It has amazed me for years to see folks demand proper respect for sacred matters in the Lord’s Day assembly and then treat these same sacred matters as a form of entertainment in the home. Years ago an aged gentleman led the singing at the congregation where I preached my first sermon. He would have never consented to using a piano to accompany the singing of praises to God during the assembly of the church. This same gentleman, however, invited his denominational neighbors to his home of Sunday afternoon, and while his wife played the piano the same religious songs that were sung in the morning worship assembly were once again sung. He did not believe he was inconsistent or in error.
People have long pointed out the truth that there are many things God allows us to do as a matter of opinion, preference, and expediency outside the realm of corporate worship. The problem arises when as assumption is made that sacred matters can be treated in flippant fashion.
It is true that there are divine directives that dictate how we are to worship when we assemble on the Lord’s Day. One who desires to please God must do the right thing, in the right way, and for the right reason. It is as our Savior said: “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” (John 4:23-24).
Certain acts of worship that are sacred on the Lord’s Day during the worship service cannot be considered to have no spiritual significance when engaged in outside the assembly of the saints. Whether at home or work sacred themes and matters must be treated with the utmost respect. One is wrong who believes he is at liberty to treat that which is sacred as entertainment when not assembling with the church. It is never right to abuse the sacred nature of that which pertains to deity. (This would apply to listening to what some call “Christian Radio stations.”)
Some thus argue that they can sing religious songs at home or in some similar setting with accompanying instruments of music because they are not worshiping. Guy N. Woods noted that the third commandment of the Decalogue forbade taking of the name of the Lord in vane (Exodus 20:7). Our brother then added: “The phrase ‘in vain,’ translates a Hebrew term signifying that which is done in a flippant, frivolous fashion, without due regard for, or attention to, the sacred nature of the same.”
When it comes to sacred matters we are not at liberty to say “time in” and “time out.” The avenue of prayer is valid in the worship assembly and at home. Whether one prays at home or in the assembly of the saints he must adhere to God’s guidelines for acceptable prayer (John 15:16; ! John 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:5). Prayer is never to be relegated to a form of entertainment. The same is true of the songs we sing that emphasize spiritual matters. We are always to sing (Eph/ 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 2:12), and the singing (as the praying) must be done in the right way, for the right reason, and with the right attitude. Neither is singing to be relegated to a form of entertainment.
We must learn to respect a “thus saith the Lord” and all things that pertain to sacred maters. Let us never be guilty of using that which has a sacred nature in a carefree, haphazard manner. Sacred matters always demand proper respect.
Marvin Weir
