Title: Worship and Culture (Part 2) 

Subject: New Testament Instructions
Summary: Richard Ritenbaugh, acknowledging the deleterious effects of modern culture upon worship, examines New Testament examples of worship to glean some principles. Throughout Acts, we learn that: 1) people assembled together, 2) men and women worshipped together, 3) sometimes in houses, 4) in one accord, 5) publicly prayed and sang together, 6) listened to public preaching on the Sabbath both in the synagogue and in temporary halls. The apostles, to properly honor God (the sole reason for worship), reinforce existing traditions to create unity, order, and decorum, avoiding the common, crude, or profane (anything that would dishonor God). Scripturally, compromising to please the people ultimately leads to incremental apostasy and dissolution. Paul teaches that all elements of worship should 1) edify, 2) be free of confusion, 3) be led by men, and 4) should be done orderly. In the fierce tug of war between traditional and contemporary, we must "err" on the side of tradition.

Keywords: Casual Common crude profane Corporate prayer Culture and worship Fellowship Hair length Holy kiss Order Praise Profane Right hand of fellowship School of Tyranus Secular Traditions Unity Worship