Worship that is acceptable with God is only that which is produced in our hearts by the Spirit of God. Any other source of worship is merely flesh, which is not acceptable with Him. Mere human emotions do not constitute acceptable worship.
Judaism was a religion suited to man in the flesh. Such devices were employed in Judaistic worship as musical instruments, trained singers, imposing clerical vestments and architecture, striking rituals, etc. It impressed the eye, the ear, and other senses and drew out the emotional responses of nature. The enjoyment of it all depended on neither the new nature nor the ministry of the Spirit. It was for man in the flesh.
There is much in Christendom today that bears the stamp of Judaism on it. The name of Christ is put on it, but it is not truly Christian. Such devices as those listed above are employed, and the awe and enjoyment resulting from it are called "worship". It is, however, nothing more than Cain offering to God the best produce he had. God can accept nothing less than Christ in worship.
The introduction, then, of anything that is Judaistic is from the flesh and, therefore, merely carnal. We may deceive ourselves that God is accepting it as worship, but Christ is not in it. He is not in Judaism. Let us look at some scriptures that bear on these principles.
The Spirit—the Power for All That Is of God
In all spiritual questions, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." John 6:6363It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63). It was so when we first began with God: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:5, 65Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5‑6). And it is no less so in worship: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23, 2423But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23‑24).
And so, we are invited to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" and offer our worship to Him in just this character: "By Him [Christ] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." Heb. 10:22; 13:1522Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15). It must be, then, in the power of the Spirit that we approach to God for life or for worship: "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in [by] the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Phil. 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3). "But be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Eph. 5:18, 1918And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:18‑19).
Judaism is a religion suited to man in the flesh. Man under the law and in the flesh has proven himself to be a dismal failure. Reality before God and blessing from Him begin with the power of God through the Spirit: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Gal. 2:1616Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16). "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Gal. 3:2, 32This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:2‑3).
The Flesh-Opposed to the Spirit
The flesh is neither justified nor is it any part of the spiritual life. If anything at all, the flesh and the Spirit are in total opposition and could never be found in agreement: "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot [should not] do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Gal. 5:17, 1817For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:17‑18). "God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal. 6:7, 87Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7‑8).
A thing, therefore, that is to be done in the power of the Spirit-whether in service or in worship-can never be done in the flesh with God's approval: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual [communicating spiritual things by spiritual means]. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:13, 14. "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10:3-53For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3‑5). The anointing oil was never to be poured upon the flesh of a man nor was there ever a counterfeit to be made of it: "Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you." Ex. 30:3232Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. (Exodus 30:32).
Judaism—or, a Foreshadowing
In the Old Testament the law had only a foreshadowing of Christ. Now Christ has come, and God forbids our occupation in those things which are less than Christ. To be so occupied is to present something to God other than Christ Himself: "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Col. 2:1717Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:17). The natural man prefers the things of Judaism and the flesh, but the Lord tells us that the new and the old cannot be mixed up together, as they so often are: "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, The old is better." Luke 5:37-3937And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:37‑39).
Whatever, then, is brought forward out of Judaism into Christianity is mixing the old with the new. Man in the flesh has been condemned in the cross. To bring in Judaistic things is to resurrect the old man and to set aside the cross. Judaism in any form is an affront to Christ, who suffered, bled, and died upon Calvary's cross. It is a dishonor to God, and He cannot accept it. "The flesh is flesh." John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6).
Any effort "at all" to present Christ to God in the energy of the flesh He calls "abomination" and "iniquity": "And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity." Lev. 7:1818And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 7:18). Christ is what the true worshiper presents to God-and especially, Christ crucified. He does so in the power of the Spirit. Our hearts, unstable as they are, may become distracted in the very midst of so worshiping. The distraction may be merely the wanderings of the mind or externally induced. Then the heart's impulse is generated by the flesh, rather than by the Spirit. Any further effort to maintain worship is carnal. He may be praising God in audible prayer or in song or quietly in meditation. To simply carry on thus without judging the departure answers, I believe, to what is called "abomination" and "iniquity" in this passage. Carnal devices can only produce carnal worship. They are themselves distractions.
D. Graham