This article is about the place of the preacher in the worship service. The author also discusses Hebrews 10:22 and children in the worship service.

Source: Clarion, 1995. 3 pages.

Who Speaks from the Pulpit?

In this article, the reader finds some initial remarks about the character of worship. Afterward, we will discuss and evaluate two widely accepted but inappropriate worship practices.

What is Worship?β€’πŸ”—

In Hebrews 10:22, believers are encouraged to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." To draw near to God means to come to His holy throne in the heavenly temple-palace. Believers have access to God through Christ Jesus, their great High Priest. Through His self-sacrifice in our place and through His intercession for us with God, Christ is the new and living way to God. Thus, through Christ, those who believe in Him have freedom and confidence to draw near to God in worship (vv. 19-21).

Drawing near to God evidently means going to Him in prayer and worship. This can be done both personally and corporately as family or congregation. In the OT, we learn that God's people could draw near to Him at the tent of meeting. From above the mercy seat in this tent, God dwelt in the midst of His people. Moses met with God at the tent of meeting and here, too, the people gathered to meet their LORD. An example of these things can be found in Leviticus 9, which gives an account of the ordination of Aaron. First we read that "all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD" (v. 5b). Then we read that Aaron drew near to the altar to fulfill his task in this worship of God by offering the prescribed sacrifices.

As the letter to the Hebrews shows, God's new covenant people may enjoy a richer meeting with God than was possible for their Old Testament brothers and sisters. Israel was able to draw near and meet with God in worship at an earthly tent, with only a sinful, Aaronitic priest to intercede for them on the basis of animal sacrifices. We, however, have God's own Son as our High Priest, interceding for us in a heavenly sanctuary, on the basis of the perfect sacrifice of His own life.

Thus, when the congregation now draws near in holy convocation on the day of rest, we are able to lift up our hearts to God in order to place ourselves before His holy throne of grace through Christ. In worship, we do meet with God!

Once we have seen that a worship service is a meeting between God and His people through Christ Jesus, we have to consider the consequences of this understanding.

Good Morning, Congregation!β†β€’πŸ”—

If a worship service is a meeting between God and His people, everything that might jeopardize this basic character must be avoided. For example, it must be kept in mind that a worship service is not and may not become a meeting between the congregation and its minister. The minister merely conducts the services. His function is to act both as the mouth of God and of the congregation, of which he is a member.

In the meeting with God, the congregation listens, sings and confesses its faith. As a member of the congregation, the minister also listens, sings and confesses his faith. When the congregation prays, the minister (or elder) also prays. In prayer, the worship leader functions as the mouth of the congregation, bringing its needs and those of others to God.

On the other hand, when the minister reads God's Law or other portions of Scripture, he functions as the mouth of God. When he preaches the Gospel, then, too, he is not allowed to bring his own word, but only the Words which has come from the mouth of God.

The point is that because a minister serves as both mouth of God and mouth of the congregation, we must avoid drawing attention in the meeting with God to the person of the minister.

Therefore, we cannot be happy to hear and read about ministers who speak as their own mouth. I restrict myself now to the beginning of the worship service. In some circles, the first words uttered by the minister on the pulpit are, "Good morning, congregation." In expressions like these, the minister speaks for himself and so gives the impression that the worship service is a meeting between the minister and the congregation. While saying "Good morning, congregation," can sound friendly and polite, the result is that attention is inappropriately focused on the minister and his attitude.

As congregation, which includes the minister, we are to lift our hearts to the Lord, not to the minister. The minister must not seek the attention of the people for his own person. If the congregation responds with its own "Good morning, pastor," the impression is only strengthened that we are busy in a meeting between minister and congregation instead of between God and His people.

Let us be careful that we do not transform our worship services into a human business focused on the person of the minister. These expressions of human politeness and friendliness from the pulpit are undoubtedly well-intentioned. Yet, in worship, they are misplaced and uncalled-for additions which should earn our thorough dislike. Let us honor God Who meets with His people by lifting our hearts to Him from Whom all blessings flow.

Children in Worshipβ†β€’πŸ”—

If the worship service is a meeting between God and His people, then the whole congregation should be present. When Israel had its holy gathering on days of rest and worship, the entire people, men, women and children came together. Even on special occasions, the children were present. After all, they, too, belonged to God's people (cf. Joshua 8:35).

In the New Covenant, the children do not lose what they had in the old. They still belong to God's people. Christ receives them and blesses them. Peter says on the day of Pentecost that the promise is for the people and their children. When Paul writes letters to the churches at Ephesus and Colossae, he addresses also the children. Since these apostolic letters were to be read to the congregations (Colossians 4:16) when they met for worship (probably on the Day of the Lord), it follows that the children were present in the worship services. Otherwise, why address them in the letters?

Therefore, we can only regret and deplore the fact that children under a certain age often leave a modern worship service. Outside the worship service, they receive their own Bible story. The reasoning behind this custom is that the children are not able to understand the worship service. In particular, they are not able to understand the sermon.

If you want to argue against this practice, you could say that parents are able to talk about the sermon with their children after the service. You could also point out that, if prodded by parental questions, even little children often show in a surprising way that they do pick up a great deal from a sermon. These would be important arguments.

However, the main argument for keeping children in the worship service is the Reformed and Biblical view that children are part of the covenant and church. When God meets with His people, He speaks to them as well. Also in his sermon, the minister has to reckon with the inclusion of the children in God's congregation. When God blesses His people, He also blesses the little children, even if they do not as yet grasp the meaning of that blessing.

When people reason that children need their own Bible story or some other activity to keep them busy and interested, attention is focused not on God and His people, but on the child and its alleged needs and pleasures. One can sense here, too, the impact of modern culture in which immediate gratification is central.

However, if this man-centered line of thinking dominates a church, the children of such a congregation will grow up assuming that their supposed needs and pleasures are central. Even as adults, they will be inclined to demand features in worship which they think are nice for them. Having learned that everything, including religion, turns around themselves, they will want to keep it that way. The message that religion means serving God according to what God says will have no appeal for them. A Reformed worship service in which God and His Word have the dominating position will be something strange for such children.

Churches that cater to their children end by losing their children. After all, such churches are teaching children the same philosophy they learn in the world, namely that of self-gratification. If the Church simply confirms the message that all of life's experiences must be self-gratifying, then the children of that church will be lost.

Let us remember that the Biblical worship service is a meeting between God and His people. In this worship meeting, God gives His people access in Christ to His throne of grace. From His throne, He provides His blessing, help and mercy for children as much as for their parents. Together with our children, we are God's people, called to live with Him and for Him and to serve Him as He tells us in His Word.

Let us hold fast the riches we have received in our simple, Biblically controlled Reformed worship service.

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