Strange Fire or Acceptable Worship? Part 2 Strange Fire or Acceptable Worship?

“Strange Fire” The choice before us: Unauthorized worship, Leviticus 10:1-3 Pride a contributing factor, 2 Chron. 26:16-21 The choice before us: Man-designed worship? Colossians 2:22-23 True worship? John 4:23-24

The Jeroboam Model of Corrupt Worship Strange Fire Faithless heart, 12:26-27, 33 Changed: Object, 12:28; Hosea 8:4-7 Place, 12:29; Deut. 12:4-5; 1 Kings 9:3 Priesthood, 12:31; 2 Chron. 11:13-16; 12:8-12, 16-18 Feast days, 12:32; Lev. 23:34 Led Israel into sin, 12:30 The Jeroboam Model of Corrupt Worship 1 Kings 12:25-33

Strange Fire: The Catholic Mass Development: “Mass” is derived from Latin for dismissal “Mass” came to stand for “the Roman Catholic Eucharistic rite consisting of prayers and ceremonies centered on the consecration of bread and wine as a real though mystical reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross”

Strange Fire: The Catholic Mass The Eucharist (Holy Communion) The Greek noun εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), meaning “thanksgiving”, is not used in the New Testament as a name for the rite 2 John 9: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

Strange Fire: The Catholic Mass The Eucharistic Liturgy includes: Eucharistic Prayer (by the priest) Transubstantiation: The Real Presence of Jesus: “This is my body…my blood” (viewed literally) Sacrament: Jesus works His “divine saving action” upon participants as He is present “in a unique way, under the appearance of bread and wine” (The Place of the Mass in Catholic Worship, 16)

Strange Fire: The Catholic Mass Sacrament: “In the Mass, therefore, God makes present sacramentally the once-for-all sacrifice of Calvary in the risen Lord. Jesus Christ gives Himself to us sacramentally as the unique victim of the one and only redemptive sacrifice acceptable to God.” “What the Roman Catholic does at Mass, in response to God's gift of Jesus in His sacrifice, is offer Jesus’ sacrifice to the Father in thanksgiving.” (Ibid, 23)

Strange Fire: The Catholic Mass The Scriptures: Transubstantiation is false, Matthew 26:26-29 Lord’s Supper: Memorial, Proclamation and Communion; Not a sacrament and sacrifice, 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16; Hebrews 9:14, 28 Not true worship, Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 John 9

Strange Fire: Instrumental Music in Worship God could have approved it, 2 Chron. 29:25 Development: Not introduced by Christ or His apostles, Galatians 1:8-10 Not in the primitive church (silence) Introduced in 7th century; Used sparingly until 13th century; Accepted by RCC in 14-15th centuries Protestant reformers held mixed views; General acceptance by 19th century

Strange Fire: Instrumental Music in Worship No controversy over singing, Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13 Not true worship, Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 John 9

Strange Fire: Children’s Church Development: Remove children from part or all of the worship services (including and especially the preaching of God’s word) for age-segregated or “age- appropriate” singing, instruction and other activities Worship services are viewed as hard on children and not “children friendly” “I don’t want my children to have to endure services - I want them to love being there.”

Strange Fire: Children’s Church The Scriptures: Consistent presence of children in assemblies of praise and worship were occasions for their training and faith Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Joshua 8:30-35 2 Chronicles 20:4-5, 13; Joel 2:15-17; Ezra 10:1 Jesus present from early age, Luke 2:41-42, 46-50

Strange Fire: Children’s Church The Scriptures: Do not deprive children of the blessings of assembled worship, Mark 10:13-16 Chance to learn reverence, decent behavior in worship, listen to God’s word, learn and look forward to participating in worship Not true worship, Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 John 9

“Strange Fire” True worship combines heart and truth, John 4:24 Do not offer God strange fire! Worshiping by the doctrines of men (without truth) is self-imposed and does not please God, Colossians 2:20-23 Worship that is form without substance (heart and holiness) is an abomination to God, Isaiah 1:10-15 True worship combines heart and truth, John 4:24