You may attend a church that has a Praise Band. The band plays songs with Christian lyrics and the congregation goes wild. They clap their hands. They dance in the aisles. If a uniformed visitor were to visit, he/she may have a hard time worshipping. They would not be able to get past all the emotion and congregation hype. There is nothing wrong with praise songs and praise bands, but when their goal is to electrify the congregation, there is a problem.
Vance Havner has a way of getting underneath your skin and convicting you of issues that need correction. “Today much of the professing church has gone in for theatrics, running a showboat and not a lifeboat, staging a performance instead of living an experience, a ‘form of godliness without the power thereof’” (The Vance Havner Quote Book). The church was never intended to be the same as some music concert. The church has as its goal to glorify the name of Jesus.
There is one New Testament church that resembles some churches today. That church was all about the show. All about glamour and emotion. Electricity was in their air. Showmanship and everybody doing what they wanted in church, was their norm. The apostle Paul hears of this and addresses their behavior in a letter he sent to them. His words ring true today, as much as they did it that ancient letter he wrote: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, NKJV). Those words are addressed to Christian behavior in the church service.
There are different styles of worship in church worship services. BUT there is one thing that must hold time in every church service – it must be done in an orderly manner. Now, go and worship orderly!
