Worshipping by Faith-A Follow- Up
by David Sims
Brother Smithson made many excellent comments in his article, Worshipping by Faith. (If you have not read it already, please click the link and do so, then return to this follow-up article). I'm not going to correct anything he said, but build upon it with some additional thoughts.
The "change agents" today are saying the same thing that has been said for many years...that the church can do anything not specifically prohibited by Scriptures. I wonder if God specifically told Cain and Abel not to offer vegetables? Their logic is faulty, for they preach "exceptions" rather than "the rule" in many cases. They disregard Scriptural authority, citing "love" and "unity" as the only authority they need for any act. We must remember that Jesus said we must worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). To have one without the other is vain. There are plenty of congregations with lots of "spirit" (zeal, proper attitude) but little "truth" (Scripturally-correct doctrine). And I'm sure there are plenty with lots of truth but little spirit. And there may even be those with none of either! I hope to be a part of one that has 100% of both.
A common saying today is to "attend the church of your choice." The media propagates the idea of religious freedom and tolerance, yet the Bible has no room for it! A friend of mine has a bumper sticker that says, "Attend the church of God's choice." There is only one God, and the only way to know Him and serve Him is according to His inspired Word. I recently spoke to an elder of a congregation who kept emphasizing faith in our worship. As long as one has faith that what he does is right, he argued, isn't that all that really matters? My response is the same as brother Smithson's: Rom. 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing the word of God. so to act outside of what the word of God authorizes is to act without true faith. Hence, how can a person claim to be worshipping by faith when they employe mechanical instruments or hand-clapping to make music, when the New Testament is resoundingly silent (does not authorize) it? How can one have faith in something that God has not said?
Some say, "But I just feel that I can better express my faith to God by ____________(insert various denominational worship ideas)." Unfortunately, this person is exactly right. They are expressing some kind of faith, THEIR FAITH, to God; they are not expressing Scriptural Christian faith to God. They are telling God, "This is how I choose to worship you. This is what I offer you." I can't help but think of Nadab & Abihu, who offered "strange fire" to God and were struck dead for it (Lev. 10:1-3). Or King Saul, who disobeyed God's command to slay all the Amalekites by bringing back their animals and their king to offer as sacrifices, and his kingdom was taken away for it; Samuel even called him rebellious (1 Sam. 15:1-23). "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." It does not matter what man may "feel" or "think" about anything. What matters is what God has said about it. We are not here to serve men, but to serve God. How can one be a servant if he does not obey his Master?
Posted by David F. Sims, doing my part to "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6)
All quotes taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise stated.
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