Doctrine of Worship

The biblical doctrine of worship has nothing to do with our personal preferences or tastes. In the Scriptures, God is described as thrice-holy, exalted over the nations, and completely unlike all creatures. The prophet Isaiah writes, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8). He cannot compare to anything in our world, nor can we understand the deep thoughts of God. For that reason, we cannot derive from our own understanding how best to worship Him. So He must instruct us through the infallible and sufficient Scripture, explicitly prescribing true worship for us. It is written, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the biblical religion that worships God in spirit and truth, the content, aim, and features of worship are explicit in the Holy Scriptures: the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19), praying and confessing our sins to one another (James 5:14-16), preaching the Word of God with patience and care (2 Timothy 4:2), and celebrating the sacraments as our Lord instituted them (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The ancient Christian writer, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, said in his Catechetical Lectures, "For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and eloquence of speech. Even to me who tell you these things, give not absolute credence, unless you receive the proof of the things which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning, but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures." Like the mysteries of faith and salvation depend on the demonstration of the Holy Scriptures, the definition of true and spiritual worship is also grounded in the Scriptures. In fact, there is no worship pleasing to God except that which is prescribed in His Word. He is so displeased with unbiblical worship that it is written, "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:1-2), and St. Paul the apostle wrote, "So worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28-29).