True or false worship?
I always preferred seeing true or false questions in my exams, with multiple-choice questions coming in a distant second. Those questions asking you to list or explain things were traumatising to me, especially when I did not study enough. Multiple-choice questions gave me some hope, for at least the answer was among the many choices given. However, true or false questions narrowed selection to only one of two responses, and so the probability of me picking the right answer was far greater. Yes, picking correctly and praying describes what I was doing in these exams—Jesus, please help me to pick the right answer, please!
Life is a series of seasons and tests with multiple choices presented to us each day. Choosing the right answer the right way must not be left to probability if we are to become who God wants us to be—true worshippers. In John 4:23, Jesus tells us that true worshippers are the kind for which He is looking. If then, worship can be true; worship can also be false, right?
The word “true” is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “accurate” or “exact,” whilst the Cambridge dictionary defines “false” as “not real or true but made to look or seem real or true in order to deceive.”
Worship, as we continue to learn, is the reverence that we give to something/someone higher than us. We were all created to worship, but though we all don’t worship the God of Heaven, we all worship someone or something knowingly or unknowingly.
THE STANDARD OF TRUTH
What is the standard of truth? Even though some may disagree, God is the standard of truth. John 14:6 Jesus says, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE!”
Timothy McCabe in the article, “What is your standard of truth? How do you determine what is true?” writes that, “The Bible stands as an authoritative communication to us from God Himself, and we can often discern truth or falsehood simply by comparing a particular claim with Biblical revelation.”
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 tells us that, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.” Though there are other authorities that may be referenced, the Bible is the final and unquestionable authority of truth for the church of God.
Apostle Joshua Selman, founder of the Eternity Network International (ENI), taught during one of his recent Koinonia gatherings that the factors that determine whether worship is true or false are:
- A revelation of the object of our worship (Rev 5:11-14, John 4:22),
- The state of the heart of the worshipper (Romans 12:1, Matthew 15:8),
- The degree of compliance or obedience to the pattern of worship given by God.
This pattern, according to John 4:24, requires worship that is done “in spirit”—coming from the heart—and “in truth,” based on the revelation of God through the scriptures.
Isaiah 58 also teaches what is true and false worship. The purpose of this chapter is to cause us to repent as God reveals the things we are doing that displease Him. If we do not know, then we cannot change, and if we do not change, then we will continue offering worship that is false, which will be rejected by God.
Examine closely verses 1–2 of this chapter in the NLT version of the Bible:
Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.
Here, the Lord instructs His prophet Isaiah to inform His people of the shallowness of their worship. The cry is one of urgency to let the people know that they are going in the wrong direction. They claim to want to know the ways of God, but do not want to do what He requires of them. Hear them in verses 3-5:
‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!”
IT’S NOT THE WHAT BUT THE WHY
“I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarrelling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?”
What is our true object or intent of worship? Is it done to gain men’s approval rather than the approval of God? In Matthew 23:27,28, we see that sometimes our acts of worship to God are merely self-serving and superficial acts. We appear righteous and holy on the outside, but inwardly, we are frauds and hypocrites. Though we practice the different religious rituals and may even ‘look or dress like Christians,’ our hearts are full of hate, anger, and unforgiveness.
As we continue reading Isaiah, we see that God is looking for the evidence of real spiritual change, for it is not what we do that matters, but why we do it.
So often, though, our biases, prejudices, and perceptions affect the way we worship, making us believe that what we are doing is acceptable to God. Worship is deeply personal but may be influenced and shaped by our different cultural and religious beliefs. Nevertheless, true worship is a sincere and deep desire to continually honour and glorify God. It is spiritual and transcends traditions and outward acts. True worship comes from a heart that continues to hear and be transformed by the Word of God every day and in every way. Then, when we call on Him, He will answer, because our worship is attractive and acceptable to Him, for our worship is true.
Until next time, continue becoming true worshippers!
Lisa May Dillon, a pastor and worship leader in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is creator of the podcast, Becoming A True Worshipper.
