Intelligent Worship

We continue today to look at something else that we as believers in Christ must embrace, and that is that our worship of God must be intelligent. Nowhere do I find in Scripture that we are to have blind faith. The dictionary defines blind faith as a belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination. It is a faith that places confidence in someone or something without any reason to do so. No, we must have a reason to believe! Our faith is not without evidence.

Sure, there are some things that we will never understand. Think about it, how can the finite possibly fully grasp the Infinite? Not even remotely possible. However, that does not mean that we are to “check our brains at the door” either. A faith untested is no faith at all. The Apostle Paul told us in 2 Timothy 2:15 that we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This is a command, not a suggestion. We are to study the Word of God passionately. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you…”

Paul spoke volumes in regards to the weight that is placed upon each of us to go to the well for ourselves. He said in 2 Corinthians 1:8, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant…” He also said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep…” In 1 Corinthians 12:1 he said, “Now concerning spiritual gifts brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.” I could go on and on. Look how many times Paul admonished us not to be ignorant in the New Testament, and so many still choose to be so. The word ignorant just means a lack of knowledge or awareness in general. God forbid that should be said of us. Of course, Paul knew that some would still chooe ignorance. To those he said in 1 Corinthians 14:38, “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant still.” The burden lies upon each of us to grow our own faith. 

I am reminded of a very humorous story that has been around for many years, but I must share it again because it sounds like some Facebook theologians that I know. 

A candidate for church membership was asked, "What part of the Bible do you like best?" He said: "I like the New Testament best. Then he was asked, "What Book in the New Testament is your favorite?" He answered, the Book of the Parables, Sir." They then asked him to relate one of the parables to the membership committee. And a bit uncertain, he began...

Once upon a time a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves; and the thorns grew up and choked the man. And he went on and met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave that man, Sir, a thousand talents of silver, and a hundred changes of raiment. And he got in his chariot and drove furiously, and as he was driving along under a big tree, his hair got caught in a limb and left him hanging here! And he hung there many days and many nights. The ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife Delilah came along and cut off his hair, and he fell on stoney ground. And it begin to rain, and rained forty days and forty nights. And he hid himself in a cave. Later he went on and met a man who said, "Come in and take supper with me." But he said, "I can't come in, for I have married a wife." And the man went out into the highways and hedges and compelled him to come in! He then came to Jerusalem and saw Queen Jezebel sitting high and lifted up in a window of the wall. When she saw him she laughed, and he said, "Throw her down out of there," and they threw her down. And he said "Throw her down again," and they threw her down seventy-times-seven. And the fragments which they picked up filled twelve baskets full! NOW, whose wife will she be in the day of the Judgment?" The membership committee agreed that this was indeed a knowledgeable candidate! 

Do not be that membership committee or candidate!