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Artificial Allurements Occasionally, our worship service is criticized for being “too plain” or “not spiritual enough.” Those who make this charge do not raise scriptural objections, but just feel that something more is needed. What they mean by “more” varies from person to person. For some, the atmosphere needs to be somber. They prefer burning candles, robed clergymen, and the eerie sound of the organ. For others, the mood needs to be upbeat. They prefer strobe lights, casually dressed preachers, and rock bands. Still others thrive on chaos. They feel “spiritual” when people scream, shout, and fall on the ground in a frenzy. There was a preacher on television recently who spoke in a very soft tone, almost a whisper, as the music gently played in the background. This, no doubt, made many in the audience feel that they were in a truly “spiritual” environment. What does true worship look like? How can one know that he or she is worshipping “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)? Rather than being wooed by artificial allurements like the ones mentioned above, we must look to the New Testament to determine whether or not our worship is true in the sight of God. In the New Testament, there are five acts of worship for the church -- sing, pray, give, preach, and eat the Lord’s Supper (Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:22-34). These things are to be done with the right spirit (or attitude). When that is the case, true worship has occurred. |
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