5 WAYS GOD MIGHT BE DISPLEASED WITH YOUR WORSHIP by Adriel Sanchez for Core Christianity
1. Your worship isn’t rooted in God’s word, but extra-biblical or unbiblical traditions.
Many people are shocked when they read the account of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10. These two priests offered to the Lord “strange fire” and as a result were killed by God. While Bible scholars have varied opinions on what exactly made their offering so offensive, one thing is clear: God did not approve of their particular form of worship.
Jesus told the Pharisees that their extra-biblical traditions kept them from obeying God’s word (Matthew 7:13). God is displeased with our traditions in worship that keep us from actually obeying God’s word. If our worship practices don’t align with the Bible, they cannot be pleasing to the Lord.
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Some wonder why God is so particular about the way he’s worshipped, and the answer to that question is very important. Worship isn’t just an opportunity for us to express our feelings; it is the primary way in which the faith (i.e. the doctrines which define what we believe as Christians) is passed down from one generation to the next. Unbiblical worship teaches people lies about God, and since God mustn’t be misrepresented, our worship must be rooted in his revelation rather than our own innovation.
2. You worship God while being unreconciled with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Among many of the shocking things Jesus said in his sermon on the mount are these words: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt. 5:23–24).
During the days of the temple, when people would go to worship God with their sacrifices, Jesus said that unresolved tension between worshippers kept them from properly offering their gifts to God. While we no longer worship according to the temple ceremonies today, the principle is applicable for believers under the new covenant.
