Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: RITUAL (01/20/22)
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TITLE: The Significance of Rituals | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
01/27/22 -
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It got to the point that God told His people to, “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies…”.
The reason for God’s displeasure and extreme response is recorded in the last eight words of the same passage.
“…I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly (Isa 1: 13 NASB)”.
The principle is clear. Unconfessed and or ongoing sin and the gathering together for worship do not mix.
However, gross immorality is not the only way that the rituals that worshipers embrace can become an abomination (Isa. 1: 13) in the eyes of God.
New Testament Scripture (Matt. 15: 8) speaks of a type of worshiper that can go through the motions and rituals, but his or her heart is not in it. Scripture (Matt. 15: 9) speaks of a type of worshiper who goes through the motions and rituals associated with false doctrines based on the traditions of men, rather than of God, rendering his or her worship, meaningless.
During the Old Testament dispensation, there were rituals that the officiating priests and worshipers had to go through in order to effectively participate in the type of rituals that God had in mind for that dispensation.
Here in the Church Age, the royal priesthood (1Pet. 2: 9) consists of each and every born-again believer, who must prepare themselves in order to effectively participate in the type of worship and rituals that God desires.
Otherwise, Church Age believers can find themselves riding the same meaningless merry-go-round, as did the Old Testament believers in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Merry-go-rounds can provide entertainment and socialization with like-minded people, but all they have to offer comes to an end when the ride is over.
…
Sin is inevitable (1John 1: 8). Granted, if sinless perfection was required to enter and to participate in the rituals of the local assembly, there would be no one seated in the pews or standing behind the pulpit.
Granted, Church Age believers are all sinners that have been saved by the grace of God just the way they are. But that doesn’t mean that God wants them to stay that way (Romans 8: 29), or that known sin being practiced by those attending is not to be addressed (1Cor. 5: 11, 13).
Here in the Church Age, there is the procedure in which believers are to examine themselves (2Cor. 13:5), confess their sin (1John 1: 9), and to refrain (John 8: 11) from repeating the same sin. There will always be the ongoing need to make use of this procedure if our religious rituals are going to be of any significance.
Individuals who have unconfessed and or unforsaken sin in their lives are out of fellowship (2Cor. 13: 14/Eph. 4: 30/Habakkuk 1: 13) with God.
Salvation can never be lost (Romans 8: 1), but fellowship is lost when ANY single sin (James 2: 10), by thought, word, or deed is committed. Fellowship is restored when sin is confessed. Fellowship is maintained by forsaking (John 8: 11) sin.
Church Age believers are to worship in the Spirit and the truth (John 4: 24).
To worship in the Spirit requires that the worshiper be filled, enabled, and be in fellowship with God.To worship in the truth requires that any ritual we embrace be in line with the applicable principles of Scripture.
When out of fellowship with God, one can do NOTHING (John 15: 5) of significance (including worship) in the spiritual realm. Engaging in religious rituals while out of fellowship with God might make us feel better about ourselves in our effort to make amends or to seek the blessings of God, but will be of no account in the Court of Heaven.
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