If we are truly in Christ and have the mind of Christ we are one, and in unity in all things including our worship. "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News." (Philippians 1:27) Our Lord's prayer for believers is "that they will be one, just as you and I are one - Father." (John 17:21) In Cor. 1:10 Paul pleads with the Corinthians to "be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." Then again in Romans 15:5-6 Paul says to the Romans, "May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This picture of worship Paul gives mirrors John's vision in Revelation, where all of Christ's bride joins together - every nation, every tongue, grandparents and grandchildren, rich and poor, black and white and every other color or ethnicity. That's how worship around the throne is described.
Satan knows that if he can keep us divided and debating worship styles, music styles, etc., that he is able to keep us from worship "as it is in heaven". Another version has the phrase in Rom. 15 saying, "Live in complete harmony - each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other." When we are in the Spirit we will not encounter barriers of culture, race, generation, or personal preferences. Barriers will fade when we bow together in the radiance of His glory. Issues of what we prefer or expect in worship will be unimportant. Unity in worship has nothing to do with style of worship or musical style, but rather it is about us. When we are changed in Christ, then we will indeed worship together.
We can only experience harmony and join as one voice in worship when we have the attitude of Christ toward one another. That attitude is described very vividly in Philippians 2, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross."
We will never experience the glory of God among us apart from unity in Christ. mjm
