Let us worship with our all, and according to God's Word, and so fulfill our reason for being!
CHAPTER 22: Of Religious Worship and the Christian Sabbath
(Parts One through Three)
The first thing to note about Chapter 22 of the Confession (as well as chapter 21 of the Westminster Confession) is that it exists. In our day of antinomianism dismissal (if not down-right rejection) of God’s Law—including the Ten Commandments, is more common than not for evangelical Christians to have no regard, much less honor, for the Lord’s Day as the Christian Sabbath. Yet right there in these two historic confessions, specific attention is given to the recognition and honoring of the Lord’s Day, calling it “the Sabbath.”
It is doubtful anything could be said on the subject that will sway those whose minds are steeled in the conviction that “we are not under the law,” and that “the Sabbath was a commandment for Israel, not the Church.” That is a case of wrongly dividing the Word of God, dismissing one of the Ten Commandments (why only this one?), and rejecting the Church’s historic understanding of this matter.
The long and the short of it is that (a) the Sabbath is a creation order, merely reiterated in the law. (b) It is therefore not exclusively for Israel, but for all the sons of Adam. (c) Though the commandment has been misused and abused by many for a long, long time, it simply states that we are to remember it (do not forget or reject it). We are to keep it holy (it is not like every other day, but is a special day for worship and attention to spiritual matters). And we are to do no work on it (excepting works of mercy and necessity—in other words, stop the everyday pursuits to pursue the Lord with special vigor, and refrain from commerce).
Here is the reason Christians do not honor the Sabbath, and in so doing reject one of God’s Ten Commandments: They do not want to.
(Part Two)
God created all things for the praise of His glory (Psalm 150:6, Isaiah 43:7, Ephesians 1:11-14). Whatever He created that does not worship Him as He has prescribed, is in sin and therefore in trouble. The created being given the highest calling to worship God is mankind. We were created in His image and we are able to worship Him volitionally (as an act of the will) instead of merely by instinct (as the rest of creation does).
With what intensity are we to worship God? We are to worship Him as we Love Him: “With all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). In other words: we are to give our all to worship God.
In what manner are we to worship God? As He has instructed us in His Word. Since He created us for worship before we were born, it should be obvious that worship is God’s idea not ours. Therefore He is the only one in a position to prescribe the appropriate ways in which to worship Him. We have no right to worship God according to our whims, or in creative ways that are not according to what He has ordained. When we do that, worship becomes about us, instead of about Him. And that is a monumental error.
Lord, may we worship You with our all, and according to Your Word,
and so fulfill our reason for being!
(Part Three)
Worshiping God is what we are to do in our hearts everywhere, every day. When we are alone. When we are gathered as families. When we are gathered in small groups. Let us worship the Lord everywhere, at all times.
When are gathered in church, we do err if we only think of the singing portion of the service as “worship.” From the initial greeting and call to worship, through to and including the benediction, we are participants in a worship service. We worship in song by giving God thanks and praise, but:
Let us worship God also in the praying, by remaining engaged and praying along with whoever is leading the congregation in prayer.
Let us worship God by listening during the announcements, asking God to motivate us to participate in whatever ministries and activities are being announced—and by praying for those who are involved even if we are not.
Let us worship God by giving Him our undivided attention when His Word is being read. It is His Word, we do not want to miss what He has to say to us!
Let us worship God by giving full attention to what He has to say through the preaching of His Word. May we anticipate and fully expect to hear from Him when His Word is being preached.
Let us worship God during the benediction. Let us listen for His voice, and let us be thinking about the next time we can gather to worship Him again!
Lord, may we worship You with our all, and according to Your Word,
and so fulfill our reason for being!
When worship isn't worship. And when it is.
CHAPTER 22: Of Religious Worship and the Christian Sabbath
(Parts Four through Six)
When the devil “tempted” Jesus to worship him (Matthew 4:8-9), Jesus refused, replying, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (v.10) The word translated serve is not merely the menial work a servant does for a human master. It is a word that denotes religious service, homage, or worship. In fact, that Greek word is translated worship in at least three places in the New Testament. So apart from the first of the Ten Commandments—and numerous other places throughout the Bible that command worship of none but Jehovah God—from Jesus own lips, we are reminded that worship is to be given to none but God.
None but God—exclusively. Not angels, or saints, or relics, or doctrines, or churches, or even worship itself. Worship is to be directed to God alone. Any worship of anyone or anything else is sin of the first degree. It doesn’t matter if one is worshiping someone or something instead of God, or alongside of God. Any worship that is not to God alone is false worship and an insult to God.
The Confession also reminds us that the only acceptable worship, even to God, must be presented through a mediator, and there is but One Mediator, the God-Man, Jesus Christ. He is the only High Priest through whom we are to worship God. There are two New Testament priesthoods: (1) The supreme priesthood of our Great High Priest: Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16); and (2) the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5 & 9). Apart from these, there is no special category of priests who mediate for us. No priests. No saints or angels, and no, not even Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary. Adding any other mediator is no less blasphemous than worshiping another god.
(Part Five)
Believe it or not, all people, not just Christians, are commanded to worship God. That is why the Ten Commandments begin with the subject of worship (Exodus 20:1-11). Those who do not worship God are breaking four of the Ten Commandments and are therefore sinning. According to Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin” (all sins, not just the “big ones”) “is death” (God’s wrath, not just physical death). Therefore, all who do not worship God are lost and bound for perdition. Clearly, a lot of people are in trouble because a lot of people simply do not worship God.
So are all who worship God in good standing with God? Not a chance, since there is only one kind of worship God accepts. The only worship God accepts is offered by the worshiper who knows God personally and intimately (John 4:22). Acceptable worship is offered in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Spiritual worship is not fleshly. Truthful worship is guided by God’s Word which is truth (John 17:17). Worship accepted by God is offered exclusively through Jesus Christ, who is the Truth and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
Think of it this way: any so-called worship that comes from those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; that appeals to the flesh; that is not informed by and based on God’s Word; that is not offered through Jesus Christ, is not acceptable to God. That is how serious this matter of worship is. We must be careful not to offer “worship” that is unacceptable to God, since no matter how sincere and heart-felt it may be, it is sin.
(Part Six)
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of worship, is required by God of all men (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). But for that worship to be acceptable, it must be made in the name of Jesus the Son (John 14:13-14), aided by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18), and according to the will of the Father (1 John 5:14-15).
We must pray with understanding (rather than mumbling repetitious, meaningless prayers that are not prayers; or in a supposed “prayer language” that we do not understand).
Prayer is to be offered reverently and humbly, not forgetting to “Whom” we are speaking.
Prayer must be offered fervently as though all depends on God, because ultimately—it all does.
Prayer must be offered in faith, believing that God hears, that He cares, and that He acts in response to prayer.
Prayer must be offered in love because we are addressing the One who loves us.
Prayer must be offered perseveringly since we dare not give up simply because God does not answer according to our timetable.
We are to pray only for what is biblical, for people living, or who will live, but never for those who have died.
Prayer in these ways is worship of God.
Add to, or neglect anything the Bible says about worship, and it is no longer worship.
CHAPTER 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
(Parts Seven through Nine)
There are five component parts to corporate worship.
We worship God in song, singing praises to Him, and with words to worship God and encourage one another.
We worship God through the preaching of God’s Word as we give Him our attention, listening to learn more about Him and how He would have us live in relationship to Him and to each other.
We worship God in corporate prayer, whether by listening to (and praying along with) those who lead the congregation in prayer, or by participating in times when it is appropriate for members of the congregation to pray aloud in turn.
We worship God by observing the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. At a baptism, the person being baptized is worshiping God, as are those who witness the baptism worship with the one being baptized. Every time we receive the Lord’s Supper, we worship Christ, remembering Him in faith, proclaiming His death till He comes again, and receiving spiritual nourishment.
Lastly, as we gather for worship, our fellowship together is also an act of worship as we delight the Father by gathering around Him in one accord.
Adding to these things makes worship something other than biblical, corporate worship.
Worship that neglects these things is less than biblical worship.
Let us worship God according to His Word.
(Part Eight)
In the previous post, we listed five component parts of biblical worship. We stated that adding to these things makes corporate worship something other than biblical worship. Worship that neglects these things is also less than biblical worship. Let us worship God according to His Word.
So what additions make worship not worship? Short answer: Anything. Why? Because worship is God’s idea and not ours. Since worship is about God, not about us, we are not at liberty to add our innovations. There are many man-made innovations routinely added to worship by well-meaning, but misguided believers. Some of the most common items include, ear-assaulting sound levels, light shows, and even pyrotechnics.
Yes, incredibly, some people do this to “wow” God’s people. Listen, when God’s people encounter God through biblical worship that is “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), there is no need to try to “whoop anybody up.” After all, if people are not awed by God, how can man-made techno-dazzle do it? And if people are wowed by the techno-dazzle and not by God, isn’t it obvious that it wasn’t God-centered worship, but man-centered entertainment?
Once again, let us worship God according to His Word.
(Part Nine)
In addition to what the Confession teaches about biblical corporate worship, there are other actions done by, and attitudes found in believers that are very much components of small group, family, and individual worship. The Confession mentions several:
Reading Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13).
Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).
Generous and charitable giving (Acts 20:35).
Prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
Obedience (Philippians 2:12-13).
Faith in God (Hebrews 11:6).
Reverence and godly fear (Ephesians 5:21).
Godly humiliation and fasting (1 Peter 5:5 & Matthew 6:17-18). Faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Let us incorporate all these into our lives as acts of worship!
One last thing… Biblical worship is never to be tied to, nor is it more holy or acceptable to God because of location, the direction one faces, or what one wears. No amount of incense or candles make worship more spiritual or acceptable to God. Sadly, these kinds of additions to worship often taint alleged worship, making it not worship when alleged worshipers trust in any of these things.
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