By Bob
W. Lovelace
It is self-evident that the New
Testament "items" of worship are offered "to God" and not
just done thinking about God. God has always been aware of man's sacrifice
offered to Him (Cp. Cain and Abel, Gen. 4). Concerning Jesus, Luke says,
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to
pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12). Moreover He
spoke of "truthful"
worshippers when He 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" (John 4:23). Are you such a person? To this Jesus
added, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit
and truth" (John 4:24). Above all, Paul said that Christians have been
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philip. 1:11).
"Praise" is laudation. Thus
"fruits" of worship such as singing and prayer are not just unto the
glory and praise of God, but actually offered to Him and accepted by Him. The
singular point of our brief study is that our worship is offered "to
God" as we draw near to God and offer it in such a way that it is a
sacrifice He accepts and is pleased with.
Our Worship is offered (to God) with the understanding that God is "worthy"
to receive honor and glory. Consider John’s statement: “Thou art worthy, O
Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). The word
"worthy" means deserving, fitting to. In this vein we notice that our
singing is offered in praise to God:
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col. 3:16). It is
evident here that the thankfulness is in the heart and the singing is to God.
Consider praying as described in Col. 1:3: "We give thanks to God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." Again it is
evident that the thankfulness is in the heart and the prayer is “to God.”
In neither of these are those speaking or participating "just"
thinking about God. We do have a general statement that says, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord, and not unto men" (Col. 3:23), but when it comes to a specific item
of worship such as our prayers we find that they are “to God” (I Th. 1:2; 2 Th. 2:13; Acts 8:24;
Rom. 15:30. The singing and prayer are offered "to God" and accepted
by God! This is a fact. Peter says, "you also, as living stones, are being
built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (I Peter 2:5). These
spiritual sacrifices when done in spirit and in truth are well received. The
word “acceptable” is euprosdektos, Greek 2144,
yoo-pros'-dek-tos; from Greek 2095 (eu) and a derivative of Greek 4327
prosdechomai); well-received, i.e. approved, favorable :- acceptable (-ted)
(Strong’s Help).
With our worship we draw near to God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Yes, we actually draw near to Him! Consider Hebrews 7:19 "For the law made
nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw
nigh unto God." The idea of drawing nigh is that of “approaching" ~ NASB Dict. Help: eggizo,
Greek 1448, NASB eggizo; from Greek 1451 (eggus); to make near, reflexive to
come near :- approached(10), approaching(7), at hand (12), came close(1), came
up(1), come near(3), comes near(2), coming near(1), draw near(3), drawing
near(2).
This wonderful privilege is made possible through Christ. The Hebrew
writer says, "Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near
to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them"
(Heb. 7:25). “Draw near” ~ "Strong's Help proserchomai, Greek 4334; from
Greek 4314 (pros) and Greek 2064 (erchomai) (including its alternate); to
approach, i.e. (literal) come near, visit, or (figurative) worship, assent to
:- (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near,
to, unto).
Much could be said about Jesus as the one mediator between God and man (
I Tim. 2:5), but we have established by scripture the fact that our worship is
to God and accepted by God as we draw near unto Him. One place that Christians
did such, of course, was in their assemblies together as a church (Heb. 10:22,
25, 13:15). Both praise to God and giving thanks to His name are sacrifices
offered as worship from the standpoint of
"offering up," or "bringing" it as a sacrifice to
Him (Heb. 13:15). Our singing is not just to one another; nor is the singing
just about thankfulness. It is a profession of our thanks. Singing as worship
goes all the way to God! The Psalmist said, “Let my prayer be set forth before
thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”
(Psalm 141:2). Hosea proclaimed, “Take with you words, and turn to the Lord:
say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we
render the calves of our lips” (Hosea 14:12).
Moreover we are warned about our worship being "unworthy." The
assembly for the Lord's Supper "in remembrance of" Christ must not be
done in an unworthy manner, Paul said (I
Cor. 11:28-29). Strong’s definition of “unworthy” is: anaxios, Greek 371;
adverb from Greek 370 (anaxios); irreverently :- unworthily.” You see! Worship
can be done unworthily. What is wrong with people who think they are free to
laugh while talking and thinking about other things? —– what they will be doing
that afternoon, who they will be doing them with, and perhaps their minds dwell
upon why they will not even back for worship that evening although the could
be. Never view proper conduct in worship as "solely" out of respect
for the people present, which is certainly a part of this.
It is entirely possible that “reverence” be taught by man’s precepts and
not God’s. Hear Isaiah, "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people
draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have
removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the
precept of men:" (Isa. 29:13). The precepts of men will not do for
worship! (Cp. Matt. 15:7-9). When fear for God is taught by man’s precepts
acceptable worship flies out the window and anything goes!
As one reads Eph. 5:19-20 there is no doubt the worshipful items are to
be offered "to the Lord," and "unto God." To do this
successfully the thanksgiving (and praise) is addressed to the proper person,
God. Why? So that God might be pleased and man might be edified (I Cor. 14:40,
33). Let us take great care here. Brethren, are we now beginning down the road
that takes the reverence and fear of God from worship? Do presentation “skills” include all too
often cute stories designed to make us laugh and put the audience in a good
mood? Did Paul not say, “...subjecting themselves to one another in the fear of
the Lord”? How does our "reverence" to the Lord apply to our worship
together? Is it this? That our reverence lends to the order as well as to
controlled conduct during these acts of worship. I certainly believe so. It
seems to me that the being filled with the Spirit produces the following
activities: speaking, singing, making melody, giving thanks, and subjecting yourselves
to one another in the fear of the Lord. One should never dismiss the importance
of structure and order by trite statements such as "it is not God who
needs the edification but us."
All acceptable worship is regulated by God’s Word (Cp. Col. 3:16).
Moreover God’s Word produces reverence (Prov. 1:7-9; 15:33). Our fear of the Lord means that we will
control our conduct in worship (Eccl. 5:1; I Cor. 14:35, 37). What in the world has happened in a church
when adults, both young and older, set in church manifesting disruptive
attitudes and actions that ranging all the way through such acts as laughing,
grumbling, day dreaming and indifference? Where are you headed when you turn to
see the one doing the taping in the back nodding off? What kind of reverence do
young mothers show when they gather in the nursery for their own good “time”
while worship takes place in the assembly? Just how many times do adults in
worship have to observe young women pulling their hair out in a long strand
with one hand, and then bringing it around in front of their eyes and stroking
it with the other hand, and that for minutes upon end during worship before
they say something? And yes let us desist in intentionally looking the other
way when we are well aware a
problem has developed. Are not such things as
giggling, note writing and even making faces the responsibility of all who make
up the “one another” responsible for conducting worship in the fear of the
Lord? Why some even give the appearance of hoping that brethren and teachers or
preachers will see them — thus daring them to say something!
Beloved when such as the above is done before God in worship step
forward, speak up, give counsel and do not put the sole burden of having to deal
with it on the ones who stand before all and lead. Let all of God’s children whom the Father
seeks to worship Him in truth help out and join together in a concerted effort
to repel the present attack upon worship today.
The parents need to help out with their own children. And please stop being upset if a caring
brother or sister in the church loves you and them enough to correct your own!
Do not be the kind of parent whose reaction to such is an unacceptable as the
conduct of their child was! Often churches have members who know the “truth”
part of worship but their spirits lack the heart to manifest it and enforce it.