Any discussion of what something is, or should be, benefits by also discussing what it is not, or what it shouldn’t be. One benefit of doing that is to create a contrast by which things may be more clearly seen. This holds true in the Bible. The Scriptures give us many contrasts, especially when it comes to worship.
In contrast to spiritual and true worship we have examples of fleshly and false worship given to us in the Scriptures. Paul makes a very strong statement about how worship was corrupted in Romans chapter one.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:21-25)
Things to note are, they knew God. They didn’t glorify Him, They were not thankful. They imagined Him to be other than He is. They were foolish. There hearts were darkened, or they became very ignorant and unable any longer to see the truth. They made their own images of God. They worshiped men, birds, animals, and “creeping things”(pretty comprehensive term). They changed the truth of God into a lie and perverted worship. God judged them by not stopping them.
The they Paul speaks of is humanity in general, both ancient and modern. Consider the passage of Job 32:8,
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8)
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), so all of us are originally guilty before God and stand in need of a Savior, Jesus Christ. But in Romans Chapter One we can see the history of the world in general. This must have described the condition of things before the flood, as well as after the flood. When we look around at the ruins of ancient civilizations what really stands out are the temples and idols of their false worship. But we can also see the condition of the modern world, which makes God over into our own image. And how much like today it sounds to us when Paul said, “… worshipped and served the creature …” when concern for the well being of the earth is almost a religion.
In another place Paul speaks of worship that is of human invention,
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. (Colossians 2:16-23)
The human inventions are voluntary humility; worship of angels; leaving Christ for one’s own imagination of Him; subjecting oneself to the Law instead of Christ, or to the commandments and teachings of men; will worship; self imposed humility; neglecting the body; and satisfying the flesh.
Voluntary humility refers to a false humility that masks pride. Worship of angels is improper, they are servants themselves. Angel worship places an undue focus upon them, and often displaces worship of Christ Himself. We are warned against returning to the Law in Hebrews, that is to deny the sacrifice of Christ and return to inferior earthly copies of the true Heavenly pattern. Commandments and teachings of men is to be contrasted to God’s commandments and teaching. Will worship refers to self imposed things, fasting, penances, self denials, self inflicted punishments, all things beyond what God has asked for or commanded. It is related to the idea of neglecting the body: think of the so called gymnosophists traveling throughout the ancient world, they were also called philosophers who practiced and taught various bodily exercises as a means of worship. They ranged from fasting to self punishments. All these things were invented worship activities, or alterations of things given by God, made up by men.
We have examples of corrupted worship in the Old Testament given in many places, whether before the flood, or before the Law, or later, after the establishment of Israel in the surrounding nations. The very perverse corruptions of various nations in Palestine were given for the reason for God’s command to Israel to utterly destroy them when they were entering the promised land.
In Israel itself we see the corruption of worship given as the reason for various judgments, invasions, and finally Israel’s removal from the land in punishment and correction. Perhaps the best known instance of corrupt worship was the golden calf incident at Mt. Sinai while Moses was receiving the Law.
And we are given several instances of corrupted worship in the Tabernacle, whether the burning of strange incense, touching the ark improperly, or the warning of death to the high priest if he should make an error while ministering in the Holy place.
All these things about Israel were written for our admonition that we might learn from them.
Jesus said that He would build His Church. He is building it. But He also indicated that there would be opposition to His work,
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
The “gates of hell” speak of opposition There is also the opposition of false teachers. Witness Jude who wrote his Epistle of warning,
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)
The Apostle John also gave warnings in his three Epistles about false teachers, and those who would make themselves leaders. We find reading about these people that they variously taught false doctrines concerning Christ, concerning holy living, and concerning the practices of worship. Paul tells us,
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. (Colossians 2:16-23)
False worship follows our own imaginations rather than God’s revelations in Scriptures. It may also lead us to become hypocritical, the inward spirit not comporting with the outward show. Spiritual and true worship is not derived from our fleshly human life and power using our imaginations.
So then we see that false worship can range from idolatry to false humility. What we learn is that worship must be according to God’s will, which is recorded in the Scriptures. God is the creator, and it is His prerogative to dispose of the details of worship as He will. Jesus, His Son, gives us the keynote in John chapter four: worship is to be in spirit and in truth.
©FH 2012