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What is Acceptable Worship to God?
The Book of Worship for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches states that the purpose of worship is to respond as believers to our God and Savior in “adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, and obedient love.” We believe that worship is the highest duty and delight of the believer, recognizing both God's demand to be glorified and our human need to be satisfied by His presence.
We desire that our corporate worship service be consistent with the principle of worship found in the Bible. God alone knows the acceptable way to worship; God must tell us who God is, and what kind of worship is consistent with his being and character. If we are to know God and worship him properly, we need the Bible to guide us as our only rule. This understanding of worship, being based on the clear teaching of Scripture, has been well reflected in Reformed theology.
Additionally, many generations of godly men and women have experienced the profound blessing of worshipping God in ways regulated in this manner. Far from being a burden, God's word frees us from our sinful tendencies toward idolatry, as well as being unbalanced in our views of God's character. We believe that God blesses his people in a unique way when they joyfully embrace God's design for corporate worship and, through it over their whole lives, grow into a more profound knowledge of God himself.
Our vision is that worship be simple and reverent, inflaming the heart and engaging the mind. Worship must be regulated by the Word of God and must manifest the whole counsel of God. God revealed His character and His will in all the pages of Scripture so that the whole Gospel is presented. In worship we try to communicate both the nearness and the transcendence of God. Ballantyne Presbyterian's liturgy reflects our covenant relationship with God: God condescends to enter into an entirely gracious relationship with us, and we respond by thankfulness, praise, and obedience.