What is the most important reason to go to church?
This week my guest is Tom Wadsworth and we’re going to talk about the real reason to go to church. Tom has spent years studying what early Christians did when they came together. He has some fresh perspectives on what took place in these early church gatherings.
To read a full transcript: Episode 267-Transcript
Guest: Dr. Tom Wadsworth
Tom has two Masters degrees in Biblical studies and a PhD in New Testament studies. His main message is that early churches did not gather to worship in the way we use that term today.
He has recorded some very popular YouTube videos. You can check these out on his YouTube channel.
His ideas about the early Christian church gatherings have come out a deep curiosity to get to the heart of what the first Christians did when they came together as a church.
I asked: “Tom, what is God doing in your life?”
Tom says he has learned to be humble and found more peace and oneness with God in this season of his life. He’s learning to get himself out of the way.
Discovering the real reason to go to church
In October of 1977, he was a full time minister preaching from 1 Corinthians, chapter 14. This chapter deals with what the Christian assembly is supposed to do and why, as well as what you’re not supposed to do.
He realized that Paul said that when they came together, it wasn’t to worship God. They sang and prayed, but they didn’t worship God the way we think of the word.
The New Testament never uses Greek worship terminology to describe what Christians did when they came together.
There are five Greek words that are often translated as worship. But none of them are synonymous. But it’s not how we define worship today.
What we call worship today, was not at all part of those early church gatherings.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 NIV
The word “worship” at the end of this verse is the Greek word latreia, which refers to what Jews did when they offered sacrifices. It’s “the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law”
We worship God by the way we live our everyday lives
The idea of worship in this verse is that as Christians we offer ourselves to God’s service. It’s not what you do in an assembly of believers, which we call a church service today. It’s about the way you live your everyday life.
What went on those early assemblages of Christians?
First, erase the preconceived notion that they gathered in church buildings. They met in houses.
Erase the idea that they gathered for worship.
The real reason to go to church
When they did gather together it was to build each other up.
26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. 1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB
The Greek word translated “building up” is oikodomē. It’s used seven times in this chapter. Paul is making the point that building up the church, the members, is the most important thing to focus on when you come together. It means “the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness”
The early Christians gathered to build each other up so they could all be better next week and go from there.
What about church leaders?
Most of the people who helped lead the group were called Elders. But there were lots of people who participated in teaching and guiding the participants. Everyone contributed to building up the people.
We talked about the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon* about St. Francis of Assisi. It shows the difference between a more traditionalized approach to church and one full of life.
If we want to recapture the spirit of those early Christian gatherings, what can we do today? Are we supposed to get rid of our church buildings or fire the pastor?
How do we get back to the spirit of building each other up?
The importance of small groups
In one of Tom’s YouTube videos he talks about what we can do today. Most importantly we need to have small groups where everyone can participate. People don’t grow much until they engage with a topic and talk about it with others. This is why small groups are so important.
If you just sit and listen to a sermon, an hour later you may forget it. The top priority is to edify the members. It’s not just for you to go be edified by the pastor. What are you doing to help build up others. Everyone needs to be helping to edify everyone else.
Tom mentioned a very crucial term used over and over in the New Testament that is at the core of church assemblies. It’s the Greek word allēlōn, which is translated “one another.” It’s used about 100 times in the New Testament.
Building one another up
Here are just a few examples:
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 KJV
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrew 3:13 KJV
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. John 5:16 CSB
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Ephesians 4:2 NIV
…Love one another…. John 13:34 CSB
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19 KJV
“One-anothering” builds the church
Tom calls these “one-anothering” activities. It’s what we need in church. It’s the real reason we come to church.
In today’s church culture, we need to cultivate opportunities to do more one-anothering. It’s the reason to go to church. People are not growing and maturing as Christians. The more we build each other up, the more our churches will grow. The best way to do this is through small groups, where we can all help each other.
You learn when you help others.
Bible translations
What is your favorite Bible translation? Tom like the New American Standard Bible, which was updated in 2020, which is more literal.
The problem with most translations is how they mistranslate the five Greek words mentioned earlier that are translated “worship” but have nothing to do with what we call worship today.
For example, we talked about
Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! Acts 13:16 NIV
The word worship in this verse is phobeō. It means to fear or reverence God. But it is often translated “worship.”
Fluent Greek speakers would know what these Greek words meant and would never think they meant what we think of as worship today.
Today, worship has come to mean what we do in church to serve God, with a special focus on music.
The English word “worship” is actually shifting in meaning even still today.
Jesus’s concept of worship
We talked about how Jesus used the word “worship.”
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:20, 21, 23, 24 NIV
The word for worship in these verses is proskyneō.
Proskyneō is used 61 times in the New Testament and 204 times in the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint. We have a huge data base to see how this phrase was used. When used in a Temple context, it means to prostrate yourself as a token of reverence.
What does it mean to worship, to proskyneō, in spirit and truth?
It means not just going through the motions. It means to be sincere and humble. Jesus means your practice must have a spiritual aspect.
The Temple will not always be here
You don’t need a temple to do this in. Tom says this in one of many places where Jesus is actually referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus goes into much more detail in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
When the Temple is gone, how will be devoted to God, spiritually and sincerely?
Are we supposed to worship Jesus?
What about the times when the Bible says someone came and worshiped Jesus?
It means they were prostrating themselves to him. It doesn’t mean they were necessarily thinking of Jesus as God. It just means they prostrated themselves. For example:
Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped [proskyneō] him. Matthew 28:9 NIV
And here’s an example of the word proskyneō being used simply to refer to someone prostrating themselves.
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence [proskyneō]. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” Acts 10:25, 26 NIV
Tom points out that the religious prostration is not present in the Christian world in the first centuries. It’s because they didn’t think of God as dwelling in a Temple but within us. Because God dwells within, we are all hagios or saints. We are holy ones. That means we need to treat each other with respect.
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints [hagios], with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV
Edifying one another is the reason to go to church
Here in the 21st century, there are many different approaches to church and worship. What can we do to get back to edifying one another and be in God’s presence collectively?
Tom: What God really, really wants is for His people to be united, for His people to help one another, to build up one another. And for His people to grow. We need to keep developing for the rest of our lives.
The writer of Hebrews rebukes this lack of spiritual growth,
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Hebrews 5:12 NIV
We need to grow in our skills to share our faith and edify one another. In our assemblies we need more participation by more people. This will best be done when people get involved in a small group. This helps everyone grow. Everyone needs to express their ideas.
Starting a new church?
What if you’re starting a new church, how would you guide someone? What’s the ideal situation?
There are lots of ways to do this. In the New Testament we get some ideas. Paul goes into the communities near Antioch. He establishes the groups and appoints elders.
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23 NIV
The point is to get better and grow together, to edify everyone there in unity and maturity as Christians.
There are things we should not do when we come together. Paul reprimanded the church in Corinth on several points. You can read this starting in 1 Corinthians 11:17.
Is there a legitimate way for how Christians assemble to evolve? Are we trying to copy what the early Christians did or do we let the Holy Spirit guide us into fresh ways to come together.
Tom does not say we should do things exactly the way the early Christians did. Nor should we abandon our churches today. Paul allows that there’s a lot of flexibility in 1 Corinthians 14.
The reason to go to church: building everyone up
It’s all about edifying one another. Paul says over and over that the purpose of getting together is to build up one another, to edify each other.
We don’t go to church just to be edified, but also to use our God-given talents to edify others.
Is there anything you wish people would ask you about all this?
Tom: The question Tom would like to hear more people ask is: What are we missing today? Church attendance has dropped dramatically over the years. Churches are shrinking, closing, and dying. What can we do about this?
How to build up the church
People are craving opportunities for community, for conversations, for building relationships. What people really want is more one-anothering. This will help our churches grow.
We need to experience the presence and baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s about feeling the unity and love for one another and our neighbors.
On Episode 224 of The Bible Speaks to You, I talked about why I don’t adhere to the Nicaean Creed. It’s because there’s nothing in there about loving your neighbor, forgiveness, etc.
Jesus said,
A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. Luke 6:44 NLT
As Christians, we need to be known by the love we express to each other and everyone in our communities.
Again, the reason to go to church: to love and support one another
Tom is helping to reawaken people to what the spirit of the early Christian church was like. He loves the idea from Hebrews to stir each other up to encourage love and good works.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, Hebrews 10:24, 25 ESV
This is the reason to go to church, to gather together each week: to be more loving.
Tom and I invite you, every time you go to church, go with the motive to stir up one another toward love and good works.
3 Final Questions:
- If you could talk to any Bible character other than Jesus, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Paul. I would ask him why he told women to be silent. That doesn’t fit with everything else he said.
I referred to an interview I did with Nijay Gupta, who wrote a book, Tell Her Story* about women leaders in the New Testament: Episode 228: Women Leaders in the New Testament
- Is there any Bible character you especially identify with,
He identifies with the persecution Jesus experienced. It’s because of his videos about what the early Christian assemblies were like. Jesus said
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. John 16:2 ESV
- This podcast is about getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus. How would you describe Jesus’s original message of how he wanted us to live our lives?
The word loves comes to mind, be compassionate at Jesus was, be humble.
Tom Wadsworth, PhD:
Tom holds two master’s degrees in biblical studies and a PhD in New Testament. His 2022 doctoral dissertation focused on first-century Christian assemblies. His 300-page doctoral dissertation investigated Christian assembly practices of the first century, challenging the common notion that worship is the purpose of the Christian assembly.
His recent videos on the topic of early Christian meetings have been viewed more than 300,000 times in the last seven weeks alone.
His videos have been called “absolutely groundbreaking,” “very eye-opening,” “a profound reorientation of our thinking,” and “a national treasure.”
He lives in Illinois and loves to volunteer in his community.
Connect with Tom:
YouTube Channel
Website: tomwadsworth.com
Photo Credit:
Emmanuel Phaeton
* Amazon affiliate link
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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.
Make a donation to support the show
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Bible References
Romans 12:1 NIV
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB
26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 KJV
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Hebrew 3:13 KJV
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV
13 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
John 5:16 CSB
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
John 13:34 CSB
34 …Love one another….
Romans 14:19 KJV
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Acts 13:16 NIV
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
John 4:20, 21, 23, 24 NIV
20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Matthew 28:9 NIV
9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped [proskyneō] him.
Acts 10:25, 26 NIV
25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence [proskyneō].
26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints [hagios], with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Hebrews 5:12 NIV
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Acts 14:23 NIV
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Luke 6:44 NLT
44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
Hebrews 10:24, 25 ESV
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
John 16:2 ESV
2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
