How We Worship

In our worship, we follow what’s called the Regulative Principle of Worship. This means we seek to worship God only in the ways He has revealed in the New Testament.

Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Under the administration of the Old Church Covenant of service, temple worship involved instruments, rituals, and priestly garments. This differs from the New Church Covenant of service where God’s people themselves are the temple. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The New Testament shows us how this temple—the church—is to worship. Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16). Similarly, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

This kind of worship is spiritual and mutual. It is not ceremonial, and it is not dependent on instruments. Rather, it flows from the heart, with the Word of Christ dwelling richly among us. Instruments, while used in Old Testament temple ceremonies, do not serve this teaching and spiritual purpose in New Testament worship.