After spending some time looking forward in John’s Gospel, I find my mind drawn one more time to the woman at the well in John 4. She expressed an inner conflict over the correct place of worship, which was an expression of the more obvious conflict between Jews and Samaritans.
Worship in Spirit
We see at least some of this conflict expressed in modern Christianity’s denominationalism. Could a Presbyterian be a true worshiper of God? …could a Roman Catholic? …could a Bible-thumping fundamentalist? What do these have in common? Do they have any dealings with one another (cp. John 4:9)?
Jesus addressed the woman’s question about where God could be worshiped by saying the place doesn’t matter—Samaria or Jerusalem (read Presbyterianism, Roman Catholicism, or pick your own denomination). It is not a matter of place (denomination) but a matter of heart. God has little interest in our geography; he is much more mindful of our hearts.
We can be very passionate about our political leaders, or the branch of the military we serve in, or the sports team or figure we love. However, are we able to lift up our hands in worshipful abandon to our God, when singing his praise? Most of us will offer him our lips, but would we really consider offering our hearts in joyful abandon, lifting our hands in total surrender to him—an Audience of One, no matter how many others are around to see us? We may be completely orthodox in our worship. Certainly Jerusalem, according to Jesus, knew full well who God is (John 4:22), but the Jews failed to surrender to Jesus.
God is not only interested in our passion, but also our minds (Psalm 104:34). Malachi tells us that “a scroll of remembrance” is written in the presence of God concerning those who speak to one another about the Lord, honoring him and showing respect for his name or reputation. Our worship is not a matter of place, but of the heart. It is a matter of the spirit.
Worship in Truth
Everyone seems to have his own truth and seems to believe ‘his truth’ is just as valid as anyone else’s truth. This might be a good point, if there were no God and no absolute truth. But, the truth of the matter is: God is holy, and he is the Creator of all that is. Adam, our father, rebelled against God, wanting to be independent of him, so God became divorced from his human image.
There is only one way back. God can be approached only through Jesus. There simply is no other way available. Someone may believe this is exclusivism, but at the end of the day, it is simply the truth. If we wish to return to God, we can do it only on his terms, and God’s terms—covenant if you will—is all laid out in Jesus. Our rebellion ceases in him. Outside of Jesus there can be no reconciliation; the terms of peace are found in Jesus. It is not for the rebel to dictate his own terms to God. If reconciliation with God is desired, it must be on his terms, and his terms are found in Jesus. He and he alone is our Truth. We worship God in Truth when we are reconciled to him in Jesus.
Now I’ve heard people say that, if I have sin in my life, I cannot have a relationship with God. This is wrong. God is not so much interested in my sinful condition (repented of or not), as he is in my reconciliation to him. The sin of rebellion is the only sin that keeps me from having a relationship with God. All other sins—hatred, stealing, lying even murder—are nothing before him. Now let me say that a reconciled child of God would find it impossible to continue in these sins; I don’t mean he would never do any of these things again, but his former lifestyle would be broken—that is, he could no longer live in hatred, or as a liar, robber or murderer. There is a difference between the act and the lifestyle, and these lifestyles are the expression of rebellion. But, by and large, these sins can be dealt with individually, while in a relationship with God.
I may hate my brother and still be on good terms with my Mother. She may mourn over my heart condition, but my relationship with her still exists, so too, with God. He will work with me, as long as I desire a relationship with him through Jesus. He will take me where I have no desire to go, in an effort to have me confront my sins, but having that sinful condition (even unrepentance) does not keep me out of a relationship with God—only rebellion, seeking independence from God, keeps me from having a relationship with him. But, if I have Jesus in my heart, my rebellion has ceased. All other sins can be addressed in my relationship with him. Sin has already been addressed by Jesus at the cross. If I have Jesus, my sinful condition will be addressed, whether or not I desire it to be so. If Jesus is in control, he will force me to confront my sins. He will not force me to repent, but he will keep chipping away at me, until I surrender and live as God desires.
Worshiping God in Truth is not a matter of doctrine or a matter of being cleansed from sin, before I come into his presence. Right doctrine is a matter of the Spirit giving me understanding, but being cleansed is a matter of coming under the blood of Jesus. The Lord is a consuming fire, and sin—evil—cannot continue in his presence. He will purify me, as long as I approach him through Jesus—my one and only Truth.
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