Summary of Tom Wadsworth’s teaching on modern worship as compared to the New Testament church

[@LoveGodOutloud]

I found Tom today and was immediately blessed. I am a minister and after I got "licensed" I quit going to church It was as if God woke my eyes up to the disgusting self-worshiping shenanigans that goes on in the American church.

[@adrianpasillas-z5z]

“…the Reformed churches have taught that believers may worship God only as He has instructed us to worship Him through His Word. This idea is sometimes called the “Regulative Principle of Worship,”…The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) summarizes this doctrine well in chapter twenty-one: “The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in Holy Scripture.”…Reformed Christians have historically looked to Scripture for positive warrant - they will only do what Scripture commands explicitly or by good and necessary consequence. The word worship is not mentioned in the New Testament, but it is overwhelmingly implied…

[@wendywalker35]

I’m with Tom 100%

[@1Whipperin]

What Tom Wadsworth teaches on worship is the greatest blessing for believers since the Protestant Reformation.

[@ByTheGraceofGOD777-u7o]

Real Christianity is NOT a; ,,, 'Spectator Sport' !!! ~~~ The 'Early' Church (Assemblies) had NO 'Spectators',,, as we do TODAY !!! ~~~ :o ~~~ The 'Reformation' CONTINUES, Thanks to ALL Christians who CARE,,, like Dr. Tom Wadsworth !!! ~~~ :)

[@markdoherty754]

I'm starting to think that too. The kickback will be huge though, I've even heard a pastor say that the house church movement is demonically inspired.

[@1Whipperin]

@markdoherty754 Of course a Pastor/grifter is going to be against a Biblical gathering. The Bible does not support the institutional role of pastors or many of the teachings commonly associated with them, like monogamy as an absolute, compulsory church attendance, mandated tithing, structured worship, and pastor-led gatherings. While some pastors promote strict monogamy, the Bible provides a nuanced view on relationships, including polygamy in the Old Testament. The requirement to attend church is often overstated, as Jesus emphasized worshiping "in spirit and truth" rather than in a specific place or ritual. Tithing, originally a practice under the Mosaic Law, is no longer mandated in the New Testament, which instead encourages generous, voluntary giving. Worship, in the early church, was an organic expression of faith, often taking place in homes without formal leadership. Overall, the Bible does not endorse a rigid pastor-led structure but instead supports flexible gatherings and sincere worship without institutional demands.

[@johnbreitmeier3268]

@@markdoherty754 That pastor disagrees with the Bible and thus appears demonically inspired.

[@chamuuemura5314]

I’m grateful to Tom Wadsworth for his dedication to speaking the unpopular truth. What’s most telling about most modern churches is that those who put themselves in high places deserving of respect and honor for assumedly knowing the Bible better than the regular laymen intentionally lie or overlook the reality of these passages in order to maintain authority over the laymen that none of us were ever supposed to have. Instead of getting edified and encouraged to speak the gospel in public, most laymen are discouraged from speaking it even in church. If they can’t even speak of Christ in a place as self-allegedly dedicated to Christ as a church, how are they supposed to find the courage to speak Christ in public? We are ao backward nowadays.

[@thecatalysm5658]

We are on the same page. Excellent comment!

[@1Whipperin]

Jesus commanded against titles among the brethren. Matthew 23 8-12 No one in the NT was called Pastor.

[@ByTheGraceofGOD777-u7o]

~~~ "Have I Committed an ‘OFFENSE’ (?) In Humbling myself that You might be exalted (?), Because I have preached to You the Gospel of GOD; 'F-R-E-E of CHARGE' ???" ~ Apostle Paul ~ (2 Cor 11:7) ~~~ “What is MY ‘Reward’ then ??? Verily That, when I preach the Gospel, I May Present the gospel of Christ ‘WITHOUT CHARGE’, That I ‘Abuse’ NOT my authority in the gospel.” ~ Apostle Paul ~ (1 Cor 9:18)~ (Many Getting ABUSED Today) ~~~ “But as it may I did NOT ‘Burden’ you (for Money): Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught ‘YOU’ with guile (deceit). Did I make a ‘GAIN’ of you by ANY of them whom I sent unto you ???” ~ Apostle Paul ~ (2 Cor 12:16-17) ~~~ ",,, Nevertheless we have NOT Used this ‘Authority’, But Endure ALL things, lest we should 'HINDER' The (F-R-E-E) Gospel of Christ." ~ Apostle Paul ~ (1 Cor 9:13) ~~~ “NOT Because we have NOT the ‘Authority’, But to make ourselves an ‘E-X-A-M-P-L-E’ Unto you To FOLLOW ‘US’ !!!” ~ Apostle Paul ~ (2 Thess 3:9) ~~~ :)

[@thecatalysm5658]

@@ByTheGraceofGOD777-u7o Great stuff!

[@maxprescott9371]

@@1WhipperinPastor is a gift, Not an Office… Eph. Ch . 4

[@davidjameshenderson3160]

Make every room an edification room. That’s my goal.

[@robertspoon8686]

As I see what Tom is getting at, its the participation aspect of Pauls instruction that seems to be absent from the body of Christ in our western culture. There was never meant to be a one man show so to speak when it came to our gathering together but rather a participatory interaction from one another, edifying and building up model. What we call church today does not even come close to that model. House churches operating under these guidelines and following the teachings of the scriptures can achieve this and should be encouraged even within the confines of modern congregations. Our problem arises out of about 18 centuries of mis applying scripture and Roman Catholicism's adoption of more paganist ideas of God. In other words we have practiced the wrong thing for so long, the right thing now looks absurd. There is nothing wrong about singing praises to God , there is nothing wrong with gathering together, prayer, hymns, giving as all these are encouraged in scripture but IF we are not connecting with one another in this way Paul describes in 1 Cor:14, we are not nourishing the body as it was meant to be nourished and that's why the Church in western culture is not as powerful in its impact as it should be. I think Tesla's theory of how to transmit electricity is how the church should be operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and that happens by loving one another like Jesus loves us, that only happens in a small intimate group setting mostly. Sorry to be so long in this, but our hard drives take a long time to reorganize.

[@maxprescott9371]

So very well said,,, Peace and Joy to you Friend ✝️❣️

[@kevinerose]

Well said! One key which we often overlook is found in Galatians 5:22, the fruits of the spirit. When we look at our modern churches, we are hard pressed to find any of the fruits of the spirit. Scripture tells us one sign that we are saved is by looking at our fruits. Going to church for an hour a week is not evidence of the fruits of our labor. And when I talk to Christians about obeying God, following the commands of Christ, and structuring our lives in the way of the Lord, they want to say I am in a strange cult or trying to start a strange cult. And just look at all the church leaders today denouncing Tom Wadsworth when he is only telling the truth and giving proper definitions of the word "Worship". Many are blinded by the evil one.

[@thecatalysm5658]

We may not have much in the way of instructions to the churches but we do have Jesus saying WHEN YOU PRAY (referencing the prostrations of the priests) to go into your prayer closet so that your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. This is a strong statement and, unlike the references to tithing that is for the Old Covenant that preachers LOVE to pretend is FOR US today, this command is present imperative with a promise of 'open rewards' So, in Tom and I's brief exchanges, he argues that prostration isn't a necessity in the NT (in private), so it appears that we diverge on that point.

[@ByTheGraceofGOD777-u7o]

“The FEAR of The LORD is the ‘Beginning’ of Knowledge; But FOOLS ‘Despise’ Wisdom and Instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) ~~~ :)

[@thecatalysm5658]

@ Well, I was looking into this more and realized that these priests were often standing and praying (not prostrate) to make it easier to be seen by everybody. But it doesn't hurt the argument, we are encouraged NOT TO BE LIKE these priests - to do things in an opposite fashion with an opposite motivation.

[@kirtlamb4413]

Dead and lifeless Christians like this drag the fullness and the joy of believers who believe Jesus is alive and advancing his kingdom. The early church was coming out of a synagogue example. The recent church combined that with the worship of David before God.

[@raymondwade2433]

And you are qualified to pass such judgement as “dead” and “lifeless”? “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Rom.14:4).

[@herinsh]

I'm not disagreeing with Tom's assesment, but it seems he has disregarded the progression of the Revelation as well as the natural extension of Temple and Jewish Synagoue liturgy & practice. There is much more to the ancient practice then just prostration & sacrifice, What about the sacrifice of Praise? if they were singing the Psalms and they certainly did they were extolling the attributes of God.

[@andrewmontague1339]

Revelation?? The evolution of these human traditions has made the church less effective. Paul instructs us what to do when we come together and these rituals are not apart of that. I prefer to use the bible as the standard, not human attempts to appease God

[@LoveGodOutloud]

Why would Christians sacrifice anything? Especially when Proverbs tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice. Where in the Bible did God tell us to sacrifice anything and when it says sacrifice ourselves we are the temple That means throw away our ways for his ways. These nowadays have caught onto money makers that's our churches are

[@LoveGodOutloud]

​@@andrewmontague1339❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ can you post this on billboards around the world please!

[@vfs148]

I too have watched that video and others of his. I see two flaws with his argument. First, as you know, the meaning of words changes over time. So, while it may have been referencing a position/posture in the first century, today, we understand the term "worship" in a different context based on our culture. Secondly, there is another Greek word that is translated "worship" in the NT. The Greek word "Leitourgountōn" in Acts 13:2 is also translated as "worshipping". However, the correct context is "ministering". This would be more accurately what is done in our services similar to the OT priests who ministered to the Lord. Personally, I don't think it matters what we call it as long as we are giving our true devotion and love to Him.

[@ThembaMaselane]

Still missing the point he is making and I point out that not because I'm not disturbed by his theses.

[@andrewmontague1339]

You are definitely missing his point. Regardless of what worship means, it was not the focus of the church gathering, plain and simple

[@AbideNowinJesus]

The whole point being is to consider the outcome. We already see the manifestation of what we have today. A crowd looking to a leader (idol worship?) instead of a true model of the body of Christ, a TRUE family where everyone is the part of the dialogue. It’s all about ABIDING in Christ. It’s all about having love one for another BECAUSE of Christ. HE has bonded believers as family, the family of God. It’s time we start acting like it. Today’s model there are no active participants in which the love of God can manifest through one another because we’re too focused looking at a stage. We’re too busy looking at a stage. There’s nothing wrong with listening to a sermon but don’t call it a church. It’s not. The body of believers ARE the church. That’s who Christ died for. As we are talking with one another He is there in our midst. We are abiding and He is getting the honor. It’s called unity. He loves us all and He wants us to love one another. Love is an act. It’s listening to one another. It’s not a quick hello during greeting time on Sunday mornings after singing a few songs. We desperately need to be connected to one another. This is how growth occurs. When this happens even outsiders can see the love we have one for another.