Paul emphasized worship as a consecrated manner of life in response to God’s merciful saving work. But he does not limit worship to merely ethics. Paul also addresses the nature and purpose of Christian gatherings and in what sense we worship God in the assembly of his people.
Meeting God When the Church Gathers
An unbeliever may encounter God with a response of surrender (1 Corinthians 14:24-25), but evangelism is not the primary purpose of the Christian gathering in the New Testament. Paul places more emphasis on the edification of God’s people. This happens through the gift of prophecy, and in fact, through a whole range of verbal ministries when the congregation gathers. Christians engage with God when the Bible is formally expounded and when believers informally exhort each other. In short, we meet God when we meet each other.
The Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16 marks out the church as the new temple. God’s dwelling on earth is not some special sanctuary, but the people of God themselves, particularly when they gather in Jesus’ name. This identity calls for the church to zealously preserve the unity they share in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:17). And it calls for the church to maintain its holiness in relation to the surrounding world (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). In Ephesians 2:19-22, the church is seen as the temple of God, but this includes a heavenly, rather than just a local assembly. , encompassing Jews and Gentiles from all ages. In light of this, every Christian gathering is an expression of the heavenly church, and the reality of God may be encountered in the midst of his people.
Edification and the Gathering of the Church
Paul regularly uses the language of “edification” to explain the purpose of Christian gatherings. The word means to build something up, and Paul mainly uses it to refer not to individual growth, but to the numerical and spiritual establishing of God’s people. It encompasses evangelism and church planting, as well as a process of teaching and encouragement afterward.
The concept of edification blends in with the idea of the church as the body of Christ. This metaphor stresses two things: the relationships of Christians to one another in fellowship and mutual ministry; and the relationship of the whole church to Christ as head. In Ephesians 4:12-16, the church is built up when the members serve each other in word and deed surrounding the presence and supremacy of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 14, such edification takes place when people share truth with one another in love. Edification is ultimately the work of Christ, through Christians who utilize his gifts toward one another when they gather.
The Lord’s Supper at Corinth
1 Corinthians 10-11 offers an example of issues related to edification. Paul addresses problems with the church’s practice of the Lord’s Supper. This is a communal meal Christians shared in remembrance of and participation in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross – a real meal and not just a symbolic ritual. Christ’s sacrifice created a new people, but the Corinthians were eating the meal in a way that divided rich from poor, thus denying the unity of God’s people in Christ. The Lord’s Supper was clearly meant to focus on relationships as well as on the past sacrifice and coming return of Christ.
Worship in Church and in the World
In the New Testament, it is no longer relevant to think of worship in terms of any holy place, person, or season that creates a distance from everyday life. So worship is not just what takes place in a church building or service. In fact, when the church gathers, Paul’s focus is on participating in the edification of the church. This includes prayer and praise, but also ministry to one another by proclaiming and applying the truths of the gospel. Christ dwells in and with his church. This experience is most fully realized as God’s people are gathered to express our devotion to him and service to each other.
Article for this topic by Ross Anderson.
