In the Order of Worship/Service, what is essential?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I definately agree
with many of the things you have said in your letter.

1.HONORING ALL DAYS AND DRESS.

For example, I agree that God is everywhere. While the church is called the house of the Lord, He is everywhere and worship should not be just limited to Sunday. Worship
should be everywhere and at every time. In fact, when
somoene loves someone with all their heart, do they not
think of them always? Do they not strive to be with them
always?

Your thoughts reminded me of a scripture verse. Romans
14:5 states,"One man esteemeth one day above another:
another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind."

The verse is not teaching to honor the sabbath day less,
but rather all days as the sabbath.

As I thought further, it reminds me of one of the devil's
techniques to twist scripture. If we look at the tempting
in the wilderness of our blessed Lord, we see that the
devil tried to use scripture to tempt Him. But the Lord
rebuked Him with further scripture. Two areas that come
to mind. When we use scripture to justify our fleshy
desires rather than go against fleshly desires, we should
be very cautious. Also, we should make sure things are in
line with the rest of the scripture. Even though Jesus
did not say the scripture the devil used was not true, he
pointed out that his interpretation was not in line with
other scripture.

Some examples of misusing of scriptures include saying
"we are free", so people interpret that as we are free to
sin. But if we look further in the Bible, we see it means
we are free from sin." So then people try to say,"ahh..
that means I can sin all we want but Jesus will make me
clean and free from sin". But as we learn from the
scripture and the great holiness writers of the past, God
truly wants us to live moral holy lives.

When we look at this verse keep in mind that it is not
saying we should not honor the Lord's day as special.
Rather esteem every day.

I will give you an example. In my work in the world
(sales), I have to wear a suit. The reason? Because we
should look our best as representing our employer. If I
came to work in jeans and in average clothes and didnt
try to look my best, then I would be a poor reflection on
my employer. Now when I first started this job, a
collegue of mine told me that he wears his suit not just
on work hours but in public, because you never know who
you will meet and you wish to look your best for your
employer. And I thought about that. Just as when we go
to our jobs and want to put our best foot forward,
shouldnt we more so for the Lord? While I understand
certain jobs requires certain uniforms, shouldnt we
always be on duty for our Lord looking our best for Him
always? Being different from the world? While we understand the brading of hair is not as
important as the inward beauty. And that flashy items are
not appropratie, yet at the same time, we should dress
like christians and not like the world. If we are truly
different.

If we truly love the Lord the most, is it a big deal to try
to look our best while going to His house? One may
say, "I love the Lord so much, that every time I go out
of the house, I will dress up and look my best and look
different because I am a child of God and I am the
represtative of Him to the world. I love Him so much that
I would NEVER desire to leave the impression that I am
the same as the unsaved. And I want to do all in my power
to be perfect for Him."

But at the very least, shouldnt we, when we go to the
gathering of believers show respect by our dress also?

2. GOD THE FATHER.
I agree with you, that God is our father. And that He
loves us as no one else does. The word father has alot of
meaning to many depending on who they have had as a
parent.

One can walk down the street and see a mother and
daughter,and the mother is dressed worldly like the
daughter wearing much makeup and indecent clothes and it
is hard to tell which is which. This is a poor example of
a parent god would be like. Another type of father is
helpless; working two jobs with no caring of discipling
his children, powerless to raise his own kids in case
dyfs will interfere. but this type of parent is not what
god is like.

It reminds me of so many children who feel that when
someone loves them it is a weakness to step all over
them. That is far from the truth. For one, love and
discipline are not separate,but both go together. The
second is that the person who treats someone who loves
them that way, really doesnt love them back. And God our
father does not tolerate that.

I like the verse in Malachi where God clearly states,

"A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if
then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a
master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto
you, O priests, that despise my name. "

As I read this verse we get a glimpse into the father we
have. We have a father with great love for us, but he is
our father. We must honor Him. Respect Him and live right
for Him. He will not spare the rod and spoil the child,
for He loves us. He does not tolerate or desire to be
treated frivolously. In fact one of the 10 commandments
is to not even take his name in vain.

Another side of him, besides being a father and a
brother, is a master. We through the world using the word
Lord like it is merely a title, but it has meaning, He is
truly our master. When we become saved, we have given up
all to him and He owns all of us. Even how we
dress/act/think. The concept of fear as to a master is
another characteristic of our relationship to God. We
need a strong respect for who He is in all aspects.

Yes he is our father but he is more than that. A love for
God is greater than a parent. Greater than a spouse. When
someone goes on a date with their suitor, do they wear
the average clothes or do they put their best on to look
their best for them? Something to think about.

3. A story.

I would like to tell you my story. As a child, I grew up
in a christian home. I didnt smoke, drink, dance, gamble,
listen to rock music, date and other sins that the bad
people committed. At the age of 5, I went to the alter at
a vacation bible school and gave my heart to the Lord.
However, I was a child, and it was saying a prayer to be
saved and like a resolution to be good. I tried to be
good, yet I was still a child. I didnt have a heart for
devotions and I had trouble not figiting through the
church service. If that were the end of the story, perhaps I would have endedup like the many who find the things of God, hymns, sermons, etc boring and uninteresting.

Then something happened at the age of 12. Someone told me
I wasnt a christian. I didnt understand it, as I really
thought I was. I did everything right, I gave my heart to
the lord. As I searched, and searched I couldnt find the
answer and then gave up. Then in a moment of frustration
I prayed to God and said, "Lord, I can never be happy
without you, I need you. I do not know what it takes to
be saved but whateer you wish and desire, I will do." At
that time, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and He
changed my heart. Now I couldnt get enough of the church
services and hymns. I couldnt stop reading my bible for
devotions and praying. He changed my heart.

I do not what many of the folks in this site are like.
But if they find sermons, and living for god a chore. and
they feel its old fashion. without judging anyone, I ask
them to think if they have had a conversion experience?
Have they fallen in love with Jesus. Do they have the new life? or is it a mentality
as if saying "If I have to give up my devil music i will
not be a christian" or "If I have to dress well, for
christ, I do not want to be a christian". I like the
answer of peter, "lord, not my feet but all of me.

yes I believe it is important to go to church. Yes all
acts come out of a love for god and our neighbor. Yet I
am saddened to say that I do not see the heart of God in
the peopel there. Where you see people who love the
world. Who do not want to give it up for God. A place
that perhaps it is tradition, a social club, but not a
place where we get together and desire to bring each
other to give up more of the world and be closer to God.
A place where we gather together to convict each other of
sins to be more holy people.

Yes we go to church to love our neighbor. But at the same time, I hope we agree that we need more than just loving our neighbor out of church. We need a love centered on God, and His ways. A love that centered on giving up all for God. As the hymnwriter once said, "Earthly pleasure veinly call me.. I would be like Jesus". And I do not understtand how one can encourage others to draw closer to God, when they do not feel the gathering in the Lord's house is not someting to be taken seriously. To dress appropriately and to make sure the people are not there to be entertained or feel better. But rather to find God and His hollines and be convicted of sin and expeirence a greater level of joy in him.

Hopefully, one day we will see the result of true love of
God and our neighbor in churches and a turning from sin
and tolerating of sin and a true revival breaking out
where people will see nothing but Jesus Only.

Yes my friends. God commands us to be serious (sober).

Hope this is helpful.

Respectfully,
George