“And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain” (Ex. 25:40). In other words, God was not interested in Moses’ input. God explained to Moses how God wanted to be worshiped. This very text from Exodus is quoted by the author to the letter to the Hebrews in 8:5 where he says, “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’” God was not the least interested in Moses’ feedback, contributions, or ideas.

The Sunday, August 12, 2018 edition of The Island Packet from Hilton Head Island, SC, followed up on the theme of the dwindling sizes of modern churches and the “gimmicks,” “fads,” and “trends” that some are willing to go to in order to rekindle and revitalize dying congregations. For example, one “lead pastor” stated that his congregation is a “laid-back, come-as-you-are kind of church” (p. A1). In another article in the same newspaper the title reads, “Churches meet in dance studio, tavern or movie theater as they innovate to attract new members.” Yet another article laments, “Survival worries some at small SC church where 6 people sit in pews meant for 50,” where Rev. Charlotte Waldrop leads the service.

All of these articles and attempts, of course, missing the point—badly. They are all more abortive efforts to bring people in. If I can sit in a movie theater in a comfy reclining seat, is that the extent of my motivation to worship God? God help me if it is. If I want “laid-back,” I will probably go to a jazz lounge before I go to church. If “come as-you-are” means come as a sinner and prepare to meet the true and living God, then I am all for that. If come-as-you-are means flip-flops, a tank top, and shorts we at least need to ponder whether we would attend a funeral wearing that or if we would find it appropriate to meet the President in the Oval Office in that attire. Those examples would make it entirely inappropriate to dress so disrespectfully of the dead or of the office of President. If that is so, why would I ever consider worshiping the Lord God Almighty in a “laid-back, come-as-you-are” manner? Having a female pastor flies in the face of what Scripture clearly teaches.

Can you name one female pastor in the Old Testament? I didn’t think so. Can you name one New Testament pastor? I didn’t think so. Can you name one female pastor among the Protestant Reformers? I didn’t think so. Can you name one female Puritan pastor? I didn’t think so. Why is it with all of this rich biblical and Protestant history that we now think we know better and are seemingly nonchalant about jettisoning the biblical texts that speak against women pastors, elders, and deacons? This kind of immature thinking is indicative of our “innovative” times. Such practices are not truly “innovative,” nor are they “relevant.” They are, rather, disobedient.

How Does God Want Us to Worship Him?

In our time, there is precious little thought given about how God wants us to worship him. In Exodus 25, when God is instructing Moses how to construct the tabernacle where the children of Israel were to worship the Lord God tells him about the significance and placing of the Ark of the Covenant, about the table for the Show Bread, and about the Golden Lampstand. In Exodus 40:25 God reiterates and punctuates this truth to the Older Covenant Mediator: “And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.”

In other words, God was not interested in Moses’ input. God explained to Moses how God wanted to be worshiped. This very text from Exodus is quoted by the author to the letter to the Hebrews in 8:5 where he says, “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed (chrēmatídzō) by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’” God was not the least interested in Moses’ feedback, contributions, or ideas.

How does God want to be worshiped? Far too few ask that question today. Contemporary congregations are more concerned about being relevant or reaching their respective audiences. In both the Old as well as the New Testaments, each congregation is to reflect all age groups. Each local congregation should be a mirror image of what the community is like where the congregation exists. There is nothing of a church for “twenty-somethings,” “thirty-somethings,” or “octogenarians.” Each congregation is there for all age groups. That is the covenant model. How does God want to be worshiped?

There are two specific texts that come to mind, both in the Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The astute reader will have recognized these two texts as containing the Ten Commandments or the Ten Words of the Covenant (cf. Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13). The various catechisms from the time of the Reformation aid us in regaining our lost ground and our ignorance about the purposes of the Ten Commandments. In the catechism of John Calvin (1538), we find a summary that is echoed by all of the Reformation “greats,” when we read these words: “In God’s Law is given the most perfect rule of all righteousness, which is for the best of reasons to be called the Lord’s everlasting will. For in its two tables has been included fully and clearly all that we need. The first table has in a few commandments set forth the worship appropriate to his majesty; the second, the duties of charity owed to one’s neighbor.” (Emphases added.)

First, we are informed that the Ten Commandments contain “the most perfect rule of all righteousness.” They are “the Lord’s everlasting will.” For the time being, I want us to concern ourselves with the first table of the Law, which contain the commandments one through four. These commandments set forth the worship appropriate to God’s majesty. This clearly implies that other “innovations” are man-made will-worship. The Scotsman, Ronald Wallace (1911-2006), opens his exposition of the First Commandment with these words. “As we read through the Bible it becomes clear that God never excluded from his people’s lives the possibility of forsaking him for others.” Then he adds, “And for some strange reason, they often preferred to deal with such idols rather than with the living God.” Worship is not about pleasing me or making me feel good. Worship is about God and about how God wants his people to worship him in obedience to what he revealed in Scripture. Thus, if we desire to worship God in righteousness, we defer to how God tells us he wants to be worshiped.

Second, all ten of God’s commandments are both complete and clear granting us “all we need.” Why don’t we or can’t we take these first four commandments as ample instruction regarding how God wants to be worshiped? It might be an interesting exercise to sit down with your pastor(s) and “worship team” and ask them to explain to you the prayer and biblical steps they employed to cobble together your worship liturgy. What were they seeking to accomplish? Who are they trying to reach? Who are they trying to please? Did the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments ever enter the discussion? Why or why not?

Third, rather than offering “worship” in a “laid-back” or “come-as-you-are” atmosphere, ask your pastor and worship team how much thought and prayer went into worshiping God in a way that is appropriate to his majesty. That is a game changer! This means, among other things, that much time and attention needs to be given to a concentrated and biblical discussion to worship appropriate to the majesty of God Almighty. Once again, notice how worship is not about us, it is not about what our husbands or wives might like or want, and it is not about what our children want or like. Heads of households, take due and careful note when considering where you are going to lead your family to worship!

The first four commandments are given by God to guide, guard, lead, and instruct us into how he desires to be worshiped. In subsequent blog posts, we will look at each of those commandments. They will fill in for us what are the pillars and bulwarks of any and all worship. According to the Westminster Larger Catechism (98), the first four commandments contain “our duty to God.” Clearly, the word “duty” is not the same as “preference.” If we are “real deal” Christians, we understand that God is absolutely sovereign in all things, among all people, and at all times. He does not “suggest.” Spend some time today in prayer and meditation asking yourself what is “appropriate worship to the majesty of the Triune God.” It might very well be that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will point you in a very different direction than you are now heading.

Dr. Ron Gleason is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America; he lives in South Carolina.