By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA,
MA, DD
(Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture
quotations are from the New International Version)[1]
GREETING
Psalm
134:1-2.1 Behold, bless
ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of
the Lord.2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Life
Center Service Tonight. 7 pm.
2. Life
Center Sunday partnership with Better Family Life, Inc.
3. Please
register for the International AIM Convention under “COGIC Department of
Evangelism.”
July 1-5, Tampa, FL.
4. COGIC
Department of Evangelism College Campus Ministry Empowerment Weekend. Recap of souls
saved!
5. COGIC
Department of Evangelism Men on Fire Crusade. Recap of lives
changed!
6. Missouri
Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Holy Convocation 4th Annual Holy
Convocation July 21-26. In 2020 I will be celebrating 5 years as a
jurisdictional bishop. Special guests include: Bishop Paul S. Morton, Bishop J.
Drew Sheard GBM, Dr. Joyce Rodgers, Bishop Todd Hall and many more!
LESSON NOTES
I. WHAT
IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON?
A. Why does something
so minute seem to be so important; aren’t there other bigger issues to discuss? People feel
very strongly about their faith. It is very personal. So, they will have very
strong opinions about it. God is a God of detail. He gave specific instructions
on how to worship him. And, there were deadly consequences for failing to
follow instructions. So people will get worked up about it. Unfortunately,
there are no specific instructions on lights being on and off. So some strongly
feel they have experienced God in dark rooms and some strongly feel they have
experienced him in traditional settings.
1. God
wanted all of His instructions followed pertaining to worship.
Exodus 3:5. "Do not come any closer," God said.
"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy
ground."
Exodus 25:9. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings
exactly like the pattern I will show you.
2. God would execute
for not following instructions regarding worship practices.
Numbers 4:15. "After Aaron and his sons have finished
covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is
ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But
they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to
carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.
2 Samuel 6:6-7. 6When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon,
Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7The
LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God
struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.
Exodus 19:12. Put limits for the people around the mountain and
tell them, 'Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot
of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.
3. Is it carnal,
worldly and manipulative to "set the mood" for a worship service by
adjusting the lighting, setting & music? Considering the preceding
Scriptures and how serious God takes worship; it probably is a good idea to get
our minds and hearts in the right place, so as not to be disrespectful of God.
This is why many traditional churches have an official “Call to Worship,” which
is to prepare the minds of the people for the worship of Almighty God.
B. This lesson is to
admonish us that even though we have different convictions; we are all children
of God.
We should edify one another and not destroy each other. The Message is a
paraphrase and not a translation. Its goal is to present the main thought of
Scripture. I truly believe its exhortation is important in this debate over
whether to have lights on or off in worship.
Romans 14 The
Message.[2]
1-3. Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t
see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or
say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on
opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own
history to deal with. Treat them gently.
6-9. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way
in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death
and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and
then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of
life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
10-12. So where does that leave you when you criticize a
brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say
it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end
up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical
and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit.
13-14. Forget about deciding what’s right for each other.
Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of
someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m
convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We,
of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.
19-21. So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting
along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down
by finding fault.
22-23. Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t
impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are
coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways
inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on
others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of
line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s
wrong.
B. We should not allow
styles and preferences to divide us. Here is how the Bible says we are to
deal with each other, with our differences of opinion and style.
Colossians 3:13. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any
of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the LORD forgave you.
Philippians 4:2. I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be
of the same mind in the LORD.
2 Timothy 2:14. Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn
them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only
ruins those who listen.
1 Corinthians
1:10. I appeal to
you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, that all of
you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Proverbs 20:3. It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every
fool is quick to quarrel.
1 Corinthians
3:3-4. 3You are still
worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not
worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4For when one says, "I
follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere
human beings?
2 Timothy 2:23. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid
arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
2 Corinthians
13:11. Finally,
brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one
another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be
with you.
C. On at least one
occasion Jesus addressed “style,” but he did it admonishing us to be warned
against the heart issues.
Luke 20:45-47
New Living Translation (NLT).[3]
45 Then, with the crowds listening, he turned
to his disciples and said, 46 “Beware of these teachers of religious law!
For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful
greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of
honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 47 Yet they
shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by
making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely
punished.”
D. Debates regarding
worship are nothing new. You had debates in Jesus’ day and surprisingly even
He had a strong opinion in the debate.
John 4:19-22 New
Living Translation (NLT).[4]
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a
prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is
the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount
Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the
time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on
this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about
the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes
through the Jews.
II.
INTRODUCTION.
A.
The early church
in the Bible did not have church buildings to even debate whether to have the
lights on or off (they also obviously did not have electricity). In the Bible
the Church was yet a part of the Jewish faith. Even as the faith spread to the
Gentiles through Paul; there was yet a strong connection with the Jewish faith.
Thus, the early church does not have a pattern of whether lights should be on
or off in service. Here are some places where the early church met.
B.
The church met
at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Acts
2:46. Every day they
continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
Acts
3:1. One day Peter
and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the
afternoon.
C.
The church met
in synagogues.
Acts 9:2. and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or
women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:20. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that
Jesus is the Son of God.
Acts 13:5. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the
word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
D.
The church met
in houses.
Acts 20:20. You know that I have not hesitated to preach
anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from
house to house.
Romans 16:5. Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the
province of Asia.
Colossians 4:15. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at
Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Philemon 1:2. also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow
soldier-and to the church that meets in your home:
E.
The church met
in whichever places were available.
Acts 4:31. After they prayed, the place where they were
meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the
word of God boldly.
Acts 19:9. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to
believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples
with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
F.
SHOULD CHURCHES
GO BACK TO A TRADITIONAL PULPIT SETTING? The argument now is whether to have a
theatrical stage setting or a traditional pulpit setting. This battle actually
is a very old one. While the Scriptures do not provide a specific answer; it
would be good to be aware of some history.
1. Ornate church
buildings.
For much of
human history people have been illiterate. Thus, in worship spaces there has
been much symbolism to show people that they were in a holy place to meet God.
Prior to the
protestant Reformation, large church buildings and cathedrals were designed to
give people a religious experience. Steps were high to ensure the worshipper
that they were going to a higher place. Stained glass was used to illustrate
the Bible stories. Incense was burned to ensure a sacred smell. Large pipe
organs were played to describe the majesty of God. Steeples and ceilings were
high to invoke awe. Aisles were long to produce reverence.
2. Simple church
buildings.
Once the
Reformation occurred there was a move to go back to simple “meeting houses.” Shunned
were the stained glass windows, expensive paintings and other “trappings” of
the Roman Catholic Church; which Protestants felt bespoke to imperialism and
not New Testament Christianity.
3. Communion
table in the center of the church.
Take note that
the older setting of a church building was to have the “Communion Table” as the
central piece of furniture in the Church building. In the earliest church
buildings this was the structure. The Holy Communion (or Eucharist, Sacrament
or the Lord’s Supper) was the central part of the service. Not the sermon, the
singing or anything else.
This is also
based on the fact that the central part of early worship in the Bible was
sacrifice. The singing and messages were only an accoutrement. Without the
sacrifice there was no true worship. Notice in the following text, for example,
worship is mentioned in regard to a sacrifice.
Genesis 22:5-7. 5He said to his servants, "Stay here with the
donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come
back to you." 6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it
on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of
them went on together, 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are
here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt
offering?"
The early church
would have found it odd that people would seek to “usher in God’s presence”
without communion. The reason was because God presence was to be found in the
Communion setting. Without communion God was not present. This is based on the
words of Christ himself and the fact that the early church practiced communion
on a regular basis. Jesus said the elements were His body and blood.
Luke 22:19. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in
remembrance of me."
Matthew 26:28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
4. The pulpit in
the center of the church.
It was not until
the Protestant Reformation that the concept of Sola Scriptura (basically that
the Bible alone is the final authority) came into full force. With that focus
the structure of some worship facilities changed. No longer was the “Communion
Table” the central part of the church building; now the pulpit (the place where
the Bible was preached) was the central focus. This is why some churches have a
pulpit on one side and a lectern on the other; with the “Communion Table” in
the center. While others have the Pulpit in the center and the “Communion
Table” on the floor.
5. The seeker
sensitive movement.
With the advent
of Christian television came a major emphasis to reach the unchurched. This was
coupled with the “seeker sensitive” movement. The ideology was that unbelievers
cannot relate to church culture. And, that in order to reach them, there are
methods and cultural trappings that will have to change. The thought was that
the Gospel was sacred and not necessarily church tradition. So, the goal was to
make a church building look less like a church building; so it would not
intimidate unbelievers from coming in and hearing the Gospel. The
challenge the church has faced however is almost a cultural war; between the
“traditional church” and the “contemporary church.”
6. The black
church.
Whether we like
to admit it or not historically there has been a black church and white church.
The Black Church in America was not a subservient organization or mentality to
racism. It was in protest to it. The theology of the Bible was mixed with the
practices of the continent of Africa, and submersed in the determination of a
proud people (drums, dancing, call and response, story-telling, family
structure are all of African descent and were not passed down from slavery).
The black church was and is an institution itself.
7. A new
controversy for the black church.
To be honest the
argument of lights vs dark, traditional vs contemporary, etc., has been
discussed for decades among whites; while the black church (for the most part)
was oblivious to it (and really not interested); because blacks “did worship”
totally different from whites. Some white churches even initiated “traditional”
church services and “contemporary” services to accommodate the worship
preferences (which may not be a bad idea as this controversy hits the black
church). There was a major separation due to racism and cultural preferences.
As the wall between black and white has slowly dissipated, many of the
preferential arguments and disagreements have now hit the black community.
However, whether black or white; we cannot allow preference to destroy our
unity. Jesus prayed for us to be one.
John 17:20-21. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray
also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them
may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in
us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
8. Is the
black church losing its identity?
It is important
for many of us to realize that some people in the black community are very
passionate about this; because they feel that the black church is losing its
identity. The one institution that blacks in America had as their own was the
black church. It was a place of empowerment, information, fellowship, education
and even social and entertainment activities. Some black Christians are in
total shock that one hand you have blacks denouncing the faith altogether and
on the other hand the black church does not (to them) seem black anymore. They
feel a loss of security and safety. Almost as if a death has occurred and they
are grieving. However, all Christians (black or white, American or from other
nations) must realize that no matter how important the Church is; the “Christ
of the Church” is the focus and not the “Church of Christ.” He is our safety
and security.
Colossians 1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is
the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he
might have the supremacy.
III. IS IT WRONG FOR CHURCHES
TO DARKEN THEIR SANCTURIES DURING WORSHIP? The Scriptures do not give a
definite answer to that question.
A. The
Bible says God dwells in DARKNESS.
1 Kings 8:12
King James Version.[5] Then spake
Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 Chronicles 6:1
King James Version.[6] Then said
Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Psalm 18:11. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around
him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Psalm 97:2. Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
1. God created
darkness.
Isaiah 45:7. I form the light and create darkness, I bring
prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.
B. The
Bible ALSO says God dwells in LIGHT.
1 Timothy
6:15-16 King James Version.[7] 15Which in his
times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings,
and LORD of lords; 16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no
man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen.
C. There
was a place of worship where light WAS used.
Hebrews 9:2. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the
lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy
Place.
Exodus 27:20-21. 20"Command the Israelites to bring you clear
oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21In
the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant
law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from
evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites
for the generations to come.
D. There
was a place of worship where light was NOT used.
Acts 16:25-30
New International Version.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly
there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were
shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came
loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew
his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had
escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”29 The
jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He
then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
E. Is it out of
line to use colored LED lights in the pulpit? Scripture is silent regarding
this.
IV. ARE SMOKE MACHINES APPROPRIATE
FOR A WORSHIP SERVICE? The Bible does not address smoke machines. But, it
does address the issue of smoke in a worship experience.
A. There are instances
in Scripture where ARTIFICIAL SMOKE occurs in worship.
Exodus 30:34-36. 34Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant
spices-gum resin, onycha and galbanum-and pure frankincense, all in equal
amounts, 35and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is
to be salted and pure and sacred. 36Grind some of it to powder and place it in
front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet
with you. It shall be most holy to you.
Leviticus
16:12-13. 12He is to take
a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls
of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13He is to
put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will
conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he
will not die.
Luke 1:10. And when the time for the burning of incense came,
all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Revelation 5:8. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and
they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's
people.
B. There are instances
in Scripture where SUPERNATURAL SMOKE occurs in worship.
Exodus 19:18. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the
LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a
furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
Isaiah 6:4. At the sound of their voices the doorposts and
thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Revelation 15:8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory
of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues
of the seven angels were completed.
C. There are instances
in Scripture where NO SMOKE AT ALL is used in worship.
Acts 16:13-14. 13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to
the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began
to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a
woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was
a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
1 Corinthians
14:26. What then shall
we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn,
or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
[1] Holy Bible, New
International Version. 1973, by Biblica, Inc.
[2] Peterson, Eugene
E. The Message. NAV: Colorado Springs, 2005.
[3] Holy Bible. New
Living Translation. Tyndale: Carol Stream, 2004.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Public domain.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Public domain.
