September 16, 2020

How Should We Worship? The Bible is Very Instrumental in Telling Us!
Recently our church took a survey covering a lot of topics. One of the topics that several people addressed had to do with style of praise and worship. Being a life-long member at Helmar, I might have at one time said, “The quieter I am during church, the more I’m worshiping and praising God”. Another person that goes to another type of Christian church may say, “If you don’t hear a lot of ‘Praise God’ or ‘Halleluiahs!’ you may not be truly worshiping the Lord properly.”
Quite frankly, both thoughts may have merit.
“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” 1 Cor 14:26. Also, 1 Cor 14:40 “But all things should be done decently and in order.” And 1 Cor 14:33 says: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”
Being Norwegian Lutherans, I’d say Helmar has these above verses down pat pretty good. Haha! But I’m wondering if we realize that Psalms has much to say about ‘How we should praise God’.
The 150th chapter of Psalms tells us: where, why, what with even and who should praise Him.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens![a]
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Ps 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”
Eph. 5:19 “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,”
Ps 149:3 “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” Ps 95:6 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Ps 47:1 “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”
IS 55:12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” And Luke 19:40 “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.””
The Bible reveals everything that we need to know; including how to worship Him. The things that jump out to me most is that
1. We don’t have to be silent with heads bowed and eyes closed – But we can.
2. We don’t have to only have a church organ for instruments – But we can.
3. We don’t have to clap during church – But we can.
4. We don’t have to praise His name and tell of his wonderful glory – But if we don’t the stones will and the trees will clap their hands.
5. Though these Words were written centuries ago, we know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Therefore, I say let’s have more instruments and freedom to worship; not as we please but as the Spirit leads…in an orderly fashion of course.
Praise God from Whom all our blessings flow!

Marlon Mathre