The Curious Pilgrims

What makes a church a church?

Christianity involves attending formalized communal worship services, usually on Sundays (or Saturdays for Sabbatarian churches). These gatherings provide an opportunity for believers to come together, learn from the Bible, and fortify their faith. The term “church” in “church service” refers to the assembly of believers, rather than the physical structure where the service is held. In Christianity, worship is a reverential act of honor and homage given to God.

If Worship is a reverential act of honor and homage to God, who is God?  Some see God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or three beings in one Godhead (The Trinity).  Some see God as Jesus only.  One may view God as Holy demanding that we follow a strict code of conduct that will guarantee a home in heaven or the eternal flames of hell when die.  One may think of God as love that will provide salvation for all. Every person who sits in a church service may not share the same view of who God is.  So, how do we worship God when we all have different views of who God is?

This question needs to be explored, for the gathering of people who come to worship need to know something about God and what it means to worship God.  Is God narcissistic? Is there more than one God?  The first commandment given to Moses states that God is a jealous God; and that God will not accept the worship of other gods.  What does that mean to the person sitting in the pew?

What acts of worship are appropriate? Does worship include the promotion of church activities? Some churches use technology in services to promote church activities and then take 5 to 10 minutes of worship time to promote the same activities. 

Each gathering of believers (a Local church) needs to define how the local church views God and how they will worship God.  This may mean changing the traditional methods of worship practiced in Christian churches that seem to be similar even though the church may belong to a specific sect of Christianity.

Who is God and how do you worship God?  Think about it.