s Word.
The Second Commandment is about worship. When God tells us to not make any images of Him, He is also telling us to let Him determine how we worship Him. We need to reform and restore our worship of God. Why should we seek to worship God His way? Why not just do what makes us feel good? Because worship shapes us! We become what we worship (Ps. 115). Our people are shaped by the structure of worship, content of worship, and the emphases in worship.
Explain the process of corporate worship to the people (especially the leaders).
Hezekiah gathered the leaders of worship to call them back to faithful worship. We must educate our leaders (staff, officers, volunteers) on what worship is meant to be. Whether it is the elders who are actually getting up front to lead worship, the musicians who lead the people in singing, the staff and volunteers who might help set up for worship, all our leaders must know what true reformed worship is.
We cannot just educate our leaders. We must also educate the people! They will not be able to worship accordingly if they do not know what is supposed to be happening. Whether this is information in the bulletin, the pastor explaining the service as you go along, or even sermon series or seminars on worship, we must teach our people what worship is. Worship is the central facet of our Christian life. Corporate worship informs private worship (not the other way around).
See worship as a covenantal act.
Preparing the heart
Pastors & Officers
If the Pastors and Officers aren’t preparing their hearts for worship then why should we expect the people to? Are the Ministers and Elders praying beforehand? Having their own time of private worship beforehand? Anticipating the service during the week?
Musicians
The musicians need to help today’s people understand that worship is not merely singing. The entire service is worship. Singing is only one aspect. And as important as singing is, it is not about the musicians but about the congregation singing to God. Musicians are the waiters and waitresses who bring the food to the table. They are servants. God is the object of the worship and the people are the worshipers.
People
We need to create a culture in our churches that helps people anticipate corporate worship. Whether they are excited or in need of refreshment, we need to promote the first importance of corporate worship. Worship is what sends us out into the week. This means that leaders need to make sure things are organized, communicated, and properly delegated.
Prayer meeting
Why have we lost the prayer meeting? Why is there not any more “boiler rooms” as Spurgeon used to have? Might it be because we don’t think we need God in order to worship God? We must restore the prayer meeting. It is a grave sin if the leaders fail to pray for corporate worship. This might take time to implement in your church but a culture of prayer is absolutely necessary if worship is going to be restored.
Singing
Singing is covenantal because singing is speaking truth in tune to God. Singing is NOT merely about giving ourselves warm feelings. We are addressing truth to God while we remind ourselves of God’s truth.
Reading of God’s Word
Whenever God’s Word is read God is dealing with his people. Everyone who hears God’s Word must have a response. They will either respond in light of the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace.
Preaching of God’s Word
Preaching is the same. It is just the lengthened explaining and proclaiming of God’s Word. Preaching is never man’s opinion. Preaching can never be our message. Preaching is God’s message to His people through a redeemed sinner called to preach. Even the preacher sits under his own preaching because it is God’s preaching when it is faithful to His Word.
Sacraments
The Sacraments are God giving Himself to us. The Sacraments are God feeding us and washing us in Christ. We are meant to respond to the gospel proclaimed in the Sacraments rather than just go through the motions.
Community (we are all in this together)
Worship is not an individual experience. Christianity is personal but never private. We worship in community and that means each person must help their family and friends to worship God accordingly. There needs to be much encouragement towards each other to help this.
Sabbath
How can we possibly hold worship in the highest regard if we ignore the Sabbath? How can we prepare for worship rightly if we neglect the Lord’s Day? Even if you are not a strict Sabbatarian, it is still a day of worship! It should be anticipated. We need to help our people experience the entire day as the Lord’s Day.