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 The method in which Christians worship as a faith community is
usually specific to the faith community and often follows its
cultural norms. Worship can vary in structure, the degree of
ceremony and ritual, and the level of participation of the
congregation. In short, besides showing great reverence and
respect, there isn’t one right way to worship our Heavenly
Father and his only begotten son Jesus Christ.
Denominations have Varying Methods of Worship
Catholic masses are typically one hour in length and center
around the partaking of the Holy Eucharist.
Evangelicals often gather together to hear a sermon given by a
well-versed and experienced pastor. There are usually
scriptures read from the Bible, music from a choir and/or
congregation, and an active role in the congregation in
raising hands and praising the Lord.
Pentecostals include a stirring sermon from a preacher, a
demonstration of faith, and speaking in tongues.
A bit more structured and time intensive are the Sunday
worship practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. It is usually a three hour block consisting of a
sacrament meeting, Sunday school, and a third hour of
instruction. Because of its extensive nature the Foundation
will expound on the worship practices of Latter-day Saints as
an example to be considered:
The sacrament meeting
brings together families to participate in the sacrament
(bread and water as symbols of Christ’s sacrifices) and to
enjoy talks focused on specific subjects—generally by ward
members. There are usually three songs sung by the
congregation at the opening, sacrament, and closing, with
special musical numbers that may be included. On the first
Sunday of each month the talks given are replaced by
testimonies given on an ad-hoc basis by members of the
congregation as dictated by the spirit. The entire service is
planned and executed by members of the ward.
Sunday school
during the second hour follows a structured Church curriculum
by age group, synchronizing subject matter as much as possible
in order to allow families to discuss lessons together
following Church. Adult classes are split between Gospel
Doctrine—a more advanced theological study; and Gospel
Essentials—a more basic theological study for investigators
and members of less than one year. Sunday school teachers are
called from the membership of the ward, with a Sunday school
presidency called to assist the teachers—all unpaid volunteers
who are called to service.
Third hour instruction
allows for the teaching of gospel principles by gender and
age, providing even more specific gospel doctrines to be
taught. Children 18 months to 11 years old meet in Primary to
sing and participate in activities that teach basic gospel
principles. Young women in high school separate into three
groups of 12 to 13, 14 to 15, and 16 to 18 for gospel
discussion and activities—all synchronized with formal
curriculum. Young men in high school separate into priesthood
quorums of deacons (12 to 13 years old), teachers (14 to 15
years old), and priests (16 to 18 years old) for similar
directed instruction. Women out of high school meet as a
Relief Society, and men split up into an elders quorum and
high priest group for adult instruction. This detailed
separation allows for optimal discussion and topic relevancy
for each class.
The three-hour block for Sunday practices in the LDS culture is
highly organized and strives to meet the needs of each age
group and gender, preparing everyone to receive the blessings
of the gospel and to prepare families for life in mortality
and into the eternities.
Worship Should Maximize Member Participation
Christian worship practices are best conducted with maximum
participation from the congregation and a true feeling of
family and fellowship. All too often worship practices become a
form of entertainment for the congregation, with dazzling
sermons and well-produced music—diverting the spirit of the
meeting from the worship of the Savior to an unintended
worship of the performers. This is rarely the intention of the
Christian pastor and its ministry; however, without careful
consideration of the worship service this dynamic can be
created indirectly and take on a life of its own.
Size of the Congregation can affect Worship
The size of the worshipping congregation can also have an
impact on the worship service. There are some Christians who
are more comfortable in worshiping with 10,000 other
individuals in the comfort of what is often called a “mega
church.” Others prefer smaller congregations where they are
able to feel more like a family and enjoy the true spirit of
ministry (closer to one-on-few as opposed to one-on-hundreds).
The Importance of Consistency in Worship
Another aspect of worship practices to be considered is the
consistency between congregations. If a youth grows up
worshipping in a church in Houston Texas, and then moves to
Chicago, how different will that new congregation be? In some
cases it can be radically different depending on the
denomination he or she belongs to, potentially causing
disillusionment. While in mainstream Christian churches such
as the Catholic, Methodist, and Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints they have very uniform worship practices all
over the world, non-denominational Christian churches are
unlikely to have much uniformity to them. Some make like the
change, while others may be looking for consistency.
Music in Worship Practices
Music invites the Holy Ghost into religious practices and can
speak to the very soul of the faithful. While some Christian
congregations place a great deal of emphasis on music in
worship practices, others may eliminate it altogether. For some
Christian sects it may not be unusual to have a rock band play
in certain worship practices, while in others it may be an
organ or piano for instrumentation. Choirs, cantors, folk
groups, and soloists can be found all over the Christian
community each Sunday in trying to invoke the spirit through
the gift of music.
Music augments our worship practices by bringing together the
congregation, expounding on true doctrines, and inviting the
spirit into the meeting. Apostle Boyd K. Packer writes “I
believe that those who choose, conduct, present, and accompany
the music may influence the spirit of reverence in our
meetings more than a speaker does” (Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence
Invites Revelation,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 21). The Lord has said,
“My soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of
the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered
with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12.).
Reverently Conducting Music during Practices
Because of the importance of music, Christian congregations
should be careful about how music is conducted during worship
practices. Both the music and the accompanying lyrics must be
sacred, venerable, and appropriate for church meetings. While
contemporary Christian music may be uplifting, some may not be
appropriate for Church practices. It’s best to stick with
traditional Christian hymns, which have stood the test of time
and are written for the ease of congregational participation,
while adding edifying music that expounds correct Christian
doctrine on special occasions.
Elaborate performances of music are not appropriate for
worship practices, as they bring attention to the individual
performer and away from the purpose for the worship
service—which is to praise and give thanks to Jesus Christ.
This doesn’t mean an individual cannot sing a song for the
edification of the congregation, it simply means the emphasis
should be on the song and not on the person singing the song.
Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles writes: “A
choir which favors secular music above sacred music on the
Sabbath becomes a chorus. In that respect, they teach the ways
of men and, in doing so, miss the opportunity to inspire, and
deny the power that they might otherwise have. The Spirit does
not ratify speech nor confirm music which lacks spiritual
substance” (Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,”
Ensign, Nov 1991, 21).
A final word about music: it is wonderful to be edified
through the musical performances of individuals in worship
practices. If they are singing for the glory of God in order to
invite the spirit of the Lord into the meeting, it can be
truly inspiring. However, there is something about an entire
congregation singing in unison together. It can be likened to
a form of the gift of tongues when all are singing together,
especially if it is being done in multiple parts. When this
happens it is truly a worship service in giving praise and
glory to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion
Worshipping the Lord can be an intensely personal matter to
the practicing Christian. Effective worship allows the
individual to be edified through the inspiration of the Holy
Ghost, while being a contributing element to the spiritual
experience of others in the congregation. Worship can be
enhanced by well prepared speakers and spirit invoking music;
however, the key to maximizing one’s spiritual experience in
worship is personal preparation. Preparation includes regular
repentance, daily devotionals (scripture reading and prayer),
and keeping the Lord’s commandments.
Doctrinal
Study: Church
Practices: Worship Practices
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Sword Series™ essay on Worship Practices |
