This is something I would call a "feel-good picture". How nice it looks, and as Christians we assume because it talks about worship and God it's gotta be biblical, right?
Lies.
The man who this quote is from is Plutarch, a Greek historian, biographer and essayist who is considered a Middle Platonist. I'll let you do the research yourself about this man, but I do want to point out one part of what he believes, "The gods of popular religions are merely different names for one and the same divine Being and the powers that serve them". I'm sorry, but this is not someone from whom I would like to take advice.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when God's Word is added to, taken away from, or simply just used out of context. There is nothing that infuriates me more. This is why I believe it is so very important to know God's Word! We should be studying it every day. Not because it is the right thing to do, but so that we can know what it says!
Back to the picture. It tells us that we have to be thankful and cheerful in order for our worship to not just be acceptable to God, but to be most acceptable. What a big, stupid lie! If you are familiar with the Bible at all, you will see the life of Paul, who experienced more trouble in his time as a Christian than nearly any American Christian will ever have to experience (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). He was broken down, wounded, and hanging on the last thread of His life. He worshiped God in this state and he was not always cheerful (adj. noticeably happy and optimistic), but I can guarantee you that God did not reject His worship on that premise, or say, "Meh. It's alright." Now, I do think that having a thankful heart in worship is biblical, as well as being joyful, but I do not believe that the words "most acceptable to God" are Biblical.
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Paul knew the worship that God desired.
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
Romans 12:1
As did David, who saw sacrifice as a part of the act of worship.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Psalm 51:17
A broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart. I believe this is more often the state in which we should be if we are to please God in our worship. We must remember that as sinners, we are not even welcomed into the presence of God. He is an Almighty God. We CANNOT belittle His Majesty. To be humbled in the presence of the Lord, to recognize our weaknesses and to confess our sins before Him is a proper response to His Greatness. This is what true worship is: committing our lives to His service because it is the fitting response to what He has done through His Son, making a way for us to enter into His presence once again. Despite what this nice picture may say, we cannot EARN our salvation, or the right to worship the Creator. We are only acceptable because of what Christ did on the cross. Nothing we do can help with that. He only accepts us, wholly, because He sees us through the blood of Christ. He desires us to see ourselves that way as well, and when we do, our worship will be quite pleasing to God.
Don't fall for every feel-good quote or phrase that's placed on a nice picture. Question it. Every time. Against the Bible. Even if it's a piece of Scripture. Read it in context and be sure it is being used properly. Especially as we watch many churches fall into the pit of the "prosperity gospel" (that doing Christian things will increase our blessing on earth, specifically financially).
When we say things (or read things) that make ourselves feel good, and put God's name on it so it sounds Christian-like, we are only fooling ourselves. Study the Bible, so that when you come across the lies, you will know.
"Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
Jenna's Journal
