The worship assembly is not a place for skits and drama performances. It is not a place for instruments of music and entertainment. It is not a place for the preacher to clown around and make funny noises. It is not a place for clowns and buffoons. The worship services of God are not for fun and laughter. They are not merely for social visits and the passing on of news.
The worship assembly is not a place for book reviews and weather reports. It is not a place for political speeches and party spirit. Worship is not a place for eating and drinking. It is not a place for sleep and relaxation. The worship service is not to make people feel good or bad. It is not a place for showing off jewelry and fine clothes. It is not a place to show how much knowledge one possesses.
The worship of the Lord is not to show who the prominent families are within the congregation. It is not a place to be given to how to make a living and to manage well. It is not a place to show who is wealthy and who is not. It is not a place for hand-clapping and joke-telling. It is not a place to hum, whistle, and bebop. It is not for the singing of solos, quartets, and choirs. Worship is not a place for piano recitals and organ players. It is not to show off the beauty of a church building and the glory of the “sanctuary.”
Going to the worship assembly is not to promote one’s business venture and profession. It is not for seeing and being seen. It is not for those who are in the habit of going to church. Church attendance is not for the wearing of robes and priestly attire. It is not a work of merit and to pay back a debt to God. It is not to keep people from talking about us. It is not to see a preacher that is ugly or handsome. It is not because it is what all the professionals do, nor is it to win a football game or an athletic event. We do not attend church because it might help God to hear our prayers during the week. Church attendance is not for the purpose of courtship. It is not to show off our babies and grandchildren.
The worship services are for the purpose of drawing us closer and closer to God. They are for the simple preaching of the gospel of Christ and the Word of God. They are for the singing of songs, hymns, and spiritual songs with all our heart. They are for earnest prayers to be uttered to God. The Sunday service is for the humble taking of the Lord’s Supper in all sincerity and truth. On the first day of the week we are to give liberally of our money for the spread of the Lord’s cause. The worship service is for fellowship of those of like-precious faith which gives us courage and strength to do what is right.
The present generation has missed the purpose of the worship services to a large measure. This has happened because we have some preachers that love a paycheck more than they do God and the praise of men more than the approval of God. We have church leaders that love the world more than they do spirituality and who want to live and do as they please. To a large measure they are ignorant of the Bible and couldn’t care less about what it teaches. The pews have many in them who are living in the state of adultery and the church has become worldly-minded and worldly in conduct. The prophet Jeremiah summed up our problem even though he spoke hundreds of years ago when he said: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:31).
–Malcolm L. Hill, January 12,1934 – June 26, 2012