“But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:9)
All worship is not equal, and all worship is not pleasing to God. There is a type of worship that God despises. It is the worship that is according to man’s desires, instead of God’s precepts. A ‘precept’ is a rule intended to regulate behavior.
God has rules for worship, and our behavior should be regulated by those rules. Christianity’s rules for worship can be found in the commands and examples of the New Testament. The New Testament is intended to regulate our worship so that it does not become a vain idolatrous act. These regulations, by definition, set boundaries upon how we may worship God. At times, these regulations can feel restrictive, but just like the rules of the road, the restrictions keep us safe, allowing everyone to get to their destination in one piece.
We must all ask ourselves, “Where do I get the precepts for my worship?” If our worship is regulated by tradition instead of Scripture, it is worthless. If our worship is unregulated, then it might be passionate, but it is also dangerous.
Only true and doctrinal worship found in the New Testament can bring both joy to us, and more importantly, glory to God.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites