(24) When God Says, “Stop Worshiping – There’s Sin In Your Life!”

Holiness is an all but forgotten pursuit of modern Christians. The popular cry is trumpeted from pulpits, "God loves you the way you are." This is true, but God does not leave us the way we are. He is on a mission to make us like Christ. God is on a mission to purge us of our sin. What does God do when we refuse to respond to His efforts to rid us of our sin? He tells us to stop worshiping.

Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting-- even your most pious meetings-- are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. (Isa. 1:13-15 NLT)

Wow! What sobering words. Look at what God says about their meetings, offerings, and prayers. God is saying, "Stop worshiping, close the doors, I can’t take it anymore, I’m disgusted!" Why? Because "Your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims."

We must not think that we can live as we please, living in sin and rebellion against God’s Word and then think we can go to church and worship God like everything is fine. The first step in biblical worship is always confession and repentance.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Palm 139:23-24 NIV)

This really does fly in the face of our contemporary "come as you are" mentality were the implication and in some cases the practice is devoid of reverence for the holiness and commands of God. I have known churches to allow practicing homosexuals and even unbelievers participate in leading worship.

What would God say to this? I believe He would say, "Stop it! . . .Close the church doors!" You can’t rebel against the Gospel and the Word of God and worship Him at the same time.

Perhaps with most of us our sin is less blatant and grievous. But are we guilty of downplaying our own sin? Do we take our sin lightly as we come before God in worship? Is our first act of worship Spirit-guided self examination, confession and repentance?

When there is known sin in our lives and we refuse to confess and turn from it, then God says, "Stop worshiping!" The first act of worship must be confession and repentance.

Soli Deo Gloria


Next: When God Says, "Stop Worshiping – I Don’t Do Left-Overs!"