Not everyone in our country will be gathering to worship God this morning. Some see no point in “going to church” once a year. It seems hypocritical to them (I agree). But many others who do not often go to services will make a special effort to attend this day. This is the day the religious world calls “Easter”. It is the day they remember Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It is an annual holiday. Some will not gather. Others will come together in the church of their choice, but do not intend to worship. And there are those who will come to “worship,” not realizing that their actions not acceptable to God. Our heavenly Father expects more than an annual visit to the church of man’s choice. Why do so many feel this token contribution of “worship” is sufficient?
The problem with many men is that they have forgotten what worship is all about. Worship is expressing adoration to someone or something. You can not neglect God 364 days a year and then “worship” Him on one Sunday. Neither can you live like the devil six days a week and “worship” Him every Sunday.
Worship begins with gratitude, and gratitude begins with knowledge. Before we can address God in acceptable reverence we need to appreciate Him. Before we can appreciate Him, we must learn about Him. To facilitate this learning, God gave us the Bible. The scriptures tell us all about God and His relationship with man.
The first chapter of Romans concludes with a long list of sins that men have engaged in. Earlier be describes man and woman’s involvement with idolatry and homosexual activity. Notice where these sins begin. Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Man started with the knowledge of God. This awareness came from creation (this was before the foolishness of evolution, the big bang, and other theories). But man did not want to glorify (worship) or be thankful to God. As they turned from God they turned to foolishness. They began to imagine idols were responsible for all their blessings in life. Since they made up their own gods, they could make up the way these gods desired to be worshipped. Of course, the method of worship desired by their gods were the exact same things that the men desired to do. Naturally, with no restraints, these men and women would wildly deviate into sexual perversities that were unnatural in the name of worship.
We may not be as foolish as the ancient Gentiles who worshipped statues, burned their children on altars, or committed fornication in honor of a goddess, but we are not far from it.
Today men will alter the characteristics of the true God of the Bible into a more manageable god. Instead of the God who commands obedience, they invent a god who requires nothing. Instead of the God who warns us of the punishment of hell, they construct a god who is too gentle and loving to punish anyone.
With the reinventing of God, comes the rearranging of worship. Now our activities in church services will be the things that we enjoy. We will have rock music, comedians, attractive female preachers, athletics, food, and any other thing we want, and we will call it worship. The god of our imagination will be thrilled with whatever we do, as long as we call it worship.
As true Christians compel men to turn back to the Bible, these pseudo Christians are determined to change the Bible as well. It digresses into a book of helpful sayings, a general guideline, a history lesson, first class literature, and a thousand other things besides the authoritative word of God that directs our lives. Rom 1:23 tells us that the Gentiles “...changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image...” They made their own gods, as do men today. Rom 1:25 says they also, “...changed the truth of God into a lie...” The methods and motives of sinful societies do not change over time. Men still do not like to retain God in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28) and so they depart from Him into what they find to be a more tolerable religion. If you read the chapter you will see that as man gives up on God, God gives up on man.
You may see this as quite a leap. All you did was go to church once this year. Now this guy is trying to line you up with the idolaters and homosexuals and all types of other sinners. What did you do that was so bad? You failed to worship God. You did not glorify Him. You can not worship God by showing up once a year. You are not truly thankful for all He has done for you if you feel this annual visit is adequate response to His goodness. This one day the religious world remembers the death of Jesus. But Jesus taught us to remember His death at the partaking of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 11:23-26). Do we really think He is pleased with us when we disobey Him 51 times a year!
What should we give back to someone who has given their life for us? Should we do whatever we want, and say “He ought to be satisfied with that?” Or should we in humble gratitude ask, "Lord, what would You have me to do?"
I have often compared our relationship with God in worship to that of our relationship with our spouse in love. If you gave your wife a wide screen TV, a hunting jacket (just your size), or a new set of golf clubs for her birthday would she feel loved? You can not do whatever selfish act you want and label it love. Nor can you engage in any practice you wish and call it worship. The woman to be loved will tell you how to show her affection. The God whom we serve will inform us how to worship Him.
If you just drooped into our assembly to see what was going on because it was “Easter”, you may have been surprised to see no special activities for the holiday. The reason is we remember the death of our Savior every first day of the week. We hope that you will consider the content or this article and determine to truly become a disciple and worshipper of God.
It starts with gratitude. You read your Bible. You see what God has done for you. And when you reach the point of love and appreciation that demands a response, then you do what God says He wants you to do to worship Him and save yourself from this wicked world (Acts 2:36-41).
