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| Volume 26 Number 5 May 2024 |
Page 11 |
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| Volume 26 Number 5 May 2024 |
Page 11 |
Charles E Burch
Our modern society has developed an attitude that causes me to wonder if it fully understands what it means to worship God. First of all, God is the only audience in our worship services; every person present is supposed to be there to worship the God of Heaven. Therefore, rather than entertaining those present, worship must please God. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 KJV). To worship God in “truth” is to worship Him according to what is authorized in His Word, the Bible. When Jesus prayed to His Father, He said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Therefore, what we do in our “true” worship to God is not decided by the elders, preachers or any other man or woman. Our elders have the responsibility of making sure we do only those things authorized and commanded in God’s truth, revealed to us in the Bible.
Why don’t we have handclapping, dedicating babies, female leadership, mechanical instruments, etc. in our worship? We all know they would draw a crowd. We would grow in number like never before! We simply do not incorporate these items in our worship, because there is no authority to do so! The fact that many churches do these things has absolutely no bearing on the issue. When we worship, we either “worship God in spirit and in truth” or we don’t. In light of no authority either to add to nor subtract from what the New Testament authorizes for Christian worship, we neither desire to add such things as mentioned above nor to subtract them from our worship.
Second, since God is the only audience, He revealed how man is to worship Him. The Bible gives five avenues through which God commands our worship to Him. They are as follows (in no particular order): (1) Singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), (2) Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), (3) Communion or Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29), (4) Prayer (1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17) and (5) Preaching or teaching God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:1-2). While we worship in these ways, provided our attitudes and hearts are right, we offer our praise, honor, glory and reverence to God. This is the God Who created and sustains everything and on Whom we are also completely dependent religiously, too.
Third, does God require me to do each act of worship perfectly? Certainly, God knows that we are not perfect human beings. Christ is the only perfect One Who ever lived upon this earth. Yet, God wants us to grow. Paul wrote, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). God has made it possible for us to grow in faith. He wants us to do our best. I may not have the ability to word my prayer as beautifully as someone else, but God does not excuse me from praying. There are times when my throat will not allow me to sing, but God does not excuse me from singing when I can. I may not be able to give as much as someone else, but God expects me to give what I can.
God knows our abilities and our hearts. He requires our best in worship unto Him. My best may be less than yours, but God knows and accepts each regarding one’s best.
