Dear AV,

The problem I see with all these arguments is that they do not appreciate how Christ's work has transformed the Jewish cult.

Worship in the OT was centered on the temple and sacrifice. However, the OT temple pointed to Christ, the true temple where we encounter God in his presence (John 2:21). And believers, having been united to Christ, are also the temple (1 Cor. 3:16).

Hence, because we are united to Christ all the time, we are to worship God all the time. We now sacrifice with our whole life as worship (Rom. 12:1). Worship is not confined to the public gathering.

Therefore, you will never find the NT saying that the purpose of the church gathering is "worship" because we worship God in all of life. Is this not precisely what Jesus meant when he spoke of worshiping God not on some mountain (i.e. tied to physical location) but now in "spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). The purpose of the church gathering explicitly mentioned in the NT is now edification (i.e. building the church through the word of God) so 1 Cor. 14:26 and Heb. 10:24-25 (see Cranmer's introduction to the BCP).

It's amazing how the word "worship" has taken on a life of its own since it has been detached from its scriptural use.

Without this understanding of new covenant worship debates about the RPW get bogged down.

For more information on this see David Peterson, Engaging with God.

God bless you brother.

__________________
Marty

"There is nothing so necessary to draw us to repentance as good thoughts of God." (Thomas Manton)