Can a non-Christian serve in worship?

Answer:

I'm more than disappointed with the deacon's answer. Since when do we take personal feelings and claim that they are from God? Whether he is aware of it or not, that is what he is doing. He is claiming because he feels that God placed this feeling in him, he is going to continue the practice. As God told the Israelites:

"I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal? The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:25-28).

This matter should be brought to the attention of the elders.

The reading of Scripture is a part of a church's worship (I Timothy 4:13). However, there is a lack of command, example, or inference that youth participated in worship before becoming a Christian in the New Testament. I agree that the youth should be encouraged, but they should do this in a proper environment, such as a Bible class. I understand that Bible reading appears "safe" because the passage is selected for the youth. There isn't much of a way to introduce false ideas. However, it should also be considered that those involved in worship represent the congregation. A non-Christian doesn't represent the congregation.

I Corinthians 14 contains regulations on how a church's worship services are conducted. The rules are for when "the whole church comes together in one place" (I Corinthians 14:23). Things are to be done in a decent and orderly manner (I Corinthians 14:40). Because the church had come together for worship, the command was "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (I Corinthians 14:34-35). Worship by the church is only to be conducted by the male church members. Women are not allowed to lead a congregation in worship because that would be usurping authority not granted to them (I Timothy 2:12). If women are not permitted to do such things as leading a congregation in reading, then what right does a congregation have to allow young children, who have yet to obey Christ, to lead the same group in reading? Where can we find authority for such a practice?

Paul points out that the church is designed to build itself up. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ... from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:11-12,16). A non-Christian is not a part of the body, and so cannot contribute to the building up of the body.