The Proper Worship of God Part 3 - Worshiping in Truth

Jesus tells those who would follow Him that "...an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers" (John 4:23).  We learned in Part 2 of this study of the proper worship of God that to worship God in spirit means that at worship time we are ready, attentive, focused, respectful, and alert. However, worshiping the Father in spirit is only part of the equation; we must also worship Him in truth.

Since God is truth, and His word is truth (Psalm 119:160), we must worship God according to His word.  Jesus tells us that "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).  Truth is not arbitrary, nor is it subjective.  God does not have one truth for some people and another truth for others. Here we are told that everything we do in worship must have the Lord's divine approval, by worshiping Him in His truth.

The Lord specifies in the Bible the acceptable way that He is to be worshiped.  Whatever is not specified in Scripture as acceptable worship to God is forbidden if we are to worship in truth; He is not to be worshiped according to the vain and evil imaginations of men.  If we want to please God, we dare not substitute what we want for what God has commanded; remember, He is not obligated to accept our worship simply because we offer it.

Many Christians today think that it doesn't matter what we do or believe in our faith, so long as we are sincere and follow one's conscience.  (Note: if it doesn't matter what you believe, then it really doesn't matter if you believe at all.)  This absurd, self-centered philosophy exalts our conscience above the word of God, making our conscience our only guide; allowing man to become the only authority and eliminating the authority of God as written in the Bible.  This is sinful thinking; Scripture tells us that "their land has ... been filled with idols, they worship the work of their hands, that which their fingers have made" (Isaiah 2:8). Those who adhere to this man-centered philosophy are denying the authority and sovereignty of God, telling Him that they wish to worship as they choose, and not how He commands.  This is self-sovereignty and worship this way is nothing more than sinful idol worship (Exodus 20:3-5).

This attitude flies in the face of Scripture, and yet is prevalent in churches today.  It may seem harmless to worship the way we want, but "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).  God's word warns us that we can lose our souls by defying God and doing what we want, what seems right in our eyes.  If we stop using the Word of God as our guide, we will replace the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures with creed books, confessionals, disciplines, and manuals, all telling us the worldly way to worship God. 

Consider the consequence of worshiping in a worldly way and ignoring God's commands for our worship: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).  What a terrifying experience it will be to stand before the Lord on Judgment Day, those who sincerely worshiped by whichever worldly way that felt good, only learning at God's truthful judgment that they were in error.

The self-centered philosophy of doing what seems right in our eyes has vastly altered the way people attempt to worship God.  They rationalize that because they "love" God, He will accept their worship; but all their worship is in vain.  Paul understood this; he told those who worshiped an unknown God that they worshiped in ignorance (Acts 17:23), as do the people today who offer unbiblical worship to God (Isaiah 44:18).

Many people never think to ask if the way they worship at their church is biblical, if they are worshiping God the way He wants.  They simply believe that any kind of worship they give is acceptable to God, while ignoring His own instructions for worship the He finds acceptable.  Scripture's response to this is clear; "But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.  Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men" (Mark 7:7-8).  The Lord has always told man through the Scriptures how He is to be worshiped, and He alone has the right to determine what worship is holy and acceptable.  We must not be unwise, but instead understand what is the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).  We are accountable for what we believe, and what we practice.

The Lord has specified in His word how we are to worship, and "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2Peter 1:3).  God gave us in the New Testament all things we need to know that pertain to life and godliness, so that we can worship Him acceptably in spirit and truth.  It is only by obeying His word that we are in His will and able to offer acceptable worship to Him.