“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”
(Matthew 15:9 NKJV)

not all worship is acceptable

Many people are amazed to hear that worship can be in vain. They assume that God must accept anything we offer Him.

Did the soldiers engage in acceptable worship when they mocked Jesus (Matthew 27:27-31)? They ended their hypocrisy by crucifying Him. Is attitude alone what God seeks from us?

We must worship Him in His way: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Anything less than this crucifies Him again and puts Him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:6).

Adding mechanical music is a modern example of departing from the doctrine of Christ and going beyond the word of God (2 John 1:9). We are not to think beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).

We honor Him by doing what He says. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Our loyalty and devotion to His word shows our love for Him. Going beyond the teaching of Christ leaves us without the Father and the Son (2 John 1:9).

It would be sheer hypocrisy to profess our love and loyalty for Him even as we turn away from His instructions for our worship. This hypocrisy would place us squarely in the camp of the soldiers who crucified Him.

– Rick Duggin