Bob Prichard

Topic(s): God's Will, Worship

God intended for those who worship Him to enjoy their worship. Worship is a special time for those who share the common faith to come together to praise and honor the Father. It is a time of joy for God’s people. They should have the attitude of David who said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). Remember, God is the object of our worship, and we must do only what He has authorized, no matter how much we may personally enjoy something. In rejecting Satan’s temptation, Jesus said, “It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). This indicates that only the Lord has the right to determine what we do in worship, and He reveals that through His written word.

Jesus told the woman at the well, “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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). He pointed out that true worshipers worship God; that they must worship Him in spirit and in truth (they cannot choose between worship in spirit or in truth, but must do both); and God seeks such worshipers.

In every passage of scripture that speaks of the kind of music authorized in the church, singing is the only kind of music mentioned. For example, Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Although the book of Revelation mentions musical instruments in its description of heaven, these are not descriptions of the worship of the church. We may do now only what God has authorized if we truly desire to worship God in spirit and in truth. According to Jeremiah 10:23, “the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” God has always been displeased by those who have altered His worship to please themselves. Cain altered the worship God authorized, and failed (Genesis 4:3-5). Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, lost their lives because they disobeyed God and altered worship (Leviticus 10:1-2).

Teaching the commandments of men does not lead to more satisfying worship. Jesus condemned self-willed men who chose to do their own will in worship, saying, “in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). When man substitutes what he wants or likes for what God has authorized, he engages in vain worship, no matter how sincere he is or how much he “enjoys” it. If the deciding factor in worship is to be what man finds pleasing, then man has become the authority. If every man brought into the worship what he “liked” or “enjoyed,” the result would be chaos. True and acceptable worship is directed to God, and is in harmony with what He has authorized. No matter how much we might enjoy an addition to what God has commanded in worship, we cannot go beyond what He has plainly authorized.