Spirit and Truth—Christ′s Guidelines for Proper Worship

In John 4 we read a discussion Jesus had with a Samaritan woman where He gave forth some profound truths about what kind of worship was necessary to please God. When the woman came to believe that Jesus was a prophet, she took the occasion to ask Him to settle a dispute. "Our fathers," she asked, "worshipped in this mountain; and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship," (Vs. 20).

As is often the case the truth was not somewhere in between two opinions, but in a realm that man had missed altogether. Jesus, in essence the Jews, were correct according to what God had revealed through the years (John 4:22John 4:22
  22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.). But Jesus told her of truth that transcends the geographical location. "Woman, believe me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father," (Vs. 21). Then the Lord spoke these essential truths, "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers. God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth," (Vs. 23-24).
WORSHIP IN SPIRIT Jesus′ explanation that worship must be "in spirit" reminds us that true worship is a spiritual activity involving the spiritual man—that part of man made in the image of God. To be spiritual is to set your mind on "the things of the Spirit," (Romans 8:5Romans 8:5
  5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.), and concern yourself with pleasing GOD. But fleshly minded people "set their minds on the things of the flesh." They are more interested in what pleases THEMSELVES.

A denominational group in one town where I lived advertised that people have given up traditional church services because of "dull and archaic music," but you could "enjoy exciting, progressive, contemporary music" at their church. It is vital that we understand that Biblical worship is not based on what excites or entertains the physical man. If "Amazing Grace" doesn′t mean anything to a person unless someone cranks up the volume on an amplifier and sings in the style of a "rock star," then they surely don′t understand worship as Almighty God designed it.

Spiritual singing is interested in "making melody with your heart to the Lord," (Ephesians 5:19Ephesians 5:19
  19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;). It is a work by which we "teach and admonish," (Colossians 3:16Colossians 3:16
  16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.), and has nothing to do with entertainment. Spiritual prayer is not about oratory ability, (a href="#" class="tt">Matthew 6:5–7Matthew 6:5–7
  5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
  6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  7. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.). Though dim lights and burning incense might thrill someone who is impressed with worldly things, those have nothing to do with appropriate prayer. Spiritual preaching is not about entertainment and worldly wisdom, but is about reproving, rebuking and exhorting people with the Word, (II Timothy 4:3–4II Timothy 4:3–4
  3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
  4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.).
WORSHIP IN TRUTH As we contemplate what Jesus means by worshipping "in truth", two concepts should catch our attention:

• Truth in Life Your life must be right before God for your worship to please Him.
  Psalms 29:2Psalms 29:2
    2. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. calls upon us to worship God in "the beauty of holiness." The Lord refuses the worship of those who won′t obey Him. "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, says the Lord," (Jeremiah 7:8–11Jeremiah 7:8–11
    8. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
    9. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
   10. And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
   11. Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.).
• Truth in Doctrine Worship must also be based on revealed truth, not the traditions of men, (Matthew 15:3–9Matthew 15:3–9
    3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
    4. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
    5. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
    6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
    7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
    8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
    9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.). Legitimate worship cannot ignore HOW God says to worship. Such worship in the New Testament includes:
  • Teaching and admonishing in spiritual songs, (Colossians 3:16Colossians 3:16
      16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.);
  • Remembering Christ′s death in the Lord′s supper, (I Corinthians 11:23–26I Corinthians 11:23–26
      23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
      24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
      25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
      26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.);
  • Prayer, (Ephesians 6:18Ephesians 6:18
      18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;);
  • Studying God′s word, (II Timothy 2:15II Timothy 2:15
      15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.);
  • And giving, (I Corinthians 16:1–2I Corinthians 16:1–2
      1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
      2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.).

In the first century, you could get "exciting" worship down the street at any pagan temple, but true worship belonged to those who respected and obeyed the truth revealed by Jesus Christ.