In Spirit and in Truth

"Pilate said to him (Jesus), What is truth?" John 8:38 New KJV

Jesus said to him (Thomas), "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 New KJV

"God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24 New KJV

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 New KJV

Weren't the Jews worshipping God properly? They were dutifully following the Mosaic law with all its rituals and sacrifices. The Temple and the law were central to their daily lives. The Sabbath was kept holy and anyone caught doing something on that day that could be interpreted as work was severely punished. The Pharisees were tithing right down to 10% of the produce in their herb gardens. A non-Jewish observer would surely be impressed with the Jews religiosity and dedication.

Yet Jesus saw their worship as hollow. The Jews failed to recognize him as the messiah they claim they were expecting. They didn't realize that it was necessary for them to accept Jesus as the Christ before they would be acceptable to God. Only then would their worship be real.

Jesus knew that there was far more interest among the Jews in following rules and in tradition and ritualistic displays than in things of the spirit. Could there be a message in that for us? Of course. Jesus' words are eternal. Taking part in the familiar rituals and order of worship; being in church at a certain hour; sitting in the same pew year after year; all may be comforting and enable us to leave the service feeling we have done our duty and filled with the warm fuzzies.

A church service is not to be measured by what we got out of it but rather by what we have given. In other words, it is not about us. It is about God. Unless our worship is based on the truth of who Christ is (as related to Thomas), and the help of the Holy Spirit we might as well be at a lecture on how to be good. Our worship is to be spiritual and real. Is it? Everyone must answer that question for themselves.