Going Through The Motions

Going Through The Motions

Jesus accused the Pharisees and Scribes saying: “This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9) The teachers of the Law of Moses had long since substituted their own wisdom for the commandments of God. Other passages indicate they had bound upon the people concepts they themselves were unwilling to follow. They sought after the admiration of their followers so they prayed long, meaningless prayers in their temple worship. They demanded people give them greetings in public places and they apparently had the attitude that God was lucky to have them as the Pharisee prayed: “God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people:” (Luke 18:12) Their worship to God had become empty and meaningless.

Worship can become meaningless in many ways. Jesus said: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) Worshipping God in truth includes the mechanics of worship: singing, praying, observing the Lord’s Supper and listening to God’s word. In the books of Acts, there are examples of the church worshipping God on Sunday, referred to as the Lord’s Day, because this is the day Jesus was resurrected. The Lord’s Supper is partaken of every Sunday for that is when the early church observed the supper (Acts 20:7) and the modern church should be following their example. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages Christians not to forsake the assembly so as to encourage each other to continue on in the faith and overcome the trials that are part of life. The command for singing is “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:19) The early church sang their songs without the accompaniment of instruments. The early church fathers contrasted the singing of hymns from the heart against that of pagan worshippers who used many instruments.

AUGUSTINE "musical instruments were not used. The pipe, tabret, and harp here associate so intimately with the sensual heathen cults, as well as with the wild revelries and shameless performances of the degenerate theater and circus, it is easy to understand the prejudices against their use in the worship." (Augustine 354 A.D., describing the singing at Alexandria under Athanasius)

Prayers would undoubtedly be as Jesus prescribed when He taught the multitude the model prayer which begins: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9-13) If Christians substitute their own ideas in place of the examples or commands set forth in the scripture worship becomes vain.

Worshipping in truth includes the way in which we conduct our lives throughout the days, weeks, months and years. The book of Malachi discusses how God despises the sacrifices of the Jews because they despised His worship. They brought flawed sacrifices to burn. They committed adultery, practiced witchcraft, lied, turned away orphans and widows in distress and a host of other sins. Sin is that which separates man from God. Paul asked the Roman Christians “What shall we say then? Are to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) Jesus told the multitudes in the sermon on the Mount “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matthew 5:23-24) Christians who continue to practice sin separate themselves from God and their worship becomes vain. In the same manner, Christians who refuse to forgive others are themselves unforgiven by God for “but if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 5:15) and any worship offered in those circumstances also becomes vain.

If worship is done in vain then it becomes an exercise of “going through the motions” without meaning for our lives. If worship is done according to the commandments of God with the desire to be pleasing unto Him then worship becomes one of truth and spirit.