The word “order” is the Greek word taksis. It has to do with intent and motivation more than outward action, although such a good intention always results in right actions. It carries the notion of something that is done properly as opposed to improperly. In both of these places, it is translated to do something honestly or to walk honestly. Other than this verse, the word euschemonos is only found two other times in the New Testament - in Romans 13:13 and in First Thessalonians 4:12. The word “decently” is the Greek word euschemonos. That rule is found in First Corinthians 14:40, where the apostle Paul tells us, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” However, the New Testament basically gives us only one rule to follow in regard to this question of what is acceptable and appropriate in worship. Either way, you may have a host of scriptures to back up your conviction and support your view of what worship ought to be. Or you may be a person who loves a quieter, more structured form of worship with hymns and organ music. You may personally believe that praise and worship with instruments, clapping, dancing, and all kinds of celebration is the right approach to worship. So who is right and who is wrong? Is there only one correct form of worship? Could there possibly be room for a variety of different expressions of worship in the Kingdom of God? And are we ready to honestly ask ourselves, Are my opinions about worship influenced only by the Bible, or am I also influenced by my culture and upbringing? What are the guidelines set forth in Scripture? It also shouldn’t surprise us that most people assume that their form of worship is the most scriptural. It therefore shouldn’t surprise us that Christians have differing opinions about the right and wrong way to worship God. The Body of Christ is composed of too many different groups to list them all here, such as Catholics, Orthodox, Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, and Charismatics. Everyone has his or her own opinions about what is appropriate or inappropriate in worship. What is deemed holy, sweet, and touching by one group might be viewed as dead and dull to another. What is acceptable to one group may be outrageous and offensive to another group. We deemed those people “incorrect” because their services weren’t conducted “decently and in order” - at least not according to our perspective.īut over the years, I have come to learn that “decently and in order” can mean different things to different people. In the church I grew up in, I remember what we thought of any church that had “wild” church services. How does God want us to worship Him? This is a question that has been asked by different denominations throughout the centuries.
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