Does God care how we worship him?
Jesus said he had "all authority" and the apostles were to teach the things He had commanded! (Matthew 28:18-20)
We should follow Christ's authority! To do this, we must follow His instructions! We must "do all in the name of the Lord". (Col. 3:17) To do something in his name is to follow his instructions or authority.
Whose authority or instructions do you follow?
If we are "teaching as doctrine the commandments of men", then our worship is "vain" or useless in God's eyes. (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7) "We ought to obey God rather than men"! (Acts 5:29)
"God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24) Our worship must be spiritual but it must also be according to truth.
Cain and Abel were both offering sacrifices to God, a form of worship in the Old Testament. Abel's was by faith, Cain's was not. (Genesis 3, Hebrews 11:4) Without faith it is imposible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), and Abel worshiped by faith, it can be concluded that God must have told them what He wanted. They were both worshiping, but Abel worshiped according to truth (God's word). Cain did not and his worship was rejected.
Nadab and Abihu were both worshiping, but they were using a fire that God had not authorized. Even though they were worshiping, it was not pleasing to God and he punished them with their life. (Lev. 10:1-2)
Jesus said of some, “In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men”. They were worshiping, but it was “vain”, or useless, because they were worshiping according to the commandments of men. It mattered how they were worshiping.
Jesus said he has “all authority” and the apostles were to teach the things he had commanded them (Matt 28:18-20). If we follow the authority (instructions) of men in our worship, then does Christ have all authority in our lives? Most is not the same as all. Who has the authority in your religion?
Paul wrote that his “hearts desire and prayer” was for some to be saved. Those he was speaking of had “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” They were “ignorant of God’s righteousness” and were “seeking to establish their own righteousness”. They were not worshiping according to truth.
Yes, according to the Bible, it does matter how we worship!
We should be satisfied to worship God in the way His word instructs. We should not add to the word of God, take away from it, or distort it. (Deut. 4:2, Deut 12:32, Prov 30:5-6, Galatians 1:6-9, Rev. 22:18-19, 1 Cor 4:6, 2 John 9, et al)
Like it says in Numbers 22:18, "I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more!" We should be satisfied to worship as God's word has instructed.
2007-07-03 16:31:14
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answer #1
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answered by JoeBama 7
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Not ture.
Not all denominations even worship the same god.
One group worships a god they believe was once a man on the planet Kolob.
One group teaches that people become saved by sprinkling water the heads of babies.
Other groups teach that salvation comes by Grace thru Faith and of course babies can't have faith.
Do you see the differences?
Pastor Art
2007-06-30 21:52:04
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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2 Cor. 6:14-17: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? . . . ‘“Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,” says Jehovah, “and quit touching the unclean thing”’; ‘“and I will take you in.”’”
Rev. 18:4, 5: “I heard another voice out of heaven say: ‘Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues. For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind.’”
Babylon the Great is symbolic of all of False Religion in the world, including those that claim to be Christian but teach falsehoods. Therefore, true Christians who wish for salvation cannot be involved with any religion (or "Christian" denomination) other than the true one. Many claim to be Christian, but as pointed out above, most Jesus will deny ever knowing because of their works.
See also Matthew 7: 13-20 where most are on the broad road to destruction but the true relgion (those on the narrow road) are recognized by their fine fruits. Jesus’ true followers practice what he taught, and they are easily recognized by their fine fruits. To share a church with people that do not practice what Jesus taught would make a person part of Babylon the Great and thus a sharer in "her plagues", i.e. destruction.
So it does matter what denomination you are part of and we should choose very carefully.
2007-06-30 21:59:39
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answer #3
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answered by Learn about the one true god 1
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Denominations are not separated mainly by form of worship. They are separated by conflicting beliefs. Conflicting beliefs means false beliefs, because truth cannot conflict with truth. Jesus said that the truth would set us free. Therefore, yes, it really matters whether what you believe is true or false. Which is why Jesus Christ founded ONE Church for all mankind, guaranteed that His Church would teach the fullness of truth for all time, and said that all mankind is to belong to His Church. Manmade denominationalism is a direct violation of the stated will of God, "that they all may be ONE". And the reason Jesus forbad denominational religion is that it cannot provide people with authoritative truth.
2007-06-30 21:39:16
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answer #4
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answered by PaulCyp 7
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Actually, it does matter because what Roman Catholics do may not what my religion does. The only thing that Christianity has simliarities for is the fact that it follows Jesus' life and teachings. After that its all spread out and different. Thats why people have a problem with Christians.
2007-07-01 03:08:58
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answer #5
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answered by ? 2
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No, it's not only the way we worship, I don't believe in the trinity, so I won't go to a "trinity-wise church"; the JWs are not "trinitarians" but they have lots of "nonsense" beliefs, so I won't worship with them either; and there are probably other Christians churches that are not "trinitarian", but I will be forced to accept other beliefs that I don't have......By nature, the vast majority of Christians force their beliefs on others, that's why I"m not a church goer, and I'm a Christian.
2007-06-30 21:43:59
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answer #6
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answered by Millie 7
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Jesus said :
"Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many pewerful works in your name?' And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:22, 23)
2007-06-30 21:39:03
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answer #7
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answered by Audrey O 2
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