| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
| Wild Wacky Wicked "W O R S H I P" |
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"When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My
courts?" Isaiah 1:12
'"BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS
OF MEN." Matthew 15:9
All Christians, especially pastors, should take God and His worship seriously. But many
"Christians" play games with God, trying to please everyone and avoid disagreements.
God has told us, however, that divisions are actually needed so that the truth can be
seen as different from error. (1 Cor 11:19)
When it comes to worship, there are many disagreements between professing
Christians. We should ask the vital question, "With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?" (Micah 6:6)
The Bible answers clearly. We are sinners who have no right at all to approach God! He
chased Adam and Eve away, and no human should assume that he or she can go back to
God on his or her own terms! (Gen 3:24)
If you were invited to meet a king or queen, you would try to find out the rules of
proper court etiquette. It is no less serious if you want to approach the King of kings.
He expects us to fear Him and worship Him exactly as He requires. (Ex 25:40, Num 8:4,
Ps 89:7, Is 1:12, Mk 7:7, Heb 8:5)
This Biblical theory of worship is stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith: "The
acceptable way of worshipping the True God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by
His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations of
men, or the suggestions of Satan, or in any other way not prescribed in the Holy
Scriptures." (21:1)
This Regulative Principle was once held by all Reformed and Presbyterian Churches, but
most Christians today haven't even heard of it. We act as if we are free to do whatever
pleases us in public worship - as long as the Bible doesn't forbid it. There are no verses
condemning - by name - such things as holidays, hymns, musical instruments and
dancing. All these things and more pollute contemporary worship.
What does the Bible say? Nothing belongs in our worship except those things God has
told us to do. King Saul was condemned for his unauthorized sacrifice. (1 Sam
13:13&14) God tells us not to add to His rules or subtract from them. (Deut 4:2, Josh
1:7&8)
Worship is not supposed to be creative, changing, fun and "contemporary". Holy angels
and inspired prophets hid their faces from God. (Ex 3:6, Is 6:243,1 Kg 19:13) Many
modern congregations treat public worship as light-hearted entertainment.
There is not one example in the Scriptures of God approving man-made worship. Both
Cain and Abel knew that a sinner cannot come to God except through blood sacrifice.
(Gen 3:21, Heb 9:22) AbeI, believing God's word, came to Him as He had required. (Heb
11:4)) But Cain brought the sacrifice the he wanted to bring, and God rejected him.
(Gen 4:3-7)
When God expanded the rules for worship at the time of Moses, He never asked the
Prophet to design or develop any ceremony or piece of tabernacle furniture. (Ex 25:40,
Deut 12:32) Similarly, the Holy Spirit gave David the exact pattern for the construction
of God's Temple. (1 Chron 28:12,19)
When Christ came, the Old Testament ceremonies that predicted Him were set aside.
(Jn 4:7-26, Heb 8:13) But the Regulative Principle remains in force. Pastors must do
what Jesus tells them to do - not whatever they feel like doing as long as Jesus hasn't
told them not to! (Mt 28:20,1 Cor 11:23, 2 Cor 5:20, Rev 22:18&19)
What worship has been commanded for Christians? It is simple, pure worship without
any added ceremonies borrowed from the Mosaic Law or the religious practices of
Papists and pagans. New Testament public worship includes Psalm-singing, prayer,
Bible-reading and preaching. It must be spiritual, appealing to the heart, mind and
conscience, not carnally aimed at the bodily senses. (Jn 4:24)
The Bible warns us about 5 kinds of people who corrupt God's worship:
1. The Blasphemous False "god" (Gen 3:5)
Nebuchadnezzar ordered his subjects to worship a statue of himself. (Dan 3) Darius
required everyone to pray only to him. (Dan 6) Aaron made a golden calf, and
Jeroboam set up 2 of them. (Ex 32, Num 16,1 Kg 12:25-33) The Man of Sin is the Roman
Pope who also claims to take God's place as ruler of the Church. (2 Thess 2:3&4) We
must not copy his religion.
2. The Popularity Addict (Jer 5:31)
Why did Aaron make the golden calf? It was because he feared the congregation more
than the Lord. (Ex 32:21-25) Too many pastors these days serve men instead of Christ,
seeking popularity instead of purity. (Gal 1:10) We need ministers like the priests who
stood up to Uzziah. (2 Chron 26:16-22)
3. The Scheming Politician (2 Pt 2:15)
Some wicked people use God's worship for selfish purposes. Balaam just wanted the
money. (Num 22-24) Jezebel called a public fast to have Naboth murdered. (1 Kg
21:9-13) Jehu proclaimed his piety to be popular with the people, but kept sinning.
(2 Kg 10:16,31)
Jeroboam is the worst example. He invented new worship to keep his subjects from
leaving Israel to attend the proper Temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kg 12:25-33) Today's
ecumenical leaders want to make worship more liturgical (Popish) for the sake of
Christian "unity". Conservative leaders sometimes treat minor matters as vital in order
to justify their schism from other believers.
4. The Creative Artist (2 Tim 3:4)
Many advocates of innovative worship are motivated by artistic feelings. They want the
service to be entertaining, and they don't ask themselves what God might want. All
such man-pleasing things are to be avoided. (Deut 4:15416, Ezek 33:32)
Outward ceremonies aimed at the five senses can temporarily sway people's emotions.
But often they don't reach the mind or conscience in any lasting way. (Job 21:12-14,
Amos 6:5&6) We should not make worship frivolous and fun to please people. We
should train believers to be spiritual and serious, focused on truth, not emotions or
experiences.
5. The Well-Meaning Helper (2 Sam 6:6&7)
A few advocates of wild worship may be sincere. Uzzah touched the Ark of the
Covenant because he was afraid it would fall on the ground. His motive was good, but
God struck him dead for his evil action!
When all is said and done, we can't improve on Biblical worship by adding our own
wacky inventions. God is never pleased with "service" that He never told us to give.
(Jer 7:31)
"The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an
abomination." (Proverb 28:9)
This summary of part 1 of Anarchy in Worship by James Begg (1875) was prepared by
Scott Rocca Box 365 Gratz PA 17030
courts?" Isaiah 1:12
'"BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS
OF MEN." Matthew 15:9
All Christians, especially pastors, should take God and His worship seriously. But many
"Christians" play games with God, trying to please everyone and avoid disagreements.
God has told us, however, that divisions are actually needed so that the truth can be
seen as different from error. (1 Cor 11:19)
When it comes to worship, there are many disagreements between professing
Christians. We should ask the vital question, "With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?" (Micah 6:6)
The Bible answers clearly. We are sinners who have no right at all to approach God! He
chased Adam and Eve away, and no human should assume that he or she can go back to
God on his or her own terms! (Gen 3:24)
If you were invited to meet a king or queen, you would try to find out the rules of
proper court etiquette. It is no less serious if you want to approach the King of kings.
He expects us to fear Him and worship Him exactly as He requires. (Ex 25:40, Num 8:4,
Ps 89:7, Is 1:12, Mk 7:7, Heb 8:5)
This Biblical theory of worship is stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith: "The
acceptable way of worshipping the True God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by
His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations of
men, or the suggestions of Satan, or in any other way not prescribed in the Holy
Scriptures." (21:1)
This Regulative Principle was once held by all Reformed and Presbyterian Churches, but
most Christians today haven't even heard of it. We act as if we are free to do whatever
pleases us in public worship - as long as the Bible doesn't forbid it. There are no verses
condemning - by name - such things as holidays, hymns, musical instruments and
dancing. All these things and more pollute contemporary worship.
What does the Bible say? Nothing belongs in our worship except those things God has
told us to do. King Saul was condemned for his unauthorized sacrifice. (1 Sam
13:13&14) God tells us not to add to His rules or subtract from them. (Deut 4:2, Josh
1:7&8)
Worship is not supposed to be creative, changing, fun and "contemporary". Holy angels
and inspired prophets hid their faces from God. (Ex 3:6, Is 6:243,1 Kg 19:13) Many
modern congregations treat public worship as light-hearted entertainment.
There is not one example in the Scriptures of God approving man-made worship. Both
Cain and Abel knew that a sinner cannot come to God except through blood sacrifice.
(Gen 3:21, Heb 9:22) AbeI, believing God's word, came to Him as He had required. (Heb
11:4)) But Cain brought the sacrifice the he wanted to bring, and God rejected him.
(Gen 4:3-7)
When God expanded the rules for worship at the time of Moses, He never asked the
Prophet to design or develop any ceremony or piece of tabernacle furniture. (Ex 25:40,
Deut 12:32) Similarly, the Holy Spirit gave David the exact pattern for the construction
of God's Temple. (1 Chron 28:12,19)
When Christ came, the Old Testament ceremonies that predicted Him were set aside.
(Jn 4:7-26, Heb 8:13) But the Regulative Principle remains in force. Pastors must do
what Jesus tells them to do - not whatever they feel like doing as long as Jesus hasn't
told them not to! (Mt 28:20,1 Cor 11:23, 2 Cor 5:20, Rev 22:18&19)
What worship has been commanded for Christians? It is simple, pure worship without
any added ceremonies borrowed from the Mosaic Law or the religious practices of
Papists and pagans. New Testament public worship includes Psalm-singing, prayer,
Bible-reading and preaching. It must be spiritual, appealing to the heart, mind and
conscience, not carnally aimed at the bodily senses. (Jn 4:24)
The Bible warns us about 5 kinds of people who corrupt God's worship:
1. The Blasphemous False "god" (Gen 3:5)
Nebuchadnezzar ordered his subjects to worship a statue of himself. (Dan 3) Darius
required everyone to pray only to him. (Dan 6) Aaron made a golden calf, and
Jeroboam set up 2 of them. (Ex 32, Num 16,1 Kg 12:25-33) The Man of Sin is the Roman
Pope who also claims to take God's place as ruler of the Church. (2 Thess 2:3&4) We
must not copy his religion.
2. The Popularity Addict (Jer 5:31)
Why did Aaron make the golden calf? It was because he feared the congregation more
than the Lord. (Ex 32:21-25) Too many pastors these days serve men instead of Christ,
seeking popularity instead of purity. (Gal 1:10) We need ministers like the priests who
stood up to Uzziah. (2 Chron 26:16-22)
3. The Scheming Politician (2 Pt 2:15)
Some wicked people use God's worship for selfish purposes. Balaam just wanted the
money. (Num 22-24) Jezebel called a public fast to have Naboth murdered. (1 Kg
21:9-13) Jehu proclaimed his piety to be popular with the people, but kept sinning.
(2 Kg 10:16,31)
Jeroboam is the worst example. He invented new worship to keep his subjects from
leaving Israel to attend the proper Temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kg 12:25-33) Today's
ecumenical leaders want to make worship more liturgical (Popish) for the sake of
Christian "unity". Conservative leaders sometimes treat minor matters as vital in order
to justify their schism from other believers.
4. The Creative Artist (2 Tim 3:4)
Many advocates of innovative worship are motivated by artistic feelings. They want the
service to be entertaining, and they don't ask themselves what God might want. All
such man-pleasing things are to be avoided. (Deut 4:15416, Ezek 33:32)
Outward ceremonies aimed at the five senses can temporarily sway people's emotions.
But often they don't reach the mind or conscience in any lasting way. (Job 21:12-14,
Amos 6:5&6) We should not make worship frivolous and fun to please people. We
should train believers to be spiritual and serious, focused on truth, not emotions or
experiences.
5. The Well-Meaning Helper (2 Sam 6:6&7)
A few advocates of wild worship may be sincere. Uzzah touched the Ark of the
Covenant because he was afraid it would fall on the ground. His motive was good, but
God struck him dead for his evil action!
When all is said and done, we can't improve on Biblical worship by adding our own
wacky inventions. God is never pleased with "service" that He never told us to give.
(Jer 7:31)
"The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an
abomination." (Proverb 28:9)
This summary of part 1 of Anarchy in Worship by James Begg (1875) was prepared by
Scott Rocca Box 365 Gratz PA 17030