Sincere Worship

Is ‘sincerity’ in worship all that matters? Whether it is in family worship where a parent is reading to their child from a ‘story book bible’, or corporate worship where those gathered participate in singing, liturgy, a sermon about something ‘interesting’ or watching a drama, is it the feeling that we are being sincere that matters? Is sincerity the measure of true worship?

When Jesus came to Samaria on His travels from Jerusalem to Galilee He met with a woman of questionable morals over a discussion concerning worship (John 4:1-26). The 1,000 year tension between Jews and half-breed Samaritans was in the back drop of this conversation. But it was not about racial reconciliation that they talked. It was about being reconciled to the living God in true and sincere worship.

The Samaritans were new school sectarians. They took as the Word of God only the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Law. It was only the writings of Moses that were relative to them and their situation as worshipers who worshiped ‘God’ in Samaria and not in Jerusalem. But in their sectarianism they did not have the knowledge of God as he had revealed himself. They did not trust that God had revealed himself in the Prophets and Writings beyond the Law of Moses. Therefore, they worshiped what they did not know (4:22). Their worship was insufficient because they were worshiping God with an inadequate understanding of who God was based upon the revelation of Himself in his Word. They may have been sincere, but their sincerity did not enable them to worship God according to His will because true worship is dependent upon true revelation.

Jesus went on to tell her that the Father is seeking worshipers who worship Him in spirit and in truth (4:24). Therefore those who are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and worship him sincerely do so as they are filled with the Holy Spirit and worship Him in praise, thanksgiving, trust and obedience according to the truth He has revealed concerning Himself. Sincerity in worship is important, but it is not enough. Our sincerity in worship must be informed by the revelation of God in His Word.

God is concerned with sincere worship. Sincere worship is found where there is a proper response to the revelation of God in His Word. When God reveals His infinite, eternal and unchangeable nature in holiness in His Word then those who worship Him by the indwelling Spirit may be awe struck in silence (Habakuk 2:20), humbled in contrition (Isaiah 6:5), or overflowing with joyful praise (Revelation 4:9-11). When God reveals His infinite, eternal and unchangeable nature in goodness in His Word then those who worship him by the indwelling Spirit may consider others as more important than themselves in love (Philippians 2:1-11), find contentment whether in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:10-13), or offer ourselves in acceptable and reverent worship (Hebrews 12:28). I fear that today we feel sincere in worship when something has made us feel good emotionally. The style of music, the atmosphere of people we love, the feeling that we are doing something good, or the familiar words or nostalgic words of a song create a feeling of sincerity in worship. But in this ‘sincerity’ I fear we worship God in vain. We are not responding in worship towards God because of the revelation of Himself. Rather we are responding to the pleasure we have in rejoicing in self. The worship that God is pleased with is produced in us by the working power of the Holy Spirit in a sanctified response to what He reveals concerning Himself in His Word.

Try this check up in your personal, family or corporate worship. What is the condition of your thoughts and emotions as the Word of God is being read or preached in worship? Is God stirring you by the revelation of Himself in the plain reading of Scripture or the preaching of Scripture to praise, thanksgiving, contrition, trust, or obedience? I am not standing against music in worship and I think God wills worship in song when the song is according to what He has revealed concerning Himself in His Word. But I long for sincerity in worship that is truly driven, fueled, ignited by, the Spirit of God illuminating the truth about the all glorious God that comes to us in His Word. I long for God to do a work among His church as He did in Jerusalem that when the Word of God is read all His people fall down on their faces and worship Him at the revelation of Himself (Nehemiah 8).

God is concerned about the sincerity of the worship of His Name. Therefore He has given us His Word to lead us into true, spiritual and sincere worship. It is the glory of His name in the earth that He desires spread. Therefore, seek the knowledge of Him as revealed in His Word as you come to and participate in worship, respond from a Spirit filled heart of repentance and faith and let Him bring about sincere worship that is according to what He reveals concerning Himself.