How Should We Worship?
The Word of God will be the final say as we shall be judged by it (Jn. 12:48). Let us therefore turn to the Bible to learn the answer to the above Question.
How should we worship to be pleasing to God?
“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Rev. 22:8-9)
Man is a worshiping creature. Without command from the Bible, the history of man has been that of worship. He has bowed himself down to different objects made by his own genius. Without authority from God, regardless of were men dwell, they worship some one or some thing. In order to worship God acceptably, we must do that which God has prescribed in his word. God in his word has taught you and me the proper object of worship and the proper way and manner in which to render the acts required. Everyone that worships does not worship the right object. Everyone that worships the right object does not necessarily worship in the right spirit or in the right way. The combination of the above must be present in order for man to worship God. The majestic writer of the book of Revelation would have us to know that the right object of worship is God. Men have worshiped angels and other lesser beings, but the Bible prescribes that we worship God. That should settle thee matter in the mind of honest people. However, what acts do we perform in worship?
Some folks count beads as part of their worship. Others will throw their new born babies into the Ganges river to appease the gods of wrath that have taken their punishment upon them. Neither one of these acts are approved unto God as worship. A long list of other things that men do and pass off as worship could also be outlined.. There is the god of fashion, the god of recreation, the god of sports and hunting, the god of mammon, and the list continues. All of these are gods that men worship, but these are in contrast with the God of the Bible.
Remember that worship must be in spirit and Truth. Truth is as the Bible commands it. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Since the word of God is truth and God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18), then we need to turn to the Bible to see what God accepts as acts of worship.
In Acts 2:42, the scriptures says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The apostles’ doctrine was simply the things which the apostles taught. That which the apostles taught is further enumerated by the rest of the verse. The apostles taught breaking of bread as an act of worship. The Lord’s supper was partaken of on the first day fo every week (Acts 20:7). The people were taught to give as they had been prospered (1 Cor. 16:2). Notice that men were no longer commanded to tithe, but to give as they had been prospered. For other pertinent facts on giving see 2 Cor. 8-9.
The apostles also taught that prayer was an act of worship unto God. Paul, an apostle, commanded, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Jesus taught that men should pray and not faint (Lk. 18:1). Also, in this list and completing it, we are commanded to sing and make melody in our hearts unto God (Eph. 5:19). Unless we do these things in the prescribed manner., we cannot say that we have worshipped God acceptably. What does it take to constitute and act of worship which meets God’s approval? The act must be directed unto God, the right object; second, it must be done in spirit, which means prompted by the right motive and third, the act must be in truth or according to God’s word, with is the Truth.