should serve to guard us against allowing our worship services to degener- ate into nothing more than evangelistic events. The age of Revivalism in the religious history of our nation has left a tendency to view public worship primarily, or sometimes entirely, as an occasion to evangelize the lost. This can easily result in a reorientation of worship from serving the LORD by of- fering Him what He requires in His word, to a campaign pragmatically aimed at moving the emotions of unbelievers who may be present in the midst of our services. In our cultural moment, a focus on the interests and affections of people often serves as the guiding principle for what is done in much that is called “worship.”
Evangelistic events may well have a place in the life of the church. But there is great danger when worship is commandeered as the occasion for strategic targeting of unbelievers, rather than focused on approaching the throne of God with worship empowered by His Spirit and directed by His truth. When music is written and performed to affect a mood or emotional response, rather than sung to declare the glory of God in a biblical manner, it would seem that the worshipper has become the focus in the worship ser- vice, not the LORD Himself. When preaching is shaped by the use of tech- nology or by principles of psychology rather than by the text of God’s word, or when it is intentionally shallow in its address of biblical truth to hearers, it would seem that the wisdom and strategies of man have supplanted reli- ance upon God’s Spirit to address hearts with the power of His word. If the priority of biblical worship is lost, it seems almost inevitable that the priority of evangelism will also be diminished. Evangelistic effort may be reduced to inviting others to an event. At that event, evangelism is under- - ing simply to bring others to the “experience.” Biblical evangelism requires the Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians of his ministry among them, he wrote that, “...we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. friends. We should be diligent in praying for them, and for the LORD to give as we are to invite them to church!
Then, when we do invite them to church, what is it we desire? What is the most effective way for the gathered church to bear witness to the holiness, truth, and saving love of our God? Are loud, high-energy musical presenta- tions, impressive light and video displays, and carefully crafted stage set- ups the means of grace the LORD has ordained, by which hearts are gripped prayer, passionate and intensely biblical preaching, and a congregation’s joyful singing what God has ordained for the blessing of His people and all who are present when, by the Holy Spirit’s power, we are brought before His throne of grace in serving Him with worship? Is not a biblical service of worship, focused upon His glory, the most “winsome” thing a non-believer might “experience?”
What I intend to urge in this article is the right priority of worship and evangelism in the life of the church, with a warning against the unbiblical of both! When worship is viewed primarily as an evangelistic event, wor- ship itself is trivialized. At the same time, evangelism may also be trivial- ized, when it is reduced to simply bringing our unsaved friends to an event, in hopes that something will happen.
I wish to be clear; I am thoroughly convinced of the importance of the free March/April 2024
offer of the gospel in the preaching a point regularly to extend a call to repentance and faith in my own preaching ministry! There is no greater opportunity for anyone to hear and believe the good news than in a service of worship that is biblically ordered, where the Holy people in the ministry of the means of grace. We should invite our un- converted friends to be in our midst as we engage in faithful, joyful wor- testify that they came to faith in worship services and prayer meet- ings of ARP congregations! God in the midst of biblically regu- lated worship for this great purpose of the saving of sinners. Let us not re-invent or redirect worship as a mere evangelistic event. By the evangelism seriously! Rather than depending on evangelistic events as our primary hope for the salvation a robust approach to gospel min- istry. We must pray diligently for Christ! We should pursue faithful gospel conversations, demonstrat- ing loving concern for the lives of our friends, classmates, teammates, - into God’s word with us. In these to proclaim Christ.
Again, I am not suggesting we must choose either to engage in worship or to evangelize. I am pre- senting what I believe is the biblical priority of each of these! The ques- tions with which I’ll end this article, you, are: Do you recognize the pri- ority of worship and evangelism? Is the priority of each of these seen in your life? Do you desire greater faithfulness in both your worship of the LORD and your declaration of the glory of His grace to others? Surely this pleases Him!
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