IS GOD PLEASE WITH YOUR WORSHIP?

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

In John 4:19-24 Jesus, once again, confirmed that He is of God. The woman had come to this conclusion by the revelation that Jesus gave concerning her past relationships. She, perceiving that Jesus truly was a prophet, seized the moment to question Him about proper and acceptable worship. If Jesus was truly a prophet of God, surely He would be able to settle the issue that has divided the Jews from the Samaritans for generations. The Samaritans believed that God was to be worshipped in the Samaritan temple located in Mt. Gerizem. The Jews, however, insisted that God was to be worshipped in the temple located in Jerusalem. In light of this unresolved conflict the Samaritan woman asked the man she perceived to be a prophet to reveal the proper approach to God.

Jesus' reply indicated that there was a misunderstanding of the nature of God on the part of the woman. If God were corporal then He would be confined to one place. The place where God had dwelled would then be the proper place where He would be worshipped. If God was non-corporal, He could then be worshipped anywhere. This misunderstanding added to the conflict between both parties.

Jesus replied in verse 24, "God is a Spirit." Because of this fact, acceptable worship is not determined by what kind of building or place the people happen to be in, but out of a heart in conformity to the truth of His nature. Thus, as Jesus said in verse 23, the hour has come for the true worshippers of God are to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Today we are to worship the Lord in spirit. At one time, the temple of Jerusalem was the place in which the people believed God dwelled. There, the people brought their worship to Him. The use of gold and woods and other such elements were ordered by God in the construction of those elements of worship used by the Israelites in ancient times. These items were an integral part of their worship. For us today the buildings we meet in help to expedite the command to worship. However, these buildings are not required.

As always we are to worship God in truth or better stated, according to truth. Jesus stated in His prayer to the Father in John 17:17, "Thy word is truth." The Lord must be worshipped in accordance with His word. Referring back to the case of the Samaritan woman, Jesus did have an answer for her concerning her question about proper worship. The woman must have realized that there was a proper approach to God. If the way they worshipped did not matter, the question was senseless. Jesus' answer suggests that it does matter how one worships God. This is the way it has always been and according to God’s word this is the way it will always be; it matters how you worship

Does it matter how we worship or the way we worship as long as we worship? Religious folk are just as divided today, as were those in ancient times over proper worship. According to Genesis 4:1-4, what was wrong with the way Cain worshipped God? Why was God displeased with Cain? In Hebrews 11:4 and Romans 10:17, we see that Abel's offering was in accordance with the word of God. Cain undoubtedly believed in God because he worshipped God. God, however, was not pleased with Cain's worship because it was not according to faith; it was not according to God's word. People today may believe in God, they may think they worship God, and in many cases, I believe, the people worship God sincerely. The end result, however, is that these people are sincerely wrong. There is one God. And He has given us one path to follow: His word (See Ephesians 4:4-6). There is one faith. That one faith is that which is produced by God's word. How is it that all these people who claim to follow Christ and abide in His word are so diverse. Some baptize while others do not, some take the Lord's Supper every first day of the week while others do not. Some sing with musical accompaniment while others do not. Some tithe while others do not. Some promote social activities while others promote nothing other than spiritual activities. God is not a God of chaos, “For God is not {the author} of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33).

Again, in the case of the Samaritan woman Jesus defined the parameters. He stated positively how people were to worship. He did not say it did not matter. He said true worship was in spirit and according to truth. Cain's worship was not according to truth because it was not given in faith. Neither is ours if it is not in accordance with the word of God.

What is the purpose of worshipping in truth? Why does it matter how one worships God? Read Acts 17:22-30. Verse 27 indicates that people inherently are worshipers. Verse 23 says that these people worshipped God ignorantly. Such was also the case with the Jews in Romans 10:1-3. Our worship to the Lord must be guided (Jer. 10:23). God, being the recipient of our worship, is the only one who can tell us how He would have us to worship (1 Cor. 2:9-13). We put our souls on the line when we assume something to be pleasing to God. Make sure that your worship is pleasing to God!