WORSHIP IN THE WOODS

WORSHIP IN THE WOODS

            It is so quiet and peaceful walking through a wooded hillside all alone. The gentle breeze on a crisp autumn morning passes lightly over your cheeks. Birds can be heard sending lighthearted messages from one nest to another as others respond from distant locations deep within the forest. And if one pauses momentarily the majesty of the setting can be almost overwhelming. Certainly here a person can truly commune with God. Here, in the pristine solitude of nature surrounded by God’s creation and away from all of the busy-ness of man’s imagined progress, is the perfect setting for worshipping God. Worship in the woods, one man alone with God in nature, must surely please God more than a bunch of people sitting in a big man made building all together.

            It certainly seems logical. And I don’t doubt it has its place. But it is no substitute for corporate worship. It may be logical but logic can skew truth. Before one determines anything to be true or false one must first have a basis for truth. The Bible is the basis of truth for any real Christian. Before a believer can answer any question pertaining to life he must first seek the guidance of God’s Word. So then, what does the Bible say, if anything, about worship?

            The word for worship in various forms is found not less than 183 times in the Bible. So it is safe to say the Bible has much to say on the topic. When the sons of Zebedee and their mother came into the presence of Jesus they worshipped him (Matt. 20:20). This was a spontaneous act in a public place which I have no doubt all of us would do in similar circumstance. There is also the state of worship such as Lydia (Acts 16:14) is said to have, a condition of the heart that worships God at all times. That is not wrong either. But what most people refer to when suggesting they worship in the woods is a replacement of corporate worship.

            The Old Testament is replete with examples of organized worship. Worship which is defined by God with rules and regulations set down by God and taking place in congregational settings in compliance with God’s instruction. In John 4:20 we read “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus was being asked if they were to worship in the temple in Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem. Clearly they had all been worshipping in one or the other. But Jesus answers in John 4:23-24 and says, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (v.24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Many take this passage then and run with it suggesting that we may worship anytime, anywhere, and God will be happy with us. Certainly an attitude of worship should permeate the believer’s life. But it does not replace corporate worship.

            In the New Testament we have the beginning of what most now commonly call the Church. It is the body of believers in the period after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is generally thought to have begun in Acts chapter two. So let’s take a look at the meeting of believers from that time on.

            The first group of believers to meet together that we have record of were in a building and specifically in the “upper room” of that building (Acts 1:13). Later in Acts 2:46 we read, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house….” And, we see that they were meeting in the temple and in homes. Homes are mentioned again in Acts 10 as Peter preaches to those in Cornelius’ home. And again Colossians 4:15 and Philemon v.2 we see home churches. But what we never see is an encouragement to worship separately in nature.

In fact, all of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible are designed to be used to build up and encourage believers. No gift is ever given for personal use, it is for the church. And as the day of Christ’s return approaches Hebrew 10:25 tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” It is imperative, in these last days especially, that we worship together and build each other up in the faith. This is not the time for the Church to disperse. We are one body designed to function as a unit (I Corinthians 12).

Worship in the woods, or on a river, or in your home is not wrong. But, as the Church we must worship together. It is imperative to the very life of the Church. We support and strengthen each other. So, it is especially important as the day of his appearing approaches.

Is it Easter in your home?

Is it Easter in your home?

Have you purchased all your Easter decorations for the season? Did you go out and shop for the many cards you plan to send to family and friends. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up loads of chocolate and other assorted candies to put in the children’s baskets this year. And, I wonder, where will we buy it all…which vendor? And before you become too miffed at this obvious opening paragraph please understand I know that most of my readers will be sure to include church on Easter morning, maybe even a sunrise service. But what do all of our plans, shopping and services actually say?

Try this in your home tonight. Take all your decorations for this season and set them on the living room floor. Now begin sorting them and ask yourself a couple of questions. 

First, what proportion of this year’s decorations are clearly Christ centered? Did you include the cross? Is there anything that will represent the grave from which He arose? Or, the throne that He sits upon in Heaven having won the victory over sin. How many bunnies and chicks did we include? If you included anything that is not clearly Christ centered then you have been influenced by our ungodly society. You are beginning to compromise if you have not completely sold out already. As Christians, we should never combine the victory of our risen Savior with the practices of this world in some vain effort to “blend in” and not be seen as “too” religious*.

Second, where did you buy these things, from which store? Yes, it makes a difference. The world is trying to remove Christianity from society altogether. And when we buy the tiny little remanence of Christ centered decorations, candies, and cards etc. which they offer we have actually supported their efforts to diminish Christianity. There are Christian stores in this world. Many are on our computers at home, our cell phones and in many or our towns, if we took the time to look. Stores who love the Lord and want to help us celebrate properly should be our first choice. Christian stores offer many more celebration ideas than we will ever find at Walmart, Kmart or Target. But because it is inconvenient or slightly higher in price we choose to surrender our Christianity, or at least our testimony, for convenience or to save one extra dollar. 

Let me make a statement which is likely to garner the ire of many readers. A Christian home should never display an Easter basket unless it is making a statement against such paganism. The basket, the rabbits, the chicks and the various forms of eggs are all a compromise of our Christianity in an effort to “fit in” with an ungodly society*. The single greatest celebration in Christianity is being replaced with rabbits and eggs with the consent of those calling themselves Christian. It may not be verbal consent. But, it is consent by action.

The Old Testament is replete with the warnings and the judgments of God against Israel for this very behavior. Time and time again, Israel attempted to “fit in” with the surrounding communities by adapting to their ways. And every time they did God’s judgment fell. God will not share His glory with anyone. In Psalm 96:3 the psalmist said, that we are to “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” **We are not to succumb to the pressures of society telling us to keep our religion private. We are to proclaim God’s glory in every area of life. 

Our Easter celebration should be the loudest proclamation of God’s glory throughout Christendom and the world. Instead, many today are willing to place the resurrection of Christ below the world’s celebration of chocolate and rabbits. Can the judgment of God be far behind?

Look carefully at the cards, candy and decorations you choose this year. What are you proclaiming to this world? Is it Easter in your home?

*2Cor 6:14-17 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (v15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (v.16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (v.17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…. 

*James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

**I John 4:4 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 

**John 17:15,16 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.(v.16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.