One day Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau came in from the field and said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stew–I’m starved!” Jacob said, “Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn.” On oath Esau traded away his rights. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. Esau ate and drank, got up and left. (Genesis 25:29-34, The Message Bible)

We have a wonderful birthright from God in Christ. We are God’s children and heirs, temples in which His Spirit dwells, priests and kings who reign with Christ. Sadly, we are more like Esau than many of us care to admit because we’ve traded our birthright for even less than a bowl of stew.

When Christians meet for the first time, the question most often asked is “where do you go to church?” I dread that question more than any other because the people who ask are usually shocked by my uncommon answer.

Since the time of Christ, the question has been asked in many ways. There was the woman at the well who asked Jesus about worship on Jacob’s mountain or in Jerusalem. His reply made it clear that where we worship is no longer relevant, but who and how we worship (John 4:21-23). On another occasion, the disciples stopped a man from working miracles because he was not a member of their church. Clearly angered, Jesus said “don’t stop him – if he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally” (Mark 9:38-40).

My mother went to be with Jesus in 2003. Following her stroke in 1999, dad devoted his life to mom’s full time care. House and yard work they once did together and the projects they’d started, went undone as Dad saw to all of Mom’s care needs. Daily he washed, clothed and fed her, lifting her several dozen times each day and night, from bedroom to bathroom, wheelchair to recliner, in and out of the car.

Rather than accept isolation, dad began taking mom out to an early supper several times a week, which was no small effort on his part. Restaurants provided them with fellowship, which was a healing balm for mom’s spirit and helped to keep her vital. However many times the wait staff came to the table, she greeted them with a cheerful “oh, Hi!” and one-armed hug. They remained with mom as long as it took for her to order, which in itself was an act of love and patience since the stroke left mom unable to speak but for a few nonsensical words. The kitchen staff even helped to care for mom, by cutting up her food, customizing meals and even came out to greet her, where more hugs were given and received.

Among the things that grieve me as a believer is how seldom people question whether church practices are Biblical. For example, most churches refer to Sunday service as a “worship service” and teach that “worship means singing” hymns and choruses. Rarely have I seen the idea challenged; believers simply accept the modern worship model as handed down from our forefathers as Biblical and correct.

For the sake of examining “worship services” I’d like to lay a Biblical foundation for discussion.

• In the Old Testament, the temple was a stone building in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, the temple is us (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 1 Pet. 2:5).
• In the old, the priests were the sons of Levi and Aaron. In the new, the priesthood is us (1 Pet. 2:5, :9, Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6).
• In the old, the Spirit did not indwell the people, He abode in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. In the new, the Holy Spirit abides in us (Jo. 20:22, Ac. 2:4)

Thus from the old to the new, the temple, the priesthood, and dwelling place of God all changed. Accordingly, worship changed, too.