Man is born with a desire to worship something or someone. It is as natural for man to worship as it is for him to eat. As a matter of fact it would be impossible for man to live and not worship. He may not always worship the right object, or with the right motive, or in the right way; but he will worship.
As we think about unacceptable worship we do not have to read far in the Bible till we come to an example of such. In Genesis 4:1-5, we read of the two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. We are told that both offered sacrifices unto God, but that God was pleased or "had respect" for Abel's sacrifice and did not have respect for Cain's sacrifice. What was the difference? Hebrews 11:4 tells us that "by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice." The difference was that Abel offered what the Lord had told them to offer. How do we know that? Because the Hebrew writer said "by faithÉ" How does faith come? Romans 10:17 says "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." So then Abel, acting upon the will of God (by faith), offered his sacrifice. This is one example fwhere we can learn that God will not accept everything man calls worship. If we today are going to have acceptable worship to God we must worship the way God has told us to.
In John 4, Jesus had a discussion of worship with a woman of Samaria at Jacob's well. This woman recognizing that Jesus was sent from God, turned the discussion toward the old religious argument between the Samaritans and the Jews about the place of worship. Jesus in answering her said, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). This makes it clear that all worship is not necessarily acceptable worship. Let us notice what the conditions of acceptable worship are.
To Worship the Right Object -- God. The first place to begin in acceptable worship is to worship the right object. In Acts 17, Paul was in the city of Athens and as he went throughout the city he saw that the people there were a very religious people. They had altars built to every false god imaginable. They even had an alter to the "UNKNOWN GOD" because they did not want to leave any god out. Paul seized this opportunity to teach the Athenians about "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, and dwelleth not in temples made with hand; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;É" (Acts 17:24-ff). We must be impressed with the fact that Paul wanted the men of Athens to know about the right object of worship, as Jesus pointed out to the woman at the well. Worship is not simply the performance of certain acts, but is something that stems from the heart. It is giving the reverence and the divine honors to God that He deserves. For one to worship acceptably he must know about the right object - who He is and what He has done for us.
To Worship With the Right Motive -- In Spirit. Also in John 4, Jesus said those who worshipped God "must worship him in spirit." This further emphasizes what we have already mentioned; acceptable worship is that which springs from the inner man. Our worship must be sincere, not formal nor indifferent, but with a sense of a spiritual communion with God. Whatever the outward acts involved in our worship: the taking of the Lord's supper, the prayers prayed, or lifting of our voices in song, these acts must come from the heart. If not, they will not only be vain and empty, but a mockery and an insult before God. Worship that is insincere is not acceptable worship, but worship that shows an outflowing of sincere praise and love for God is well pleasing to Him.
To Worship the Right Way -- In Truth. It is just as important to worship God in truth, as is with sincerity. To worship God in truth, one will be worshipping God as He has directed in His Word. One worshipping God in truth will regulate every purpose of his heart and every act of his worship by the word of God. As we look to God's Word, we find that worship includes:
1. Singing (Ephesians 5:19)
2. Praying (Colossians 3:17; 4:2-3; Acts 2:42)
3. Partaking of the Lord Supper (Acts 2;42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27).
4. Giving (1 Corinthains 16:1-2)
5. Teaching (Acts 2:42; 20:9)
As we observe these items of worship we see that they are not elaborate, nor intended to appeal to the carnal tastes of man, but are intended to please God. To add to or take away or change in any way any of these items of worship is to forfeit our fellowship with God (2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19). It matters not what one may like or dislike, but what God desires and that He is worshipped "in spirit and in truth."
In order to offer acceptable worship to God one must do only the things God has authorized. May we all examine our worship to insure that it is acceptable and pleasing to God in every way.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 11/16/97.