In what ways can we ensure our worship aligns with biblical teachings? Micah’s Homemade Religion “Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household idols, and ordained one of his sons to be his priest.” (Judges 17:5) Micah’s do-it-yourself worship shows three clear departures from God’s revealed pattern: • He created physical objects of devotion (idols). • He invented priestly authority for someone God had not chosen. • He set up a private place of worship instead of joining the God-appointed gathering at Shiloh (Deuteronomy 12:5-7). Warnings Echoed Elsewhere • Exodus 20:4-5—No carved images. • Leviticus 10:1-2—Unauthorised fire cost Nadab and Abihu their lives. • 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice.” • John 4:23-24—Worship “in spirit and truth,” not by human invention. How to Keep Our Worship Biblical 1. Submit to God’s revealed location and mediator • Old Covenant: the tabernacle/temple; priests from Levi. • New Covenant: draw near “by a new and living way” opened through Christ (Hebrews 10:19-22). – Christ alone is our great High Priest; we add no other intermediaries. 2. Center every element on Scripture • Let the Word set the agenda (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Read it publicly (1 Timothy 4:13). • Sing it—psalms, hymns, spiritual songs saturated with truth (Colossians 3:16). 3. Guard against visible or mental idols • Keep symbols from replacing the reality they point to (Exodus 32:4-8). • Resist reshaping God into a more comfortable image (Romans 1:22-25). 4. Practice congregational accountability • Gather regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Submit to biblically qualified elders, not self-appointed leaders (Titus 1:5-9). 5. Offer whole-life worship • Present your bodies “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1-2). • Let everyday obedience confirm Sunday declarations (James 1:22). 6. Pursue reverence and joy together • Serve with “reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). • Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). Putting It Into Practice • Evaluate every worship practice by chapter and verse, not tradition or preference. • Prune anything added merely for attraction or convenience. • Magnify Christ, rely on Scripture, gather with His people, and keep hearts free of idols—the enduring antidote to Micah’s mistake. |
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