Jesus made a distinction between the worship of the two covenants in John 4:2lf, and the writer of Hebrews emphasized the superiority of the gifts and sacrifices of the new covenant. So why would anyone wish to return to a system that is inferior? Paul alluded to this question in Galatians chapter 5 and pointed out the awful consequence of such an attitude: "Ye are fallen from grace".

Yet, in spite of these very clear admonitions there are those who would impose a ritualistic "worship service" on new covenant worshipers. Now having made such an accusation, I obligate myself to show, from the Scriptures, the nature of new covenant worship. Is it something that is performed through ritualistic observances at designated places at designated times by designated individuals? Just how much contrast did Jesus have in mind when He addressed the Samaritan woman? Scriptures relevant to this suggest a radical departure from the old covenant pattern. Reference is made to Hebrews l0:25: "Let us think about how we may cause one another to love and to do good things."(SEV) This passage has direct reference to the public assembly, and if there were no other related passages, it would negate the idea that the public assembly must observe a ritual of five prescribed acts. How could there be any thinking involved in the observing of prescribed rituals? The admonition is to "think" of ways to build up one another.

There are other Scriptural indications of the nature of new covenant worship. Consider Romans l2:l: "So, brothers, with God's tender feeling, I beg you to offer your bodies as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God. This is true worship from you." (SEV) This is the worship in Spirit and in truth that Jesus had in mind in John 4:2lf. By way of comparison, old covenant worship required the giving of a life as was evidenced by the priestly letting of blood. This was a shadow of new covenant worship yet to come. Its gifts were inadequate but the gifts of the new covenant would fill this void. One of these acceptable gifts is the life of the priest. This was the startling contrast Jesus had in mind as He spoke to the Samaritan woman. It has nothing to do with the performing of rituals at a designated place at a designated time by designated priest representatives. The place for new covenant worship is everywhere. The time is all the time-every minute-every second as befits a living sacrifice. The priests of the new covenant are every one of God's new covenant worshipers. Every believer is authorized to offer up acceptable worship in Spirit and in truth.

Another passage which clearly identifies the nature of new covenant worship is James l:27: "What God the Father accepts as pure unpolluted service are things like this: Take care of children who have no parents. Help widows in trouble. Keep yourself pure from the filth of the world". (SEV) This has reference to what new covenant worshipers do in the everyday courses of their lives. This is what the Holy Spirit has revealed about true worship. He made no reference to "corporate worship services" where rituals are to be observed. If such were needful, wouldn't this have been the place to command it? Ritualistic observances left the scene when Jesus was nailed to the cross. His death blotted out ritualistic ordinances and nailed them to the cross.

So, in view of these truths, are corporate assemblies authorized? Certainly they are, but not for the purposes many ascribe to them. What then is the purpose of assembling? God recognized the need for Christian assemblies and authorized them in Hebrews l0:25 and clearly indicated the purpose for assembling: "To build one another up to love and good works". If God planned for the corporate assembly to be the place where worship in Spirit and in truth was to be offered up shouldn't this have been the place for such instruction? When we enter the public assembly our attitudes should not be the same as the attitudes held by the old covenant priests when they entered the Holy of Holies. God dwells not in temples made with hands. When we enter the public assembly our attitudes should be that of thinking individuals thinking of ways to build up one another. This should not be an attitude of reverential awe toward the performance of five prescribed rituals which are mandatory in so many denominated religious organizations. Have we elevated our public assemblies higher than God intended? Would any one of us dare to challenge the prearranged ritual of the "corporate worship service" with an idea of our own thinking? I think not. New covenant believers did not assemble to worship, but rather, new covenant worshipers assembled to build up one another.

We must be careful to rightly divide the Word of truth in this matter for a failure to do so could result in our imposing old covenant patterns on new covenant subjects. Paul argues that to do so is to fall from grace.

Please think on these things. I believe them to be true to the Word.

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