Worship. We all know what it is, even if we have a hard time defining what it is. “Worship” is something that nearly everyone does. In fact, we might be safe in saying that everyone worships something – God, earth, himself. A lot of people have trouble defining what is worship. In a Gallup Poll, when asked what “is” worship, various answers were given: living that reflects spiritual commitment (9%), having a right attitude toward God (10%), having a personal relationship with God (12%), attending church services (17%), praying (17%), giving thanks to God or expressions of praise (19%).
It is clear that many people have confused acts of worship with a definition of worship. The English word “worship” is defined as “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” That “expression” of reverence and adoration is visible in certain acts or rituals. The word “worship” comes from the Old English that means “ascribing [ship] worth or worthiness.”
Let’s take a look at the “origin of worship” in the “book of origins,” Genesis. Genesis contains the origins of the universe, the world, the family, marriage, sin, the nation of Israel, and worship – Genesis 4.
We do not worship because Cain and Abel did. But we see illustrated in their actions principles that are found throughout the entire Bible, principles that can guide us in our worship.
WORSHIP DEMANDS OUR TIME:
We observe this phrase in verse 3: “So it came about in the course of time…” The Hebrew literally reads: “at the end of days.” We do not know what this means but it does strongly suggest that there was an appointed time for Cain and Abel to come and offer their gifts. Worship is not something we do all the time as a part of our daily lives.
But the point to be made here is that we are dedicating certain portions of our time to worship. All of life is not worship. We see this illustrated again in the first passage that uses the word “worship” in the NASV, Genesis 22:5. Abraham was not worshiping where he was and in what he was doing. Worship is specific acts or behavior given at specific times.
WORSHIP DEMANDS GIVING:
At this appointed time, “Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.”
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Yes, worship demands giving. We have hinted that it is giving of our time but it is also giving of other acts. Cain was a “tiller of the ground,” a farmer. So, he brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Why God rejected it, we’ll talk about in just a moment. But, the point to make here is that he gave. Abel also brought and gave. He gave of the “firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.”
You might say that our acts of worship in the New Testament are all acts of giving.
WORSHIP DEMANDS GOD’s APPROVAL:
One of the fundamental distinctions between churches of Christ and other religious groups deals with this issue of how does the Bible authorize worship – or does it authorize worship? A. W. Tozer, who is a Protestant author, said: “Worship acceptable to God is the missing crown jewel in evangelical Christianity” (Whatever Happened to Worship, 1985, 7). The $10,000 question, though, is Who defines what is “acceptable”?
Yes, we see in the account of Cain and Abel that worship demands approval. “And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard” Why?
It is obvious God told them what He wanted. With that, the Hebrew writer agrees as he writes in Hebrews 11:4. But faith, in the Bible, is never blind. It is not shallow and empty. Faith, in the Bible, “comes from hearing the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). So, Abel was giving back to God what God had told him and Cain that he wanted. Faith responds to the word of God.
When it comes to the New Testament, in order to determine what God has approved, we study the context and see: What did God require of all people, for all time, everywhere? That’s not hard to determine.
Worship demands our time (and attention), giving of ourselves, and divine approval.
–Paul Holland
