Frequently Asked Questions

Worship is more than just singing the lyrics to praise and worship songs, it is the act of offering ourselves to the Lord. The Bible says in Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. This is a wonderful exchange... the more you offer of yourself to God, the more of the Lord you receive. All that we are, all that we have, all that we ever hope to be... offering that to God, is the heart of worship.

Yet there is another facet of worship that is dynamic and more experiential. It has to do with honoring the greatness of the Lord and ASCRIBING WORTH to God. That's what the word worship means, ascribing worth, or worth-ship. Virtually every Christian worship service includes singing songs with lyrics filled with praise to the Lord. Of all the religions of the world, only Judaism, and then Christianity makes singing part of a worship service.

Most Christian churches share a nearly identical core statement of doctrine. The differences in churches usually have more to do with practice. This page is dedicated to answering questions about those differences and about specific practices that you will find at New Life Assembly of God.

Why do we stand when we sing?

We don't always stand. Standing is not required. However, people participate in a greater measure when we stand. It seems to be easier to sing while standing, perhaps because the diaphragm is not restricted. It also seems that when people follow the scriptural pattern, worship is not restricted. It says in 2 Chronicles 20:19 (KJV) And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. That's why we might stand for a portion of our worship service. Nevertheless, if anyone is unable, weary or just doesn't want to stand, it is perfectly fine to sit during worship. Worship is more a posture of the heart than of the body anyway.

Why do we dance before the Lord?

The personality and culture of each church is very distinct. In some churches, you would never see anyone dance before the Lord. In others, it is very common. In our church, on occasion, people may. We encourage every scriptural mode of worship. It says in Psalms 149:3 (KJV) Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Why do we clap our hands?

Clapping of hands is a universal way of expressing emotion and praise. While worship does not have to be emotional to be valid, it, nevertheless, is often emotional. The people of New Life Assembly of God often clap while singing, especially to the faster paced songs. But often, spontaneously begin to clap for the Lord... in thanksgiving or praise to His name. It says in Psalms 47:1b (KJV) ...O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Why do we lift up our hands?

Some say that lifting hands is a universal symbol of surrender. Perhaps. But lifting hands to the Lord is certainly a biblical posture of praise and prayer. Body language expresses the thoughts of the mind and intentions of the heart. This is never more true than when God’s people lift their hands to Him. It says in Psalms 63:4b (KJV) ...I will lift up my hands in thy name. and in 1　Timothy 2:8 (KJV) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Why is praise audible and sometimes loud?

It’s not that God is hard of hearing. While prayer and praise that is silent is just as genuine, the problem many people face is distractions. When prayer or praise is audible, people tend to stay focused on the Lord and are less likely to let their thoughts wonder. Prayer or praise may, on occasion, become loud as an emotional response to the blessing of the presence of God. Psalms 34:1b (KJV) ...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. And in Psalms 98:4 (KJV) it says, Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Why are a variety of musical instruments used in worship?

For centuries, the pipe organ and piano were used almost exclusively in worship. As different instruments come into usage, and other instruments decline in usage, worship does and should adapt to what is culturally relevant. It’s not Biblical, nor does it make good sense to limit worship to certain instruments. Psalms 150:3-5 (NIV) Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, {4} praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, {5} praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Why don’t you sing more hymns since they contain more theology than choruses?

In fact, hymns often contain stronger statements of doctrinal truth, and can help to instruct the people in matters of faith. Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. We find that the contemporary choruses are also filled with truth... with relational truth. In Bible studies, Sunday School and preaching, our focus is on doctrinal truth. But in the worship experience, our primary goal is NOT to teach people (though that is a secondary goal), but to RELATE to the Lord and to enable people to enter into a worship encounter with the one true God.

Didn’t prophesy and the other Gifts of the Spirit end with the Apostolic age?

You can’t find any hint of that in the Bible. Some would offer 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NIV) as a proof text. It says Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. {9} For we know in part and we prophesy in part, {10} but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. While this proves that prophecy (ie the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy), tongues and knowledge is imperfect, it does not say, or even suggest that prophecy, tongues or knowledge has disappeared. When perfection comes, then prophecy, tongues and knowledge will cease.

What is the Spiritual Gift of Prophesy?

Contrary to what many think, it is not primarily predictive, although at times, it can be. Rather, prophecy is the forth telling of the mind, will and heart of God. It is a gift for the church with the sole purpose of building up the people of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV) But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. It would be irresponsible to NOT use every ministry tool and gift available to build up the Body of Christ.

What is tongues and interpretation of tongues?

The teaching contained in 1 Corinthians 12-14 on the subject of tongues would make little sense if the distinction between tongues the Spiritual Gift, and tongues the prayer language, were not understood. Tongues the Spiritual Gift, is the only one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit that is inseparably paired with another Spiritual Gift, that of Interpretation. All nine Gifts of the Spirit are expressly given to build up the church. On the other hand, tongues, the prayer language is for personal edification. It is, therefore, not one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4 (NIV) For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. {3} But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. {4} He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. But the Spiritual Gift of Tongues with Interpretation serves to build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:5 (NIV) I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Why do we sing in tongues and in English?

Not all churches believe in or practices what we call singing in the spirit, it is, nevertheless, clearly a Biblical practice. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (NIV) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. {15} So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. In such a case, the Spirit of God enables the believer to sing a song or pray a prayer in a language he has never learned. God inhabits the praises of His people... and it is never more true than when the people of the church begin to sing in the spirit.

Why does the whole church pray at the same time?

Sometimes an individual leads in prayer and the people of the church quietly agree with the prayer, and offer an "Amen." Other times, especially when the prayer is ministry to a person, family or ministry, the people of the church are invited to offer their prayers for that specific need. The congregational prayer that goes up may sound like the gentle roar of a waterfall, and my be indistinguishable to individuals. In heaven, that’s how worship will sound (Revelation 14:2). In such a case, the purpose is NOT doctrinal instruction, and the intended audience is not the congregation, but God Himself... He has no trouble listening to each prayer. This is not confusing to us or to God, though it may befuddle those who are accustomed to tradition-driven faith.

Why do we anoint with oil and pray for the sick?

Because God is sovereign, He can heal if and whenever He wants to. And because God is sovereign, we choose to follow God’s sovereign plan, as instructed in James 5:14-15 (NIV) Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.