DO WE REALLY HAVE A CHOICE
By
Charles N. Spence, Jr.
We live in a country where rights
and privileges are granted under the Constitution of the United States. Often
the citizens of this country will exercise those rights with every opportunity.
According to the first amendment to the Constitution, the citizens are
guaranteed the liberty of worship without government imposition. This part of
the constitution has been interpreted to mean that a person is free to worship
God in any manner he chooses. He has the right to be a part of any Church he so
desires. No one can tell them how to worship and where to worship. The question
must be asked, however, do we really have a choice as to how and where we can
worship God acceptably?
When one appeals to the word of God
for an answer, he will see that, despite all the liberties and freedoms the
Constitution affords United States citizens, he will still have to answer to a
higher authority in the end. Jesus said in John 12:48, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive my words, has that which
judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."
When it comes to true worship, only God can establish the guidelines as to how
and where it is done. After all, God is the object of worship; who is better qualified
to tell us how that should be done. I am genuinely baffled when I see people
worship God in a ways and in places that are foreign to his word, when in fact,
anyone can go to God's word for himself to find the truth. If our constitutional rights where threatened,
we would be quick to read the Constitution itself to see if what we are being
told is so. Yet, the one document that speaks to our eternal destiny and is a
guarantee of liberty from the eternal consequences of sin for all
those who would follow its precepts is readily ignored. Luke recorded the
response of those in Berea to the
preaching of the gospel in Acts 17:11, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to
find out whether these things were so." Such should be the attitude of
all who are concerned about doing the Lord's will.
Concerning our choices of worship
God does not give us a choice. Our worship must be "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). In other words, not
only must we be of the right frame of mind, but also must do everything
according to what the Lord has revealed. In this country alone, the Lord is
worshiped close to one thousand different ways. However, the Lord has revealed
the manner in which He is to be worshiped and expects all of His people to be
unified in this area (John 17:21; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:3). The Bible tells us
that there is one faith (Eph. 4:5). Jude 3 says that this faith was delivered
ONCE. The faith (practice) of those in the first century should not be any
different today. Those who would say it is different must deal with such
passages as Galatians 1:6-9 and Jude 3. In the sight of God, people do not have
the choice in their manner of worship. God accepts only one manner of worship,
no matter how many the Constitution allows.
Concerning the Church, the Bible
speaks of only ONE. Jesus said he was going to build ONE Church (Matt. 16:18).
Jesus is the head of only ONE body (Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus is the husband of only
ONE wife (Eph. 5:23; Rev. 21:9-10). He is coming back for only ONE kingdom (1
Cor. 15:24). Ephesians 4:4 says, "There
is one body." Ephesians 4:6 says, "There
is one God and father of all." Now, the first amendment of the
Constitution allows people to be free to be members of the Baptist Church, the
Catholic Church, the Church of God in Christ, the Methodist Church, the Mormon
Church, etc. The Bible says that there is ONE body, the church. However, not
one of the churches previously mentioned is found in Scripture. However,
someone will say, “Well, one church is as good as another!” If that is true,
wouldn't it also be true that one God is as good as another? The same context
that said there is ONE church also said that there is ONE God and father (see
Eph. 4:1-6). Could a person worship just any god of his choice? Could he listen
to just any Spirit? Could he submit to just any Lord and be acceptable in God's
sight? Then, why is being a part of just any Church acceptable?
So, do we really have a choice when
it comes to the manner of worship and place of worship? True, the Constitution
guarantees freedom of religion here in the United States. Nevertheless, do you
intend on spending eternity in the United States? You need to conform to the
One with whom you intend to spend eternity (Rom. 12:2).