The Worship Quote of the Week for (05/27/2008):

Instructions for Worship What are the essentials for gathered Christian worship? Today's WORSHIP QUOTE is from a seventeenth-century document that came to be known in England as the "Independents' Catechism." It is from the quill of the Puritan pastor-scholar John Owen, but when it was first published in 1667, neither the author's name nor the printer's was used for fear of attack from the ruling ecclesiastical powers. The catechism is in the form of short questions and answers, with further scriptural support and interpretation. Notice that Owen does not include "amusement" or "entertainment" as an aim in Christian worship. What was he thinking? INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORSHIP Question 7: What are the chief things that we ought to aim at in our observation of the institutions of Christ in the gospel? Answer: a. To sanctify the name of God; b. to own and avow our professed subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ; c. to build up ourselves in our most holy faith; and, d. to testify and confirm our mutual love, as we are believers. a. Lev. 10:3; Heb. 12:28, 29 b. Deut. 26:17; Josh. 24:22; 2 Cor. 8:5 c. Eph. 4:11-16; Jude 20 d. 1 Cor. 10:16, 17 Explication: That we may profitably and comfortably, unto the glory of God and our own edification, be exercised in the observation of the institutions and worship of God, we are always to consider what are the ends for which God hath appointed them and commanded our attendance unto them, that so our observance of them may be the obedience of faith. For, what end soever God hath appointed them unto, for that end are they useful and effectual, and to no other. If we come to them for any other end, if we use them for any other purpose or with any other design, if we look for any thing in them or by them, but what God hath appointed them to communicate unto us, we dishonor God and deceive our own souls. This we ought diligently to inquire into, to know not only what God requires of us, but wherefore also he requires it, and what he aims at therein; some of the principal things whereof are enumerated in this answer. . . . [His explication continues.] --John Owen (1616-1683), A BRIEF INSTRUCTION IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCHES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER; WITH AN EXPLICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF THOSE ANSWERS (1667). www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/worship.i.html www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/worship.iii.i.vii.html Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org. ===========================