Worship in Spirit and in Truth

by Jeremiah Cox, via Watchman Magazine 9-7-2018

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

The profundity of Jesus' words must be taken into consideration. We often skim over this statement without stopping to ponder its deep spiritual implications. We take it to be one of the simpler statements of inspired truth. Yet, the waters of this statement run deep. A plunge beneath the surface gives greater insight into the essence of true worship.

The Common Approach

In 17th century England a book entitled The School of Manners was widely circulated. It was designed as a training aid in teaching young people how to behave in various social settings. We thought you might be interested in the chapter that deals with "Behavior at the Church." Here are the instructions:

1. Decently walk to thy seat or pew; run not, nor go wantonly.
2. Sit where thou art ordered by thy Superiors, Parents, or Masters.
3. Shift not seats, but continue in the same place.
4. Lend thy place for the easing of anyone that stands near thee.
5. Keep not too…

     As soon as I saw my article topic, a passage came to mind: Luke 7: 36-49. I suppose that might have something to do with the fact that it is a personal favorite of mine. But more pertinently, it is a story that perfectly illustrates the love that Jesus has for sinners.

    A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to eat with him. During the meal, a woman, who is identified in the Pharisee’s mind as “a sinner,” entered his home with a flask of expensive ointment. She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed…

There are some critics of Christians, who say we are lazy thinkers – that we follow our faith blindly, or that our faith is an excuse for being intellectually inactive. They have argued that seekers of knowledge, or the academically inclined, would never rely on “faith” as they make their way through this life.

Several years ago, there was a documentary that hit the movie theaters called Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Ben Stein produced and starred in it. He noted that many colleges and universities around the world were trying to silence their professors, who argue that our…

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One of my favorite memories from our daughter's childhood is the year she played baseball in the “pee-wee” division of five- and six-year-olds. I’m glad I volunteered as an assistant coach, because to this day it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

It was a comedy of errors (no pun intended). Many of the kids had never played baseball before, which meant we had to teach them how to do everything. They didn’t know how to put on a mitt. They didn’t know how to hold or swing a bat.…

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“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? … Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’” (Matthew 6:25, 31).

For a couple of years now, a few of our men have been meeting on Tuesdays at 6:00 a.m. for breakfast and a short Bible study.…

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The apostle Paul wrote:

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not…

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