Is the concept of a "pattern of worship" really in the Bible?

Question

My bf is in the church of Christ and he says they are the one true church because they follow the pattern of worship in the bible such as meeting every Sunday, singing without instruments, taking the Lord's supper every Sunday, taking a collection etc. Seems petty and stupid to me and i can't find this general concept in the bible. Does it really exist?

Answer 1

Well, it's arguable. And it's arguable because this is not so much a pattern defined by the Bible, but a pattern decided on by the church leaders, which they find not in contradiction with Bible descriptions. That is, it's mostly an interpretation they invented and then decided was Biblical.



For instance, the singing without instruments: It's true that singing is mentioned in several places, and instrumental accompaniment is not mentioned in the New Testament. (If they included the Psalms, on the other hand, there are multiple references, including the beginning of Psalm 33 or the entire emphasis of Psalm 150.)



As far as "pattern of worship" goes, I would look for something that suits you, not something that's claimed to be specifically Biblical. It's a matter of personal preference. For instance, I prefer churches with hymnals in the pews to churches with big karaoke-prompt video screens (and no written music).



As for proclaiming it "the one true church," I would consider that a possible warning sign of trouble ahead. A church which gets wrapped up in its own self-importance might not be a church devoted to its role as an instrument of God's grace in the world.

Answer 2

Any church that tells you that they are the only true church is mistaken. The Lord Jesus came to deliver man from his sin. He didn't say you should be a Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Jehovah Witness, Mormon, or Muslim. His church is in the spirits of all who would put their faith in him.

Answer 3

Satan has hidden the truth in many false religions. Many people in bible times used musical instruments. so that is just wrong that God does not like musical instruments.

All religions meet on Sunday and doing the Lords supper was to be done like the Passover which was done once a year. Not every Sunday. They are grasping at straws to make themselves sound better. Yet, they are not the first ones to come to the aid of people in disasters. They are not so good at helping the poor or disabled. So of all the religions they are not the best to follow Jesus commandments.

*** Bible Citations ***

(Matthew 25:35-40) For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; 36 naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Answer 4

Not at all. God is very much into freedom of worship.

The Lord's Supper, as a separate ritual did not exist in the first two centuries of the Church

Answer 5

Well you can find something in the Bible, Jesus' Own words :



But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.





So that rather shows your bf wrong. Strange he is ignorant of something so plain and clear and so prominent. Does he not read the Bible? Does he just mindlessly receive their teachings?

Answer 6

Christian's are called to be faithful, steadfast loyalty, to gather and worship together. Pattern, yes, Jesus told us to do things in remembrance of Him, like communion. We are Big believers in following God!

Answer 7

Every church believes they are the "one true church," or at least are following the proper form of worship. The Church of Christ is one of the many I find especially amusing, since they were founded in the late 19th century while churches that have existed for over a thousand years are claimed to be wrong.



In reality, no one, not the Church of Christ, any of the Catholic or Orthodox Churches, or any of the protestant churches can provide any justification for their faith or their acceptance of the bible as an authoritative book. Demonstrate that any god(s) exists, further demonstrate that the bible was inspired by your god, and that any interpretation of that book is accurate. If you can't do that there is no reason to continue to believe in any christian church. The same test should be applied to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and all other faith based beliefs. If they all fail than the obvious conclusion is that it is not justifiable to believe that any god exists.

Answer 8

I would be wary of any group that claims to be the “one true church,” especially if they also claim that a person cannot be saved apart from their denomination or organization. Sounds somewhat cultish.



Altogether there are 24 Psalms that mention the use of instruments in worship. Here are a couple:



"Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre; Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pip. Praise Him with loud cymbals. Praise Him on the high-sounding cymbals." Psalm 150:3-5



Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming to the upright.

Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;

Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song;

Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

(Psalm 33:1-3)



Musical instruments were definitely used in worship in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 15:16; 16:42; 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 23:13; 29:26-27; 30:21; 34:12; Nehemiah 12:36; Isaiah 38:20; Amos 6:5; Habakkuk 3:19; see also the introductions to Psalm 4:1; 6:1; 54:1; 55:1; 61:1; 67:1; 76:1). The fact that the New Testament nowhere condemns musical instruments indicates that the Old Testament practice was continued in the New Testament church. The early church was comprised almost entirely of Jews. It is highly likely that they continued using musical instruments in the church, just as they did in Old Testament worship.



So, even without an explicit New Testament reference, it is clear the church can use musical instruments in its worship. However, there is a clear New Testament reference to musical instruments. Ephesians 5:19 declares, "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." The phrase "making melody" comes from the Greek word "psallontes" which means "to rub or touch," "to twitch or twang." It was commonly used in Greek to refer to playing a stringed musical instrument. Whatever the case, the Bible neither forbids or commands the use of musical instruments in church. Therefore, the church has freedom to use them if it feels led of God to do so.

Answer 9

The Bible has no "Pattern of Worship"...



The professional religious charlatans have a pattern of deceit that includes tithing.

It's all about money. It has always been all about money.



Jesus is the most financially successful scam in history.

Answer 10

No, there is no pattern of worship. Also, there is no denomination that is the “true” church.

Answer 11

Why not let God sort all of this out?

Answer 12

No. FYI the original Christianity started out with a communal meal (not communion), like a dinner club.

Answer 13

There is a pattern of worship and its really in the Bible unfortunately you're not going to find it by going to church if you really want to find the pattern of worship which is acceptable to God you're going to have to either do the following thing go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and practice their 12 point recovery program on a regular basis or you're going to have to find a Christian regeneration Center and attend the program from anywhere from 6 months to 2 years or you're going to have to find a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and let them give you a free Bible study because there are three ways to learn the pattern of the Bible and I've just mentioned all three of them how do I know because I had to attend to Christian regeneration for 4 years because the other programs we're just not enough but the Christian regeneration program pulled it all together for me. And now I understand what true worship is all about!

Answer 14

In regards to "collections" being taken; No. Which of these methods do you think most closely resembles those used by Jesus and his apostles, who instituted Christianity? Have you ever read in the Bible of Jesus or any of his disciples asking for the tithe, or passing a collection basket or plate or operating games of chance? No, when Jesus sent forth his twelve apostles he specifically commanded them: “You received free, give free.” (Matt. 10:8) Jesus and his band of apostles had expenses that needed to be met. We read that they had a “money box” for their funds. (John 12:6) This money doubtless came from voluntary contributions. (Luke 8:3) The apostle Paul later set a fine example as a true minister of Christ Jesus in that he worked with his own hands “so as not to put an expensive burden upon any one of you.”So there were no paid clergy class burdening the congregations. (1 Thess. 2:9; Acts 20:34)

Answer 15

Of course they're the one true church. LOL. All churches are petty and stupid. There is nothing true about any church. Notice how all churches ask for money? Church is just a money making scam. And sense churches don't have to open their books, they do whatever they want with the money they steal. Christianity is a scam, stay as far away as possible.

Answer 16

What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?



The Bible’s Viewpoint



“IN MY country to be a Christian means to go to church once a week,” says Kingsley, from one African country. Raad, from the Middle East, explains: “In our community Christians are viewed as a group who follow Western customs and traditions in their dress, celebrations, and treatment of women.”



But does being a Christian simply mean that one attends a church service once a week and follows certain social customs and traditions? Logically, should not the word “Christian” refer to a way of life that reflects the attitudes, values, and conduct that Christ preached and exemplified? * How was Christianity practiced at its inception?



Early Christianity​—A Way of Life



Jesus said to his followers: “You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:14) Since Jesus’ teachings affected all aspects of their lives, Christ’s disciples initially referred to their religion as “The Way.” (Acts 9:2) Soon thereafter, “[they] were by divine providence called Christians.” (Acts 11:26) This new name they bore meant that they believed that Jesus was the Son of God, who had transmitted to mankind the will of his heavenly Father. This belief led them to follow a way of life that differed from that of the world around them.



Christ’s teachings moved his followers to follow Bible teachings, which meant avoiding “fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, . . . drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-24) The apostle Paul reminded Corinthian Christians that some of them had once practiced these very things. Then he added: “But you have been washed clean, but you have been sanctified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”​—1 Corinthians 6:9-11.



E. W. Barnes relates in his book The Rise of Christianity: “In its early authoritative documents the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected and family life was pure.” Such were aspects of being a Christian in the early days.



Another distinctive sign of early Christianity was its zealous evangelizing work. Christ commanded his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) Jean Bernardi, a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, noted: “[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. . . . They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth.”



True Christianity Today



True Christians today should stand out for their distinctive way of life, just as they did in the first century. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians. Their efforts to pattern their lives after the teachings of the Bible are noticed by others.



For instance, the New Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges that Jehovah’s Witnesses are known as “one of the best-behaved groups in the world.” The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah, observed that Jehovah’s Witnesses “promote strong family ties and develop productive and honest citizens.” The newspaper added: “Members believe in a strong moral code. They believe smoking, overdrinking, drug misuse, gambling, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality are spiritually damaging practices. They teach honesty and good work habits.”



The Witnesses also take to heart their responsibility to be zealous evangelizers. Commenting on this the New Catholic Encyclopedia says: “The fundamental obligation of each member . . . is to give witness to Jehovah by announcing His approaching Kingdom. . . . To be a true Witness one must preach effectively in one way or another.”



Clearly, true Christianity is much more than membership in one of the many religions of Christendom. Jesus himself foretold the rise of counterfeit Christians. (Matthew 7:22, 23) Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to learn what Jesus taught and put it into practice. That is what it means to be a Christian. Jesus said: “If you know these things, happy you are if you do them.”​—John 13:17.



[Footnote]



^ par. 4 One dictionary defines a Christian as someone who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or who follows the religion based on his life and teachings.



HAVE YOU WONDERED?



▪ Whom did Jesus call his friends?​—John 15:14.



▪ What sort of conduct should true Christians shun?​—Galatians 5:19-21.



▪ In what work should Christians take part?​—Matthew 28:19, 20.



True Christians are zealous evangelizers, as they were centuries ago

Answer 17

There Is a Pattern of Idiocy, Inconsistency and Errors in the BuyBull. For example:



For the christ stories to be true, jesus had to have been born both before 4 BCE

(for Herod to be king of Israel, because Herod died 4 BCE; see Matthew 2:1),

and after 6 CE (when Quirinius was governor of Syria; see Luke 2:1-7).



The BuyBull disproves itself with its own GLARING errors in HUNDREDS of places...

OF ALL THINGS, if its stories about christ are BULLCRAP, why believe ANY of it?

The whole goddam book is a train-wreck of errors and contradictions - literally HUNDREDS OF THEM.



Stop expecting something that is clearly FALSE to change your life. It isn't going to happen!

The only thing that really changes for people like you is what you DELUDE yourself into believing.

Answer 18

Let's check:



"5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals."



Hmmm....so much for no instruments.



Lord's supper at least every week? Common in most churches, since mainline protestant and Catholic do for example, and that's already more than 1/2 of churches before additional types.



Taking collection every week? Pretty normal, but in most churches individuals can give whatever amount at whatever frequency, like monthly, etc.



Having attended more than just a dozen CofC services I can say they are very normal in most ways, even very much like any mainline protestant or Catholic actually, in terms of the tone, though of course they don't have much showy frills. The sermons are very typical of any type of church (I've visited a variety), but the singing tends to be more practiced and of really good quality, since they are used to having to sound good without instruments, and being able to hear each other.

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Some other answers are pointing out the idea that the Church of Christ is supposed to believe that they are the one true Church, and other denominations are all lost, which doesn't accord with the attitudes of actual individuals I talked to, though the subject only came up with 3 couples, and of the 3 couples only one couple asserted something akin to theirs was the only true church. That's not enough to reach a general conclusion about what at most believe, so you have to directly ask your bf that exact question, since apparently it's not some rigid belief all have, and could even be a minority viewpoint, like so many doctrines in fact *are* in so many churches I've found, where they typical member doesn't even seem aware of the doctrines (that's the normal situation in most churches, and I've been in about 15-20 where I had conversations that lasted more than a couple of minutes). Often these types of picky doctrines are a minority view of a small group in the church even when presented as official in some book or site, and the rest don't even know about them. It's funny, but that's the true reality in most churches I can guess, from all the conversations I've had.

Answer 19

Yes it's definitely petty, stupid, ignorant, ridiculous and just plain dumb. C of C is a rabid fundie evangelical Protestant cult that teaches salvation can't be achieved unless sealed by the kiss of baptism within hours of conversion. lol



C of C was born in the American based Stone_Campbell reformation movement of the 19th century which taught that even the baptized saved could find the pearly gates slammed shut in their faces if they fail to properly follow church doctrine and precept.



Rolls eyes

Answer 20

RUN FAR AWAY from your bf and this cult. This is the sick denomination I was brainwashed in as a child. Oh I forgot, they deny being a denomination. They say a "denomination" is a part of a whole, and since they are the whole church, they cannot be a part.



The "pattern of worship" that is the only thing these self-righteous cultists care about. Just try to change up their "pattern of worship" by clapping, raising your hands or anything else they haven't historically done since Campbell made up this sh!t and watch how the denominational rules are slammed down upon you.



You will not find "pattern of worship" anywhere in the Bible, and in fact each church seemed to have different customs in the NT.



Get out and don't look back. NOW.

Answer 21

there is a church pattern, but there are so many churches, if there is only one true church , most people and churches are not it, it takes faith and prayer to find true faith everyone has a little some have a lot , in the end we all get judged and rewarded for the works we do but not everyone gets the exaltation of the celestial kingdom and that's the difference of the true church. as for taking the sacrament this is a religious ordinance it's a commandment, some people believe it's a sin to miss one week, some don't believe Sunday is the true sabbath, either way we are not to let people judge us in meat or in sabbaths, and I wonder if the Lord said to partake often and did not comamand to do it every week

Answer 22

Jesus promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against his Church. Any small sect that claims to be the one true church is implying that the rest of Christendom is wrong and that Jesus lied.

Answer 23

God is specific in the way He wants worship to be. The ONLY instrument God ever commanded us to use is the one He created for His praise---our voice. We are commanded to gather each and every Sunday partaking of the Lord's Supper to remember what it took to remove our sins. It isn't petty, either we do what God commands or we are not worshiping God at all.