Scripture Reading: Psalm 89:1-7
Stranger Fire or Acceptable Worship?
(Part 2)
Intro.
1. Strange fire is unauthorized worship, Lev. 10:1-3.
2. Pride often the contributing factor, 2 Chron. 26:16-21.
3. Shall we give God man-designed worship (self-imposed/self-made religion, Col. 2:22-23), or true worship that He commands? Jno. 4:23-24
I. STRANGE FIRE OFFERED AS WORSHIP TO GOD.
A. The Jeroboam Model of Corrupt Worship, 1 Kgs. 12:25-33.
1. Devised in his own heart, he made changes in Israel borne of fear and faithlessness, 12:26-27, 33.
a. Changed the object of worship, 12:28. Hos. 8:4-7
b. Changed the place of worship, 12:29. Deut. 12:4-5; 1 Kgs. 9:3
c. Changed the priesthood, 12:31 (13:33; 2 Chron. 11:13-16). Num. 3:10; 2 Chron. 13:8-12, 16-18.
d. Changed the feast days, 12:32. cf. Tabernacles, Lev. 23: 33-34.
2. Led Israel into sin, 12:30.
B. The Catholic Mass (The "Holy Sacrifice of the Mass").
1. Development:
a. "Mass" - Derived from Latin for dismissal, dismissio-missio-missa. At conclusion of Mass the people are blessed and sent out into the world.
b. “Mass” came to stand for “the Roman Catholic Eucharistic rite consisting of prayers and ceremonies centered on the consecration of bread and wine as a real though mystical reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross” (yourdictionary.com/mass).
2. Eucharistic Liturgy incl. Eucharistic Prayer (offered by priest); Transubstantiation: Jesus works "His divine saving action" upon participants as He is present, “in a unique way, under the appearance of bread and wine.” (The Place of the Mass in Catholic Worship, 16)
3. “In the Mass, therefore, God makes present sacramentally the once-for-all sacrifice of Calvary in the risen Lord. Jesus Christ gives Himself to us sacramentally as the unique victim of the one and only redemptive sacrifice acceptable to God.” (Ibid, 23)
4. “What the Roman Catholic does at Mass, in response to God's gift of Jesus in His sacrifice, is offer Jesus’ sacrifice to the Father in thanksgiving.” (Ibid.)
5. Scriptures:
a. Transubstantiation is false, Matt. 26:26-29.
b. Lord’s supper: Memorial, Proclamation, Communion; Not a sacrifice, 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16; Heb. 10:29.
-Gal.1:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Jno. 9-
C. Instrumental Music in Worship Today.
1. God could have commanded it today; Has not, 2 Chron. 29:25.
2. Development: Primitive church did not use them / Man introduced them centuries and centuries later.
3. Scriptures: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13.
-Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Jno. 9-
D. Children’s Church (Junior Church, Children’s Worship, Children’s Activity Center).
1. Development: Remove children from part or all of the worship services (including and especially the preaching of God’s word) for age-segregated or “age-appropriate” singing, instruction and other activities.
a. Services viewed as hard on children, not “children-friendly.”
b. An alternative was created out of human wisdom (world of modern, secular and humanistic psychology and educational theories).
c. As one sister said: “I don’t want my children to have to endure services - I want them to love being there.”
2. Scriptures: Show the consistent presence of children in assemblies of praise and worship as occasions for their training and faith:
a. Occasion for training, Deut. 31:9-13; Josh. 8:30-35 (2 Chron. 20:4-5, 13; Joel 2:15-17; Ezra 10:1); Lk. 2:41-42, 46-50.
b. cf. Mk. 10:13-16: Withholding our children from assembled worship deprives them of the blessings of the kingdom (learn about reverence, decency and order in worship, hearing the word of God taught, opportunity for them to ask questions, to learn and to look forward to participating in worship).
-Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Jno. 9-
Conclusion
1. Do not offer “strange fire” to God.
a. Worship according to the precepts and doctrines of men is self-imposed, will worship, and is not of God, Col. 2:20-23.
b. Worship that is form without substance (heart and holiness) is an abomination to the Lord, too, Isa. 1:10-15.
2. Worship God in spirit and truth (combine heart and doctrine), Jno. 4:24.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: July 27, 2016