What Does The Bible Say About Worship?

Vain Worship
Many people think that God is pleased with any worship that we offer Him as long as it
comes from the heart.

While the proper frame of mind in worship is important, so is the proper method of
worship.  Other-wise, it is vain “These people draw near to me with their mouth, and
honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).  

Man has never been satisfied with just doing God’s things in His prescribed ways.  We
find numerous changes, additions, and human traditions which make our worship void.  

Many people will be surprised to learn that all their efforts to worship and serve God
were vain, because they did not obey His commands “Not everyone who says to Me,
‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven...”  (Matthew 7:21-23).

How does God wants us to worship?  Is there a pattern for acceptable worship (cf.
Hebrews 8:4-5)?  Can we just assume that anything we do from the heart is acceptable,
therefore we should worship Him in the way that is most comfortable for us? “But the
hour is coming, and now is, when 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).  

It is sacrilege to think that we have a reason or right to tamper with worship.  Instead, it
is our duty to learn what kind of worship God wants... then give it to Him.  How do we
determine those practices which are under Christ’s authority and according to the divine
pattern?

First, we look for a direct command, like: “Do this in remembrance of me... let each one
of you lay something aside... speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Ephesians 5:19).  

Second, we look for approved examples (Philippians 4:9).  If the apostles and first
century church acted with God’s obvious approval, then we know it is scriptural for us
too.   “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread...” (Acts 20:7)  Here, we learn what day we are to meet to worship and take the
Lord’s Supper.

Third, we look for necessary inference.  This is not to say “that is what you infer it means
and this is what I infer it means”.  This is an inescapable conclusion—it is not expressly
stated or exemplified, but is clearly implied.

For instance, we are told that disciples broke bread “on the first day of the week” (Acts
20:7).  Since no particular yearly or quarterly Sunday is mentioned, we necessarily infer
that since every week has a first day we are to take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday!!

Since the first century, man has added many of his own innovations to the way he
worships.  Without Bible authority we must realize that these traditions render our
worship vain “And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men” (Matthew 15:9).  

Men have perverted every act of divinely prescribed worship in some way or another, and
have added things which God never commanded.  Many people observe Christmas and
Easter as the two holiest days of the year, not knowing that the Bible never even
mentions them, much less gives us authority to observe these religious days (cf.
Galatians 4:10-11).  

Man has even changed the day for the Lord’s Supper from Sunday—as taught in
Scripture—to Thursday night, Saturday mass, yearly holidays, and even during
weddings (cf. Acts 20:7).

Prayer is not to be a formal ritual but man has made it a vain repetition by repeating the
same prayers in order and counting them with rosary beads (cf. Matthew 6:7).  

Singing is to be offered as worship to God by every Christian and the only instrument on
which we make melody is our heart (cf. Ephesians 5:19).  Yet, man has added
unauthorized choirs and instruments of music.  

Worship conducted as entertainment, raising money through fund raisers rather than
free-will offerings, women publicly leading worship—what does God think of these
changes?  

What does He think of the lack of respect we show Him by trying to offer Him something
else, or something better?  It is worship done in vain!

--Rob Harbison