Church and Worship
There is a direct correlation between the mistranslation and use of the Greek word ekklesia into the English language Bible translations and the misunderstanding of worship in the new covenant. Mistranslating ekklesia to the English word church perpetuated the use of a place where members gathered to meet God in worship and an institutional structure of clergy or priests to facilitate that relationship. God is even seen to be more present at this place during times of worship assembly. The place then becomes a “holy place” where God exists which directly correlates to the concept of the holy place in the old covenant. Holy men (worship leaders) are needed to care for the “holy place” and connect “lay” people to God during specific times. It relegates worship to a corporate event which is not found in the New Testament and encourages church members to seek their relationship with God based on this physical institutional method.
Translating the Greek word ekklesia correctly as assembly or congregation separates it from a specific place, building or institution. William Tyndale, the first to translate the bible from the original Greek to English, correctly translated ekklesia as congregation and made numerous writings about the importance of that meaning. He was faced with the political and religious pressure of the Roman Catholic Church and the English religious leaders to translate the Greek word ekklesia into the English religious institutional word “church.” Tyndale never used the word church in his translated New Testament and was martyred for his efforts to make God’s word accessible and accurate to the masses of English speakers. It was not until later English translations that the word “church” was used. There had been no Greek word for the English word “church” in the early Greek text.
Understanding that there is no “place” or “house made with hands” in which God exists or meets us is important in our understanding of worship in the new covenant. Jesus made specific remarks to the Samaritan woman in John 4 about the new spiritual nature of worship and how God now sought those who came to Him through this spiritual relationship. She sought the correct place to worship God because under the old covenant worship was the way men came into God’s presence. It was always relegated to a place and time and with the help of certain men and procedures. This was the physical worship of the old covenant and it had specific regulations that allowed the relationship between a holy God and sinful man to exist. The temple in Jerusalem was the only place that Jewish worship could take place after David moved it from Shiloh except during the divided kingdom when Bethel and Gilgal became acceptable worship centers in the northern kingdom. The Samaritans, seeking their own relationship with God and barred from worship in Jerusalem, had made Mount Gerizim a worship center or place that they thought they could have a relationship with God. It was always centered around a place that God made holy by His presence and this physical worship regimen was the basis of the Samaritan woman’s question.
Deut. 12:5-6 “But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.” - NIV
John 4:20 - 21 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. " Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” - NIV
Now, according to the New Testament writers, God indwells us individually. The holy God comes to reside in us because the sacrifice of His perfect son now puts us into that relationship. We don’t have to go anywhere or present any offerings to have that relationship or have it mediated by men since Christ himself became the mediator and God chose to come into our bodies and make them His temple.
1 Cor. 6:19 - 20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” - NIV
The writer to the Hebrews specifically details this new relationship in Hebrews 9 and 10 and it’s comparison to the worship of the old covenant. We now can boldly be in God’s presence without going anywhere or having anyone mediate that experience since God has chosen to reside in us.
Heb. 10:19 - 23 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - NIV
This is the heart of the gospel. Understanding this good news, that this new relationship with God requires no physical worship in special places or at specific times, is essential in our maturing. This was good news to those Jews who had been separated from God since the fall of man. This was good news to the Gentiles who had been outsiders to a relationship with God. This was good news to the Samaritans. All men can now be in a relationship with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice without bringing new offerings to God. Man can not make that sacrifice better on their own or with the help of an institution or “holy men.” Attempting to make physical worship “spiritual” or “more spiritual” misses the whole point of our new relationship with God. We are not free TO worship God the way we want but are now free FROM having to physically worship God in order to serve Him by serving others.
Serving God by doing His will now can be our focus since our relationship is secured in Jesus Christ. It is no coincidence that the same Greek words used for worship in the Old Testament are translated worship and service in the New Testament. Seeing that our service to God now takes on a whole different concept under the new promise is the heart of our maturing as followers. The Hebrews writer compares the old physical acts of worship that only lead to death and the new spiritual worship that accompanies salvation.
Heb. 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, {Or} so that we may serve the living God!” - NIV
His exhortation in Hebrews 12:28 is that it is this service that is acceptable to God and goes on to define the breadth of this service in Chapter 13 starting with “Let brotherly love continue” and then going on to specify the loving actions that glorify God.
Heb. 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe," - NIV
Heb 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - KJ
These thoughts mirror those of Paul in his letter to the Romans. He wants his readers to understand that the loving fruit of their lives is the fragrant offering that glorifies God.
Rom. 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual {Or} act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - NIV
Rom. 12: 1-2 “ I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the olam hazeh (this world). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.” - Jewish New Testament
The Hebrews writer continues this same idea in chapter 13 when he encourages Jesus’ disciples to continually offer pleasing sacrifices to God which is the fruit of lips that confess His name. After all, loving others is the very command of Jesus and the only way we can show God that we love Him. Jesus said that it is that love that identifies us as his disciples.
Heb. 13:15-16 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - NIV
Heb. 13: 15-16 “Through him, therefore, let us offer God a sacrifice of praise continually. for this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name. But don’t forget doing good and sharing with others, for with such sacrifices god is well pleased.” - Jewish New Testament
We need to understand that we cannot do anything for God, as if He needed anything, but that our service to others is the spiritual sacrifices that please and glorify God. Paul helped the Philippians understand that their service to him was what pleased God and used worship word power in his description.
Phil. 4:17 - 18 “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” - NIV
Summary:
Spiritual worship relies totally on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Our assembling to do physical worship acts or offerings to please God is not mentioned in the New Testament because it is contrary to the good news that was taught. Focusing on a place where God comes to meet us is essentially a repeat of the old covenant's worship mechanism that we have been freed from and is directly tied to the concept and role of the institutional church. We must understand properly the revealed body of Christ by the writers in it’s original word and context and in so doing trust and serve God by doing His will in loving others the way he loves us. Our assemblies must be about reflecting this revealed truth.
Heb. 10:24 - 25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - NIV
Don Campbell
Translating the Greek word ekklesia correctly as assembly or congregation separates it from a specific place, building or institution. William Tyndale, the first to translate the bible from the original Greek to English, correctly translated ekklesia as congregation and made numerous writings about the importance of that meaning. He was faced with the political and religious pressure of the Roman Catholic Church and the English religious leaders to translate the Greek word ekklesia into the English religious institutional word “church.” Tyndale never used the word church in his translated New Testament and was martyred for his efforts to make God’s word accessible and accurate to the masses of English speakers. It was not until later English translations that the word “church” was used. There had been no Greek word for the English word “church” in the early Greek text.
Understanding that there is no “place” or “house made with hands” in which God exists or meets us is important in our understanding of worship in the new covenant. Jesus made specific remarks to the Samaritan woman in John 4 about the new spiritual nature of worship and how God now sought those who came to Him through this spiritual relationship. She sought the correct place to worship God because under the old covenant worship was the way men came into God’s presence. It was always relegated to a place and time and with the help of certain men and procedures. This was the physical worship of the old covenant and it had specific regulations that allowed the relationship between a holy God and sinful man to exist. The temple in Jerusalem was the only place that Jewish worship could take place after David moved it from Shiloh except during the divided kingdom when Bethel and Gilgal became acceptable worship centers in the northern kingdom. The Samaritans, seeking their own relationship with God and barred from worship in Jerusalem, had made Mount Gerizim a worship center or place that they thought they could have a relationship with God. It was always centered around a place that God made holy by His presence and this physical worship regimen was the basis of the Samaritan woman’s question.
Deut. 12:5-6 “But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.” - NIV
John 4:20 - 21 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. " Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” - NIV
Now, according to the New Testament writers, God indwells us individually. The holy God comes to reside in us because the sacrifice of His perfect son now puts us into that relationship. We don’t have to go anywhere or present any offerings to have that relationship or have it mediated by men since Christ himself became the mediator and God chose to come into our bodies and make them His temple.
1 Cor. 6:19 - 20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” - NIV
The writer to the Hebrews specifically details this new relationship in Hebrews 9 and 10 and it’s comparison to the worship of the old covenant. We now can boldly be in God’s presence without going anywhere or having anyone mediate that experience since God has chosen to reside in us.
Heb. 10:19 - 23 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - NIV
This is the heart of the gospel. Understanding this good news, that this new relationship with God requires no physical worship in special places or at specific times, is essential in our maturing. This was good news to those Jews who had been separated from God since the fall of man. This was good news to the Gentiles who had been outsiders to a relationship with God. This was good news to the Samaritans. All men can now be in a relationship with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice without bringing new offerings to God. Man can not make that sacrifice better on their own or with the help of an institution or “holy men.” Attempting to make physical worship “spiritual” or “more spiritual” misses the whole point of our new relationship with God. We are not free TO worship God the way we want but are now free FROM having to physically worship God in order to serve Him by serving others.
Serving God by doing His will now can be our focus since our relationship is secured in Jesus Christ. It is no coincidence that the same Greek words used for worship in the Old Testament are translated worship and service in the New Testament. Seeing that our service to God now takes on a whole different concept under the new promise is the heart of our maturing as followers. The Hebrews writer compares the old physical acts of worship that only lead to death and the new spiritual worship that accompanies salvation.
Heb. 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, {Or
His exhortation in Hebrews 12:28 is that it is this service that is acceptable to God and goes on to define the breadth of this service in Chapter 13 starting with “Let brotherly love continue” and then going on to specify the loving actions that glorify God.
Heb. 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe," - NIV
Heb 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - KJ
These thoughts mirror those of Paul in his letter to the Romans. He wants his readers to understand that the loving fruit of their lives is the fragrant offering that glorifies God.
Rom. 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual {Or
Rom. 12: 1-2 “ I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the olam hazeh (this world). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.” - Jewish New Testament
The Hebrews writer continues this same idea in chapter 13 when he encourages Jesus’ disciples to continually offer pleasing sacrifices to God which is the fruit of lips that confess His name. After all, loving others is the very command of Jesus and the only way we can show God that we love Him. Jesus said that it is that love that identifies us as his disciples.
Heb. 13:15-16 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - NIV
Heb. 13: 15-16 “Through him, therefore, let us offer God a sacrifice of praise continually. for this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name. But don’t forget doing good and sharing with others, for with such sacrifices god is well pleased.” - Jewish New Testament
We need to understand that we cannot do anything for God, as if He needed anything, but that our service to others is the spiritual sacrifices that please and glorify God. Paul helped the Philippians understand that their service to him was what pleased God and used worship word power in his description.
Phil. 4:17 - 18 “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” - NIV
Summary:
Spiritual worship relies totally on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Our assembling to do physical worship acts or offerings to please God is not mentioned in the New Testament because it is contrary to the good news that was taught. Focusing on a place where God comes to meet us is essentially a repeat of the old covenant's worship mechanism that we have been freed from and is directly tied to the concept and role of the institutional church. We must understand properly the revealed body of Christ by the writers in it’s original word and context and in so doing trust and serve God by doing His will in loving others the way he loves us. Our assemblies must be about reflecting this revealed truth.
Heb. 10:24 - 25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - NIV
Don Campbell
posted by Don Campbell at
11:48 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home