Is one worship as good as another?

Welcome to Midway Church of Christ

What’s Your Question? for March 31, 2010

Many believe that if we worship the same God, it makes no difference how we worship. The first example we have of worship shows this is not true. Cain was worshiping the same God Abel was worshiping (Gen. 4:1-8), but God rejected it, and John called it “wicked” (1 Jn. 3:12). The New Testament mentions four kinds of worship. Jesus said worship is vain when men teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Mt. 15:9). Paul said the Athenians were worshiping in ignorance of God (Acts 17:22,23). He told the Colossians some engaged in will-worship, or self-imposed religion (Col. 2:23). Jesus said acceptable worship must be in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23,24). Surely the first three kinds of worship are not as good as the one that sincerely follows the truth.