Because God is the creator and sustainer of the world and all those who live in it, all mankind is obligated to worship and serve Him. Indeed, man’s purpose is “to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever” (1 Cor. 10:31). Worship is so important to God that He designed in creation for there to be 1 day every week where man can rest from his ordinary labors in order to focus exclusively on worshipping God. Because God places a high importance on worship, so too should we place a high importance on worship.
As our creator and king, not only does God highly value His worship, but He highly values the right worshipping of Him. For example, God forbids the worshipping of Him by means of images (Ex. 20:4-6). God wants people to worship Him in a manner that fits with His character and nature. So, in order to prevent us from creating our own ways to worship God, He has revealed in the Bible, His very word, the way in which he wants to be worshipped. If God does not command it in Scripture, then we may not do it in worship. If God does command it, then we are obligated to obey Him and do it in worship. The entire book of Leviticus detailed for the Old Testament people of God what they had to do and what they had to refrain from doing in order to offer right and acceptable worship to God. The Apostle Paul lays out instructions for what is to be conducted in New Testament church worship (1 Timothy 5, 2 Timothy 4, etc.).
The pattern of worship found in Reformed and Presbyterian churches has been modeled after the pattern of worship found in the New Testament. The NT church looked to the Old Testament Scriptures for the pattern and instructions given by God to His people. Thus, the entirety of Scripture is our guide on what we may and may not do in public worship.
As our creator and king, not only does God highly value His worship, but He highly values the right worshipping of Him. For example, God forbids the worshipping of Him by means of images (Ex. 20:4-6). God wants people to worship Him in a manner that fits with His character and nature. So, in order to prevent us from creating our own ways to worship God, He has revealed in the Bible, His very word, the way in which he wants to be worshipped. If God does not command it in Scripture, then we may not do it in worship. If God does command it, then we are obligated to obey Him and do it in worship. The entire book of Leviticus detailed for the Old Testament people of God what they had to do and what they had to refrain from doing in order to offer right and acceptable worship to God. The Apostle Paul lays out instructions for what is to be conducted in New Testament church worship (1 Timothy 5, 2 Timothy 4, etc.).
The pattern of worship found in Reformed and Presbyterian churches has been modeled after the pattern of worship found in the New Testament. The NT church looked to the Old Testament Scriptures for the pattern and instructions given by God to His people. Thus, the entirety of Scripture is our guide on what we may and may not do in public worship.