Vain worship is a huge dilemma that plagues the Christian community, but most people are the least perturbed about the situation, and feel quite content in their state of affairs, and when someone tries to draw their attention to this dilemma, they try to defend themselves, and accuses the individual of being judgmental, by saying that God alone has the authority to judge them, which is absolutely correct, but one must also bear in mind that God the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Now the Son to Whom all judgments have been committed says quite categorically " And if anyone hears My words, and does not believe, I do not judge him: for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father Who sent Me, gave me a command what I should say, and what I should speak" (John 12:47-49). The Word of Christ therefore is the Judge and one of the admonitions given by the apostle Paul whom Christ appointed as apostle to the Gentiles gave the church the responsibility to judge itself by saying; "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?" (1Corinthians 6:2-5) The apostle Paul further wrote; "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner --- not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But God judges those who are outside; Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person" (1 Corinthians 5:11-13). The basis therefore under which one is judged is according to the word of God which has already prescribed what is permissible or not. So then, how widespread and prevalent is vain worship? And what does the Judge, the word of God has to say concerning this appalling situation? Vain worship is one of, if not the worse indictment that has been labeled on the Christian community. Jesus said quite emphatically; "in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them; "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." (Mark 7:7-9). Jesus also said; "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Here we see plainly what defines vain worship, it is not something nebulous, or far fetched that is difficult or impossible to verify, and therefore cannot be condemned in the affirmative, because Jesus the word of God, the Righteous Judge states plainly that vain worship is: - Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men; Laying aside, or rejecting the commandment of God, and holding the tradition of men; Jews know what they worship because salvation is of the Jews; True worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
About the Author: Lucius Joseph is President of a non-profit organization called "Essentials of Life Ministry Inc." and the founding Pastor of a non-denominational congregation established in the Island of Saint Lucia in the West Indies. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1968, and got baptized in 1970 in a world wide religious organization. In 1979 I was ordained a deacon, and in 1988 a Minister in the same organization in which I was baptized. In 1995 I began an independent ministry because what I was being taught by the Holy Spirit was in conflict with what I was previously taught, and was not readily accepted and allowed to be taught. What I have been taught is the reality of the life that is in accordance to the Spirit, which is at variance with the life that is in accordance to the flesh, and how imperative it is for those who live in the Spirit to also be walking in the Spirit. Also how the church in its true perspective can bring about the unification of the body of Christ, because I honestly believe that if the unification of the church was not feasible Jesus would not have prayed saying; "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:20-23). And neither would the apostle Paul echoed a similar sentiment and urged believers saying; "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1Corinthians 1:10). It is the Lord's desire to sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water [flesh] by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. But unfortunately, people choose rather to ignore the formula, and close their eyes to the four distinctive marks of the Christian church, and instead holding tenaciously to the doctrines, customs and traditions taught by men.