Biblical Authority For Worship

Jesus informs us that “true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:23). Therefore, we can surmise than anyone who doesn’t worship as such are false worshipers.  God will not accept the kind of worship created by the imaginations of man which is foreign to the Scriptures. God seeks people to worship him who will do so in Spirit and in truth. Jesus promised his apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (Jn. 4:24; 16:13). The New Testament is the complete will of God and it contains all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). The only place that we can find worship that is pleasing and acceptable to God is in the New Testament, and all else is not according to truth.

Unacceptable Kinds Of Worship

Nadab and Abihu are two men who took it upon themselves to alter the form of worship which God had delivered, and “fire went out from the Lord” and devoured these two men as a lesson that he is to be sanctified by those who come near him (Lev. 10:1-3). The worship of the Pharisees was in vain because the traditions and commandments of men had perverted or changed the true worship which God would accept (Matt. 15:7-9). The worship of the woman at the well in Samaria was in ignorance and the Lord pointed her in the right direction (Jn. 4:21-24). These are enough examples to prove the point that all forms of worship is not acceptable with God, but only worship which conforms to the pattern given by God’s holy Word. We must have biblical authority from God for everything that we do in worship if it’s our intention to please God. (Jn. 4:24).

What God Authorizes For Worship

There are only 5 specific acts of worship ordained by the scripture:

1. SINGING

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Eph. 5:19  Those who are familiar with the Lord’s church know that instrumental music is not part of the worship of the church which we read about in the New Testament; therefore, we do not use instrumental music because such would pervert the worship which God has authorized, and cause it to be unacceptable in his sight. Because the Lord never mentioned the use of instrumental music or commanded such, new testament Christians revere the silence of God. 1 Pet 4:11

2. PREACHING GOD’S WORD

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor 1:18 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Cor 1:21 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” 2 Tim 4:2 Each Sunday the church was taught by the means of preaching. Acts 20:7 This preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but words which were authorized by the Spirit, that our faith should not stand in the wisdom of man but in the power of God. 1 Cor 2:4-5  “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Cor 2:13 The pulpit of God has no room for preachers who preach smooth words and flattering speeches to lead away new born babes in Christ. Rom 16:17,18 Congregations should avoid preachers who use philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world, but not after Christ. Col 2:8

3. PRAYING

“I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:” 1 Cor 14:15 “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;” 1 Tim 2:8 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Jam 5:16 This is the confidence we have when Christians pray according to the Will of God. 1 Jn 5:14 Despite the false teaching of denominations, the prayers of sinners are not heard by God, for such are an abomination to God. Jn 9:31 ff; 1 Pet 3:12; Prov 28:9 Therefore, only members of the Church of Christ are heard by God, and their prayers are answered when they are offered according to God’s divine Will.

4. COMMUNION

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you , as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come.” (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26), Upon the first day of the week all true Christians assemble together to remember the Lord’s death by partaking of the communion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Omitting partaking of the Lord’s supper each Sunday is an abominable and foreign worship to God. Also, we must examine ourselves in order that we are worthy of partaking of the Lord’s supper lest we eat and drink damnation to our souls. 1 Cor 11:28,29

5. GIVING

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” 1 Cor 16:1,2 The money given by the saints of God is for the saints only. It is not to be given unto sinners or any man-made organization to do the work of the church. The church of Christ is self sufficient to do the work of God which is the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the church. Eph 4:12

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY FOR ALL WE DO

“And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17). “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”  2 John 9  “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 All other kind of worship is called vain worship by Jesus Christ who said, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”  Matt 15:7-9 The bottom line is that we can’t worship God any way that we choose to worship God and still be pleasing unto God. Any perverted worship of God is unacceptable, and is an abomination to him. Therefore, let us worship the Lord our God as he seeks to be worshiped, and that is in Spirit and in Truth.