Worship.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

That's kewl - I think I understand that.

In some things it does not matter as much, but I think it does matter more in this case. I would not approach it as a question of whether God changes or not, rather it's a matter of the veiled becoming revealed.

Much of the focus in the Old Testament was the outward formality and display of acceptable worship to God, while still yet acknowledging God sees the intent of the heart.

In the New Testament this is reversed. The formal gathering place and the mechanics of "worship" is minimized, and we are told we are the temple - and have the Holy Spirit in common earthen vessles. The focus is no longer so much on "ushering in" the presence of God.

Jesus spoke to this time when worship would be something of the heart and without pretension...

19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

"spirit" here means "inner man" or from the heart, not spiritED as many preach. God is a spiritual being and we must offer spiritual worship. Jesus was revealing a new thing, and certainly spirited worship was not new at that time. Also in this context "truth" is simply "without pretension" - God sees and knows the inner man.

So the focus of New Testament worship is the heart it'self, the inner man. Whether there is organized or formal demonstration is of little consequence.

Of course this does not mean heartfelt worship may not produce emotional results, it can and does - but I would say emotional orchestration simply does not and cannot produce or manufacture worship in spirit and in truth.

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Mechanics of worship minimized? Do you have scripture that shows that the mechanics of worship should be minimized? So at one point God liked physical worship and then He just changed? At one point men worshipped with all of their strength, and then - presto - God didn't want it that way any more?

I wonder what "spirit" and "truth" come from in the greek and what those greek words mean; ever look them up in Strong's?

Jesus was revealing a new thing, and certainly spirited worship was not new at that time. I'm not sure what this sentence is supposed to mean?

Do you think that the worship in the OT was emotionless?

I wonder what would happen if you stopped showing outward demonstration towards your wife and told her that the outward formal demonstration is of little consequence; or if she did the same to you?

Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Perhaps someone should have told the lame man that his physical mechanics should be minimized?

Someone trying to minimize worship reminds me of 2 pieces of scripture...

Luk 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luk 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

Imagine that, one of God's people despising another one of God's people for leaping and dancing before the LORD.

Sorry to sound contradictory brother, but I just don't read scripture saying what you are saying.

Perhaps its just me?

What do other apostolics think?