God created man with an instinctive need to worship. When man worships God as the Lord has instructed, there is something intensely thrilling and satisfying about being in His presence. But here’s the question: Does it really matter how a person worships? Can a person worship God in any way that he chooses and in any way that feels good, and that worship be acceptable and pleasing to God? Let’s investigate that for a moment.
First, the Bible teaches that not all worship is acceptable to God. The first record of worship in the Bible shows there is such a thing as acceptable worship and such a thing as unacceptable worship. “The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering” (Gen. 4:4-5). Not all worship is alike. This is seen again with Nadab and Abihu, when they “offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them” (Lev. 10:1-2). Jesus Himself taught that some worship man offers is “in vain” (Matt. 15:8-9). So, how can we know if our worship is acceptable to God?
Second, the Bible teaches that God is both the object and the governor of true worship. Jesus taught an essential lesson about worship in John 4. Study His words carefully: “…true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (4:23-24). By identifying “true worshipers,” Jesus implied there can be “false worshipers.” Jesus identified the proper object of worship (“God”), the proper attitude of worship (“in spirit”) and the proper standard of worship (“truth”). As the Creator and focus of the worship of the church, God alone has the right to govern and regulate what happens in worship. To worship in “truth,” we must look to His “Word,” which “is truth” (John 17:17) and the only standard for worship.
Third, the Bible teaches that Sunday is the authorized day of worship. The day of worship, as authorized by God in the New Testament, is not optional. Man is not authorized to choose the day of worship or to teach that Saturday is as equally authorized as Sunday. God specified and authorized “the first day of the week” as the day of worship for the New Testament church. Jesus was raised on Sunday (Mark 16:9); He gathered with His disciples on Sunday (John 20:19, 26); the church was established on Sunday (Acts 2:1-47); and the church assembled in New Testament times on every Sunday to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 11:20). To worship as God authorizes requires worshiping on the day that He specified.
Worshiping God is a sacred privilege. The very thought of coming into His presence ought to drive every worshiper to ensure that his every effort in worship is that which is authorized by and pleasing to the Lord. After all, we are not the object of worship. God is! Worship must be done His way!