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O Come, Let Us Worship!

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Worship is for God and not for us. God is the audience of our worship. He alone is the One whom we are to please in our worship. While worship is a fundamentally vertical act, it is one with horizontal impact (cf. COLOSSIANS 3:16, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:23-24).

Today, I wish to talk with you regarding The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW). If the VPW answers the question of whom our worship is oriented towards, the RPW answers the question of what we do in the worship of God. If God is the Audience of our worship, then God must be the Determiner of how we worship Him!

In the worship of God, we do not ask, “Show me where it says we cannot do this”. To do so, we will end up doing a JUDGES 21:25 on public worship: Everyone will do what is right in his own eyes!

In the worship of God, we ask, “What has God’s Word commanded me to do in worship?” Our aim is to worship God as He has commanded, in all the ways and only those ways that He has commanded.

Following the RPW, a simple order of worship (liturgy) of the Christian Church is as follows:

Invocation (Call to worship)
Sing Scripture
Pray Scripture
Read Scripture
Preach Scripture
Benediction/Doxology


Between Invocation and Benediction/Doxology, the RPW applies. We may not, indeed we must not, include any element of worship here whereby God did not command. As we search the Bible, it is clear that God commands us to sing, to pray, to read, and preach His Word.

To have a proper understanding of RPW, we must make a distinction between elements and circumstances of worship.

Elements are the essence of the command — what God requires of us. For example, God commands us to sing (PSALM 95:1-2) and COLOSSIANS 3:16 calls us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (together they are called “the word of Christ”). Hence in our public worship, we sing Scripture – either the very words of God (psalms) or themes from the Word of God (hymns and spiritual songs).

In contrast to elements, we have circumstances. Examples of circumstances include what musical instruments we use (if any), what songs we sing, how many songs we sing, and the style of the accompanying music.

Churches committed to RPW will insist on singing as a must in public worship; however, these churches may make different decisions concerning the circumstances of worship. To apply RPW to the circumstances of worship would result in the sinful situation of “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”.

The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) with its two common dangers/misunderstandings can be pictured as follows:

Rejecting RPW in the worship of God . . .
Every man does what is right in his own eyes		Regulative Principle
of Worship
What God commands,
that we do . . .
in worship!		Applying RPW to the circumstances of worship . . .
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

May we worship God as He has commanded, in all the ways He has commanded, and in nothing but the ways He has commanded, so help us God!

WEI En Yi

Grumble Against One Another

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“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” – James 5:9

What does it mean to grumble?

  • To grumble is to complain, whine, protest, criticize, charge, accuse, murmur. 
  • It is also a form of judging another because James connects grumbling with judging, “don’t grumble so that you be not judged.” which he seemed to imply that if we grumble or judge another, we must be prepared to be judged.

What comes out of grumbling is a sour, dissatisfied, discontented attitude. In the case of the people whom James was addressing, there were people who were displeased and discontented with their situation, perhaps triggered by their sufferings, and were envious of those who were well to do.  

Someone wrote that “grumbling is discontentment made audible — the heart’s contempt escaped through the mouth.” 

What caused us to grumble?

The root cause of grumbling or complaining is pride because pride says,

“I don’t deserve to be in this situation, I deserve better.  Why do I have to put up with such inconvenience when I did no wrong? Or why must I put up with this son or daughter, he/she is always so careless and never seemed to learn from past mistakes? Why must I submit to my boss or my husband, he never does his part? Why am I getting such service? I am a paying customer, I deserve better!” 

Why we must not allow a grumbling spirit to take root in our lives?

Firstly, a grumbling spirit stresses our body.  

According to research, complaining is bad for our brain and health. Someone said that “venting floods the bloodstream with cortisol, which is the stress hormone.” Research from Stanford University has also shown that long-term stress can actually shrink the hippocampus — an area of the brain that’s critical to problem-solving and intelligent thought.

Not only that, grumbling like all thought patterns can become a habit and the more we grumble, the easier it gets to be negative about even little things in life. Slowly, we began to see ourselves as a hammer and everyone else as nails to be hammered.  And we wonder why people are avoiding us.

Frankly, how many of us would like to be around people who are always grumbling?  At the end of the day, the problem is still unresolved.  Worst of all, it makes us feel that we deserve something better and gives us more excuses to grumble on. 

Secondly, since grumbling is audible, it could infect others with the same negative attitude and spread discontentment.  That’s what happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness.  When they spread discontentment about God to one another, they had to pay a heavy price of 40 more years in the wilderness. 

That’s how toxic grumblings are. It spreads like the COVID virus. which was why James warned us not to grumble against one another so that we may not be judged; for “behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” 

As said earlier, when we grumble, we are making public judgments of a matter or people. If our judgments are wrong, are we prepared to be judged by the ultimate Judge who always stands at the door of our conversation and hears our complaints?

Finally, grumbling is detestable to God.   Why? Because when we grumble, we are saying, “I am entitled to better things, better circumstances, a better husband, a better wife, better children, better bosses, better leaders, better government. I deserve better!”  That’s what the children of Israel said to God when they grumble, “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”  

At the heart of grumbling are unbelief or distrust – unbelief in God’s sovereign providence, His love, and goodness towards us. That was what God said of the Israelites, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?”  So when we complain and grumble, we are saying to God, “Lord, I don’t believe you are in charge, I don’t believe you care.”  Hence, God hates the grumbling spirit because it is an assault on His character.   

Bros and sis, if there is a scale to measure our grumbling spirit, where do we think we are at today (1 to 10)? 

Parents, how many times you have grumbled at your children this week? I am sure you have your reasons for doing that, that you do not take pleasure in doing so. But the question is, as Christian parents, is grumbling the way of the Spirit or of the flesh? 

Husbands and wives, how often do you grumble at each other for failing to meet your expectation? What kind of atmosphere do you create in your home? Is it one of thanksgiving or constant negative grumbling? 

Those of us who are working, how often do we grumble against our bosses to our co-workers? Yes, work is tough, sometimes we really need to let it off our chest.  But what James said, “behold our judge is standing at the door.” Listening to our side talks.  

But then is there no place for venting in this life? Work can be frustrating at times, people can be difficult to deal with and work with.  Certainly, there should be a place for grumbling to make us feel better, isn’t it? 

Well, the word of God condemns grumbling.  But at the same time, the word of God encourages us to lament if we really need to unload our hearts.  Bring our frustrations and care to God instead.   And learn to regularly give thanks for all things, especially for things which we already have – jobs, family, church, peace, and order.  Very soon, we’ll kill the desire to grumble on.  

Dear brethren, let us be resolved not to let the grumbling spirit take root.  Apostle Paul commands us in Phil 2:14-15,  “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we  shine as lights in the world,”

Finally, allow me to end with the following quotes,

Grumbling is the way of the flesh. The way of fear. The way of our sinful nature. The way of darkness.

Gratitude, meanwhile, is the way of the Spirit. The way of trust. The way of our new nature. The way of light.

May God help us.

Paul Phua

Fervent love & Hospitality for One Another

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But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Pet 4:7-10)

As Christians, what are we to do when life becomes uncertain and disruptive?

Well, that was the context where Peter’s wrote to the believers who were scattered in Asia because of the growing persecutions.  There were many uncertainties and livelihood was disrupted and for some, they might even die for the gospel sake.   

But instead of wallowing in despair and hopelessness, Peter exhorted them to be sober and watch in prayer.  And “above all things”, he said,  to have fervent love for one another and to express that love in being hospitable to one another.   

Well, humanly speaking, by nature, when we are faced with suffering, we would naturally think first of ourselves.  Our own well-being or the well-being of my immediate family.  

But not apostle Peter.  For when times are difficult, he called the believers to think and look out for one another. to have fervent love one for another.   Why? because when ‘lawlessness abound, the love of many will grow cold.”   (Matt 24)

Brothers and sisters, if that was the expected conduct of believers when they were undergoing persecution, all the more we should do so in times of relative peace when our life and livelihood are not under threat! Our covid situation and restrictions today are certainly nothing in comparison to Peter’s time.  In fact, we thank God that the COVID situation has been well contained and managed in this country compared to many and life is slowly going back to normal as we heard the latest announcement by the minister of health.

So in comparison to the churches in Peter’s time, we have every reason to do more because we are blessed with more.  

So brothers and sisters,  how do you think we fair today as a church in this aspect of love and hospitality to one another?  If there is a fervency thermometer, how fervent do you think we measure up in terms of our love for one another in this church? Or are we losing the fervency due to COVID restrictions? Do we look forward to catching up with one another on Sundays? Or has the restrictions made us more passive to be concerned only for ourselves and families? Do we still have a love that covers the multitude of sins of others? A love would jealously guard against any unkind thoughts towards a bro or sis in Christ? A love that thinks no evil, a love that bears all things and believes all things of others?  Or has our lack of in-person communication caused us to be more suspicious of people when we meet them?

Someone had said, “Where love abounds in a fellowship of Christians, many small offences, and even some large ones, are readily overlooked and forgotten. But where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts about – to Satan’s perverse delight.” (Grudem)

But more importantly, is our love for one another expressed in acts of hospitality towards others.  In essence, hospitality is cheerful generosity.  It gives without expecting returns.  Recall a parable the Lord Jesus spoke in Lk 14 where he said, “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you;”

That’s the spirit of hospitality. Giving without expecting returns. So brethren, given that we have been much blessed by God so far, how generous are we in using our resources and gifts to minister or bless others? 

Last year, it was encouraging to know of some individuals and families in Shalom who took the extra effort to keep in close contact with other believers.  Some gave a surprise visit to the seniors and households to give them snacks.  Others, after the church service, invited people to their home for lunch fellowship since at the moment we are unable to stay back and have meals within the church premises.  All these efforts showed much thoughtfulness and intentionality on their part to be hospitable.

But can we do more? Can more of us do the same?  Certainly.  There is always room for growth in hospitality.  In fact, that’s why Paul prayed for the Philippian churches in Phil 1:9, “that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”  We should never be contented with some.  We must abound more and more.

There is no limit to what we can do for one another if it is done out of genuine love.  There are always new visitors who visit the church, and there are also members who need encouragement and fellowship.     

But all these actions must start with fervent love.  If our hearts are cold, like ice, nothing will flow out.  We will be passive and withdrawn.  Whereas a heart that is overflowing with love will be like water, flowing out with a desire to bless people around.  It will express itself in hospitality to others without complaining.  For genuine love is kind and seeks not its own.

So bros and sis, let us not be contented with our current state but seek to grow in love for one another.  For we can never outgrow ourselves in this area. In fact, we should be fearful of letting our love grow cold.    

Here is a practical suggestion.  Maybe once a month, we think of someone in church we can bless with our time and resources. Someone we can invite for lunch or to our home for fellowship after service. Someone we can encourage.  

Someone said that, of all places in the world, the church should be among the most hospitable place to be in.  I am sure none of us would disagree.  But this can only happen if we who are the church, make it happen.  Indeed, let us aim not just to be reformed baptists (RP) but also relational baptists.  Let us grow not only in love for the truth but also in love for God’s people.  

“Preaching is important. Public evangelism and exhortation are important. But it’s often our kindness and personal relationships that help people cross the line into faith.” – Spurgeon

May God help us to practice that in our church more and more.  

Paul Phua (Exhortation shared in a Prayer meeting in 2020)