A Vision of the Body of Christ
A Different Order
The way we worship and conduct our services is not based upon man's traditions; nor do we pattern after the church world. To the very best of our ability, we seek to follow New Testament order; not what we see Babylon do on television. Paul told the church in Corinth, "the rest will I set in order when I come." I Corinthians 11:34.
Even sounds are different. The sound of worship in the body of Christ is to be different from the sound of worship in Babylon - just as the sound in the camp of Israel was different around the golden calf than it had been after their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. In Exodus 32:17-18, Joshua heard noise - but it was not the pure sound of true worshippers in Spirit and truth. It was the sound of worship, idolatrous worship. Joshua recognized immediately that the sound was different than the sound of worshippers in due order.
The order of the local service is set out in the 14th chapter of I Corinthians. Perhaps the most succinct statement is verse 26: "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." That pattern of worship is different from what is seen in most churches. The order at Antioch, Acts 13:1-3 is not seen in the religious world.
Even the teaching of the Word of God is different. It is not always in shouting and theatrics - but Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was set, He opened His mouth and taught the people. Matthew 5:1. But there was a way that Jesus broke bread that was different from any other man. See Luke 24:30-31. There is a way that this ministry is to break the bread of life that is to be different from every other ministry in Christendom.
Ministers in the early church were admonished to preach the Word - in season, out of season with both longsuffering and doctrine. II Timothy 4:2. See also II Timothy 3:16. Preachers are to hold forth the word of life; and by sound doctrine they are to exhort and convince gainsayers. Titus 1:9.