In any honest “search for the ancient order of things,” it must include a search in the book of authority: the New Testament. It answers to the question: “What does the New Testament authorize a church to do?” Authority is not a popular subject in religion! As so many are looking for a church that suits them. They are looking for a church that serves them. Many are just searching for a church that meets their needs.
The thought of pleasing God, never enters the mind of a large segment of the population today. These folks say, “Jesus is Lord,” but never appear to understand that in the word “Lord,” is authority. “Authority” authorizes, it allows a person, a church, to do certain things. In the “search for the ancient order of things,” there is a search for what is authorized! Jesus as Lord has given his church authority to worship; but not to worship in just any manner. Worship is a bowing before God; it is a pouring out of the spirit of the worshiper in thanksgiving for all the blessings received. Yet, the worshipper is not free to determine the acts of worship. Only God, the one being worshipped, has the right to accept and reject the acts of worship. God, desiring mankind to worship him, has revealed in the New Testament every act of worship which he authorizes and only these acts please him. Therefore, in the “search for the ancient order of things,” the honest “searcher” will read, study, and obey, what God has revealed in the New Testament in the area of worship.
Let it be understood, God desires that mankind worship him! Jesus 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” (John 4:23). In the words of Jesus, he said “the Father seeketh such to worship him!” To what does the word “such” refer? It refers back to these words, “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Then, Jesus restated this truth: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Without doubt, all acceptable worship of God must be done “in spirit and in truth.” The word “spirit” as used here, expresses the right disposition of mind, a humble bowing before God. It yields to the pleasure of God, with no thought of pleasing self.
The word “truth” in Jesus’ words refers to what is authorized in “the teaching of Christ” (2 John 9). In the “search of the ancient order of things,” the “searcher” is seeking what pleases God, what is authorized in the authority of Christ. It would appear, that a “searcher” for “the ancient order of things,” that it would be impossible to worship God “in spirit,” while worshipping God in an act, in a manner, that has not been authorized in the authority of Christ. In other words, how can a person worship “in spirit,” a humble spirit bowing before the pleasure of God, while doing what is not pleasing to God? Thus, only acts of worship that are within the authority of Christ are acts of worship acceptable and pleasing to God.
Therefore, the “searcher” of “the ancient order of things,” will read, study, with an attitude of obeying what is found in the New Testament. Five things are revealed in the New Testament which the local church did under the guidance of the apostles of Christ. They are: 1) praying, 2) singing, 3) giving, 4) teaching, and 5) taking the Lord’s Supper. These five acts were all done on the “first day of the week,” known to us as Sunday. It was the day of the Lord’s triumphant resurrection. A day of new life, as Jesus came forth from the tomb. Here is what Jesus meant when he said worship of God is to be done “in spirit and in truth.” It is true, one can do the right things in the wrong “spirit,” and maybe, it is true, one can do the wrong things in the right “spirit.” But, acceptable worship must be done “in spirit and in truth!”
Friends, what passage would you have another read that authorizes any other manner of worship; other than “in spirit and in truth?” What passage would you have another read, that authorizes any other act of worship?
— Frank R. Williams