Jump Start # 3418

Exodus 32:6 “So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”

Our passage today comes from the time when Israel, led by Aaron, worshipped a golden calf, an idol. Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments and the people were in the valley violating the Ten Commandments. The gold for the idol was donated by the people. They seemed to be willing and happy to do this. And, as our verse begins, the next day, the nation rose early. There seems to be a sense of anticipation, excitement and joy. However, they were not worshipping as the Lord wanted. The Lord was angry. He says the people have corrupted themselves. The Lord was ready to wipe the people out. He was done with them.

Such a strong reminder about honoring the Lord the way He desires. I saw a quote recently in which a person said that he would rather worship incorrectly with passion than to worship correctly without passion. In essence what was said that it is better to worship in error with an atmosphere of joy and passion than to worship correctly in a lifeless service.

That statement ought to bother us. It bothers me. It seems that some are saying that spirit is more important than truth.

Here are a few thoughts for us:

First, why does it have to be one or the other? Why can’t God be worshipped accurately in a spirit of passion and joy? Settling for second place or the consolation prize is not a good offer. We ought to strive for excellence in worship. The size of the congregation doesn’t matter. I’ve been in some very small crowds, but the heart felt prayers, passionate peaching and enthusiastic singing was amazing.

Second, why do we allow others to determine the temperature of our worship? So someone is not singing. You sing. So someone says the same words in every prayer he leads. You pray from your heart. So the preaching is dry and dull, you work with those thoughts and make a good lesson on paper. The problem with things such as instrumental music, aside from it is not part of the N.T. worship, is that it pulls everyone in together and if someone doesn’t agree, there aren’t many other options. Selling out of truth for passion is never a good deal. When you are worshipping from the heart, you don’t have to have others determine the temperature of your heart.

Third, wrong can never be right. What if Cain’s offering was more passionate than Abel’s? Would that make it better? Would that make it right? Here in our passage, the people are donating gold, rising early, playing and it has the sense that everyone was excited about these things. I don’t see someone say, “Do we have to go to worship.” Error appeals to many people because it is dressed up as fun. It introduces itself as exciting and new, unique and different. But what is not part of God’s word cannot be painted up in such a way that it becomes attractive to God. Wrong is always wrong. Wrong can never be right. Here in our passage, the Lord was finished with these people. God was commanding and they were violating. Just destroy them, wipe them out is what the Lord thought.

We need to stop trying to figure out a way to make something wrong right. If it is not according to God’s will, it will never be right. Compromising, going half way, is not the direction to travel, not if you are wanting to walk with the Lord.

Fourth, when our emotions get behind the wheel, we often leave what God says. What we like. How we feel. How exciting it is. How new it is. How refreshing it is. All those expressions are enough for many to run off and dance with the devil. The pied piper plays his tune  and clueless folks join in the song, seeing nothing wrong. Our hearts must be governed by our heads. God’s word must set the tone for all of our worship. Buy truth and don’t sell it, is what we find in the Bible.

Eating…drinking…dancing—great times. Fun times. But they weren’t Biblical times. Worshipping incorrectly with passion is not an option. It shouldn’t be a choice. We must work on giving God our best as we follow Him.

Truth and spirit—those are not choices. It’s not one or the other. It’s time to step things up and realize that we are coming before the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

Roger