Worship as Renewal
Nowadays, many churches have strong membership on paper; in reality, members do not attend their worship service regularly, and some members join other free churches where celebrity preachers, famous worshippers, and good music are present. Also, they become selfish in spirituality because they will not attend church, where they cannot receive emotionally sugar-coated sermons and music, which they feel is better for their spirituality. Therefore, some churches change their worship services to attract people to the church for the sake of its future.
Consequently, one of the aims of the church is for Christians to come to the church, not build up its members to participate effectively in God’s mission. As a result, the church is entirely composed of two types of members: the first is satisfied with their salvation, and the other hopes to get something better from God. Even though they desire to glorify God, they do not dare to share the gospel with others and are not interested in participating in God’s mission. What they understand about being a Christian is to make a one-time decision to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Although Jesus teaches us true worship should be done “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24), many Christians forget the essence of worship, which is to worship the missional God who wants to restore and reconcile us through Jesus Christ. Even though worship cannot impact an increase in membership, it is necessary for members to glorify God and sanctify human beings. Also, worshipping God is acknowledged for the Lordship of Jesus Christ because scripture says, “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11).
We all know that Christians must be involved in God's mission. To be involved in the mission of God, the function of the church must not be to entertain its members but to edify them. The edification in the church is to instruct its members to obey Jesus’ teaching and to imitate his way in their lives. For this point, worship enables believers to live a sanctified life and to be His likeness in God’s mission. Therefore, worship is crucial to building up church members to be disciples of Jesus Christ and worship has the beneficial effect of growing the church to engage in God’s mission.
In conclusion, Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider’s book, Worship & Mission After Christendom, states, “The church does not worship for the sake of the outsiders; worship is what the believers offer to God” (144). Worship is not aimed at persuading outsiders to attend church; rather, outsiders will come to Christ by witnessing the distinction of what we offer in God’s mission and kingdom. Therefore, prioritizing the “building up” of our members is crucial before they evangelize others. True worship can help us connect with His characters and God’s desire (1 Tim 2:4) and inspire us to actively participate in His mission.
Consequently, one of the aims of the church is for Christians to come to the church, not build up its members to participate effectively in God’s mission. As a result, the church is entirely composed of two types of members: the first is satisfied with their salvation, and the other hopes to get something better from God. Even though they desire to glorify God, they do not dare to share the gospel with others and are not interested in participating in God’s mission. What they understand about being a Christian is to make a one-time decision to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Although Jesus teaches us true worship should be done “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24), many Christians forget the essence of worship, which is to worship the missional God who wants to restore and reconcile us through Jesus Christ. Even though worship cannot impact an increase in membership, it is necessary for members to glorify God and sanctify human beings. Also, worshipping God is acknowledged for the Lordship of Jesus Christ because scripture says, “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11).
We all know that Christians must be involved in God's mission. To be involved in the mission of God, the function of the church must not be to entertain its members but to edify them. The edification in the church is to instruct its members to obey Jesus’ teaching and to imitate his way in their lives. For this point, worship enables believers to live a sanctified life and to be His likeness in God’s mission. Therefore, worship is crucial to building up church members to be disciples of Jesus Christ and worship has the beneficial effect of growing the church to engage in God’s mission.
In conclusion, Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider’s book, Worship & Mission After Christendom, states, “The church does not worship for the sake of the outsiders; worship is what the believers offer to God” (144). Worship is not aimed at persuading outsiders to attend church; rather, outsiders will come to Christ by witnessing the distinction of what we offer in God’s mission and kingdom. Therefore, prioritizing the “building up” of our members is crucial before they evangelize others. True worship can help us connect with His characters and God’s desire (1 Tim 2:4) and inspire us to actively participate in His mission.
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