A new Christian must learn many things. Just as he did not know the proper way to become a Christian until he learned what God said, he will not know how to live for God and serve Christ until he learns what God wants. One of the things he must learn is the proper way to worship God. There is only one right way to worship God. There are many wrong ways. One must learn proper worship.
Because a person meets with the church on Sunday does not prove that the person has worshipped. Many Christians assemble with the church every Sunday but never truly worship. Worship is the act of giving honor, reverence, and praise to God. Saying words you do not understand does not honor God. Doing acts you do not understand does not reverence God. Singing songs you do not understand gives no praise to God. You must know what you are doing, understand what you are saying, and do it sincerely before you truly are worshipping God. If there is no knowledge, understanding, and sincerity, there is no worship.
New Christians must be taught how to worship correctly. To worship properly, one must learn 3 basic things. He must learn the proper things to do in worship. The New Testament shows that Christians prayed, sang, received teaching, took the Lord's Supper, and gave in their worship. He must learn the proper way to do these things. In the New Testament Christians are shown or told how to pray, how to sing, how to take the Lord's Supper, and how to contribute. He must learn how to worship with sincerity and understanding. Worship must come from the heart.
There are 4 basic conditions for acceptable Christian worship. John 4:23,24 says, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." Acceptable worship must be in spirit. It must come from spiritual minds and hearts full of Christian love.
Acceptable worship must be offered in truth. It is in truth only if it is in agreement with the word of God. I Corinthians 14:15-17 says, "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified". Acceptable worship is given in understanding. The Christian understands what is being done in worship. He is able to knowingly add his Amen (so be it). Acceptable worship results in edifying the Christian. The worship spiritually strengthens him. His faith grows, and his commitment to serve Christ is stronger. The Christian leaves worship determined to walk closer to God. Worship is not a habit. It is not just a Sunday responsibility. Proper worship is a spiritual experience which gives honor and glory to God.
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