7. What's to be Included in Worship?

What's to be Included in Worship?

The Westminster Confession of Faith addressed the topic of the elements to be included in worship by saying,
"The various elements of the ordinary religious worship of God are the reading of Scriptures with reverence; the sound preaching and conscientious hearing of the Word in obedience to God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; the singing of psalms with grace in the heart; and the proper administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ"  (chapter 21, paragraph 5).

Prayer as an essential element of worship is covered in an earlier paragraph of the same chapter of the Westminster Confession, saying, "Prayer with thanksgiving is a special part of religious worship and is required by God of all men" (chapter 21, paragraph 3).

The Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America also lists the presentation of offerings, confessing the faith, and on special occasions, the taking of legitimate oaths as proper elements of a worship service. (47-9).  All such things are clearly biblical.

In other words, it's pretty simple isn't it?  The public worship of God's people is to include prayer, the reading of Scripture, preaching and hearing of the Word, singing, and the Sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. These are the elements commanded in Scripture.

In fact, the elements of worship are restricted to those things which God has revealed in His Word, not

As others have well said, we are to proclaim God's Word, pray God's Word, sing God's Word, and see God's Word in the sacraments. 

So where do all the other rites, customs, and traditions come in that become an accepted part of many worship services today?  The acceptance of so many other traditions and customs is reason to be "simple" in our worship, that is, to adhere to the things God has commanded to be a part of worship, to trust Him to do what He will do through the means He has given to us, and to not presume that we know better than God what we should bring to Him in our worship services.

Other things related to worship - such as the number of hymns, the verses we sing, the exact time and length of worship, etc. - are addressed by a well-written statement in the Directory of Worship that is a part of the Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America.  This statement says:

"The Lord Jesus Christ has prescribed no fixed forms for public worship, but in the interest of life and power in worship, has given His Church a large measure of liberty in this manner.  It may not be forgotten, however, that there is true liberty only where the rules of God's Word are observed and the Spirit of the Lord is, that all things must be done decently and in the beauty of holiness.  From it beginning to its end a service of public worship should be characterized by that simplicity which is an evidence of sincerity and by that beauty and dignity which are a manifestation of holiness"   (Book of Church Order, Directory for the Worship of God, 47-6).

In keeping with this same principle, chapter one of the Westminster Confession of Faith states:

"We also acknowledge that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and the government of the church - circumstances common to human activities and societies - which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed" (chapter one, paragraph 6).

I am struck more and more by the practical and godly wisdom of such counsel.