Are we guilty of vain worship?

ARE YOU GUILTY OF VAIN WORSHIP?     

I pose this question with no malice intent to cause offense or condemnation. I recently came to this realization and conviction through the study of the inspired word of God, and therefore my intent is to provoke the desire for a deeper study of the matter, peradventure the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know how to truly worship Him in spirit and truth.

Let me state from the outset that, the question of vain worship is by no means related to false worship, neither does it pertains to one’s free gift of eternal life and salvation. For as every believer should know, it is by grace we have been saved, through faith – and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We need to stress on these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

One of the good works God prepared in advance for us to do is, to worship Him; that means, expressing our relationship to God in reverence and adoration.

For example; it is stated in the Psalms, “Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalms 95:6-7).

Ascribe to the Lord O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord Glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him all the earth” (Psalms 96:7-9; 29:1-2).

I highlighted two important things which I will dwell on later.

It is imperative that the matter of vain worship be thoroughly examined by all true and sincere believers, because the worse indictment which is labeled on those who worship the one and only true God is that of worshiping the true God in vain.

Jesus, quoting from the prophet Isaiah said to the Pharisees, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written; ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men; for laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have let go the commandments of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark.7: 6-9).

True worship in our new dispensation is defined as, “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).

As believers we have been given the prerogative to judge ourselves; for if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Let us therefore judge ourselves as to whether or not we are worshiping the true God in vain.

Here are four areas to prove to ones’ self whether or not he/she is worshiping God in vain.

1.     Is there any biblical truth to support and validate the day and occasion we are to appear before God to worship?

Remember, those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and truth. For example; the Lord says; “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

Bring no more futile [vain, worthless] sacrifices; incense [prayer] is an abomination to me, the new moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons, and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them, when you spread out your hands, I will hide My face from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

Notice, it did not say, “My New Moons and My appointed feasts” but rather your New Moons and your appointed feasts which the Lord’s soul hates. Meaning that, they are not the Lord’s appointed feast days.

To be continued\

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph