Worshiping in Letter and Spirit.
By J. H. W.
There are views widely differing on the subject of worshiping in letter and in spirit. Those who object to the law, and lay claim to a system of license, for this is what no-lawism amounts to, affirm that to serve God according to the letter of the law is a slavish service, a service of bondage; being bound and hedged in by forms which leave no freedom to the human spirit and will. They say there is a higher and purer service, a voluntary service, one of the affections only; not guided by any expressed rules and regulations, but in which all is left to the choice and will of the worshiper. They declare that where there are legal injunctions and restrictions there is no freedom, and therefore no pure spiritual worship. This theory appears plausible to many; and to such as love to have their own way it is captivating. But it is both defective as a theory and contrary to Scripture. The true theory of choice or of freedom of the will, is the choice between that which God requires and that which our own hearts would suggest. This choice God gives to every one. This is probation. Of course true worship is to do that which God requires; false worship is to offer to God that which our own hearts devise, or, in other words, to choose our own way. If we try that theory in the State or in the family circle, we shall find it to be destructive to order, and subversive of every correct principle. A citizen scorns the restraints of legal enactments. His ideas of serving the government he thinks are far too exalted to be trammelled. He loves the service of his country, but he must be left to serve in a manner dictated by his own mind and approved only by his own will. If he is a soldier, he refuses to obey the orders of his superior, and manoeuvres according to tactics of his own devising; and moves only when he chooses, without regard to the rules adopted for the army. If he is a civil officer, he disregards the statutes and forms for the government of his office, and adopts forms and regulations of his own. If he is a private citizen, he pays no heed to the enactments of the State, but acts as the impulse of his own heart may prompt at all times and on all occasions. Now, what shall we say of such a citizen as this? As a soldier, he would soon be tried for insubordination, and punished for his disloyalty. As a civil officer, he would be broken of his office, and have to retire in disgrace. As a private citizen, he would soon end his career in prison. And why not? Is not the best service to the State rendered by obeying the laws of the State? Rather, is not this the only service the State can accept? Certainly it is. Any other course has its origin in self-will and leads to open rebellion. This much for no-lawism in the State. Take it in the family circle. A child professes great love for his father; he assumes to be very exceedingly anxious to honor and serve his father. When his father commands him to do a certain thing, he considers it altogether beneath such exalted love as he bears to his father to obey the command; he must do what the father orders in a manner quite different from that in which the father said it should be done; or he must substitute something entirely different in the place of that which is required by the father. He says he loves to serve his father, but his love must not be cramped, nor forced, nor restrained, by rules and restrictions laid down by his father. He must be left free to carry out those plans formed in his own mind, and to follow the promptings of his own heart. This, he claims, is the only way to manifest pure love for his father. But what shall we say to such love as that. Without hesitation we pronounce it spurious—a mere mockery of love. Such a son would constantly dishonor his father, and become a disgrace to the family to which he belonged. When we refer it to Scripture, we find such a system always and everywhere denounced. Both the word of God and the providence of God have always been against it. This spirit led the priests to offer strange fire before the Lord, instead of that fire prescribed by the Lord. It caused them to offer polluted bread upon his altar; and to change his offerings, substituting the lame and the blind at their own wills. It is the fruit of this perverse spirit of which the Lord asks, “Who hath required this at your hand?” It is such professed service to God which Paul calls “voluntary humility,” and of such persons he says: “Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Col. 2:18. The “fleshly mind” is the same as the “carnal mind, which is not subject to the law of God,” which volunteers an offering not required, and withholds that which is commanded. All such is “will worship.” Of such voluntary worshipers the Lord says: “Woe unto the foolish prophets that have followed their own spirits, and have seen nothing. . . . Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?” Eze. 13:3–7. They declare that to be the will of God, of which the Lord hath not spoken. Truly, they have followed their own spirit. They claim this as “true Christian liberty.” To do that which the Lord has spoken is to them bondage, a legal service, worshiping in the letter; not by them to be borne. But the Lord pronounces a woe upon them. Thus we learn that to be guided by our feelings and our will, and to disregard God’s commandments is will worship—is to follow our own spirits. This is not worshiping God in Spirit, though by some supposed to be so. Such, instead of worshiping God in Spirit, are vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind. There may be a false worship in the letter. For this we never plead. This is a Pharisaical, heartless, outward observance of precepts, without the promptings of love. Some are so blind that they think all obedience to commandments is of this kind. A greater mistake cannot be made. The Lord himself has distinctly assured us, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” Obedience is required of the citizen in the State. Obedience of the child is the only evidence of love in the family. Obedience is the only manifestation of love recognized in the Bible. “If I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 1:6. Paul says, “We know that the law is spiritual.” Therefore loving obedience to it is spiritual service, the only true worship. To disobey is to deny the Lord the honor and fear which are his due. Professed worship in willful disobedience is will worship and mockery. J. H. W.