While
Christian worship is surely trinitarian, it is also christocentric. One may
question how both may be true; yet, considering Christ’s complete work in
Christian life, an acknowledgement of the christocentricity of Christian
worship becomes apparent. Subconsciously, perhaps, many people consider God
solely as the Father without realizing the co-equal nature of the Son. Paul
argues for Christ’s preeminence in his letter to the Colossians. As worshippers
of the living God, the preeminence of Christ is vital to God-honoring worship.
Here is what Paul writes:
He
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers
or authorities—all things were created through him and for
him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to
dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col
1:15-20).
The preeminence of the
Son here is clear and should be considered in such a manner that Christian
worship teaches and reveals the preeminence of Christ. With that mentioned,
there are four constraints that must guide how Christian worship is employed.
