OUR WORSHIP > You're Safe Here
"...those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth."
- from John 4:24
At West Oaks Fellowship, we are committed to the biblical principle of "speaking
the truth in love, " which, we trust, will constantly be displayed in
such a way as to ensure those present in our worship services the following:
Our Freedom in Worship Will Never Surrender to Fanaticism - We
are free to demonstrate love and devotion to our Savior through our voices
and our actions, but we make a distinction between the sound of praise and
the noise of people. We worship as a "called out" assembly of believers
who are one in Jesus Christ, and not as individuals competing to show more
praise or worship than the next. We worship in "Spirit and Truth"
with freedom, but, in unity under the leadership of God’s chosen Under-shepherds
"Pastors and Elders." It’s refreshing to praise aloud with
us, for we will worship together in the beauty of His holiness; however, we
will strive to prevent both actions of prideful formalism and personal fanaticism.
Our Openness to One Another Will Never Exploit Anyone - We desire
an atmosphere of transparent and authentic sharing based upon mutual trust
and respect for each individual. We also that true fellowship is impossible
without the foundation of a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, from
Whose eyes we cannot hide one thing. Therefore, we share our deepest needs,
hurts, failures, and our Hurts, Dreams & victories, hopes with one another,
knowing it is held in sacred trust. We believe that all who minister the life
of Christ to one another do so in the power of God’s Holy Spirit, motivated
by love for Christ and His Body. This love is eternal, unconditional, and
non-manipulative and covers weakness and sin with strength, forgiveness, and
mercy.
Our Welcome to Spiritual Gifts and Manifestations Will Never Violate
God's Word. - We know that where two or more are gathered in His Name,
He is in their midst. Therefore we invite Christ to make Himself known among
us in our worship services, and to distribute gifts among us according to
His will and purpose. Believers are encouraged in the proper use of Spiritual
Gifts, Manifestations, and Ministries as described in the New Testament scriptures
and found present in Christ's Church today.
Every believer is urged to be free and responsible to fully receive, as
well as minister those gifts, as motivated by Christ love and empowered by
God’s Holy Spirit. Additionally we desire the manifestations of His
Holy Spirit, recognizing it is our biblical mandate to examine all things
and clinging to that which is good, while carefully recognizing that not every
demonstration is genuine. We believe it is our biblical imperative to submit
all our worship, service, operations of spiritual gifts, and manifestations
of His Spirit to the guidelines established for us in the Bible, particularly
in the New Testament.
Our Joyousness Will Never Degenerate to Mere Excitability
The Lord asks us to have a childlike faith, but not be children. The joy and
release we feel in worship may express itself in applause, shouting, tears,
or jubilance, but we also know true freedom is as thoughtful as it is liberating,
and we choose to walk in that truth. We will not allow our worship to be carried
along by excited or sensational emotions; instead we will worship Him in Spirit
and in Truth, knowing "the Father seeks such to worship Him." Whether
our worship is expressed in sensational means or quiet reflection, it will
always be based on biblical Truth as taught by God’s Holy Spirit, and
not dictated to us by our culture’s expectations.
In All, Our Prayerful Wish is to be Like the Early New Testament Church
"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved." - The Holy Bible, Acts 2:46-47
