When God Turns Us Away
When not to worship
I’ve been working through Malachi for our Minor Prophets teaching series on Focus+, and every time I visit the little book I’m reminded of a challenging truth:
Sometimes, our worship is the LAST thing God wants.
This truth demolishes the idea of box-checking Christianity. Just because we showed up and went through the rituals doesn’t mean God was pleased. In fact, sometimes it makes Him even more upset.
Let’s talk about the two times the Bible tells us God doesn’t want our worship.
First, God doesn’t want our worship when it’s half-hearted.
In Malachi, God was furious at the dishonor that was being shown toward Him, as those post-exilic Israelites offered Him lame, blind, and sick sacrifices—sacrifices they would never offer their governor (1:7-8).
Where David had insisted he would never make an offering to God that cost Him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24), these people were doing the opposite. In v.9, God essentially asks, “Did you really think I was going to be happy to receive that?”
He goes even further in v.10, saying He wished someone would shut the gates so they couldn’t even attempt to offer a sacrifice. “‘I am not pleased with you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from you’” (1:10b).
God was so disgusted with their half-hearted offerings that He would rather they not even be allowed to show up.
It’s a great reminder to take stock of what we’re offering to God. Are we giving Him the Sundays that aren’t taken up with more “important” things, like youth sports or a trip to the lake?
Are we showing up with divided attention, checking scores or scrolling social media during worship? (As an aside—yet another reason to bring a paper Bible, by the way.)
Are we walking as living and holy sacrifices, or giving ourselves up as lame and blind by being covered in worldliness?
While churches are sometimes called to “close the gates” on the unrepentant via church discipline, we shouldn’t need to let it get that far. The point is not to stay home on Sunday if you’ve been half-hearted. The point is to repent and go offer Him our best this Sunday.
Second, God doesn’t want our worship if we’re not right with our brothers.
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus told His listeners that they shouldn’t make an offering if they hadn’t first reconciled an outstanding problem with a brother. This sentiment is reflected elsewhere, as in 1 Peter 3:7, where husbands are told their prayers would be hindered if they don’t treat their wives well, and 1 John 4:20, where we learn that we can’t say we love God if we hate a brother.
It’s too easy for Christians to be at sharp odds with each other and think they can keep on walking with God without a problem. Jesus told us it doesn’t work that way.
I even once had somebody ask during a Bible class about peacemaking, “Can I just sit on the other side of the building from someone if I have a problem with Him?” Ridiculous.
See the conflict through God’s eyes. He loves you. He loves the brother with whom you’re feuding. But He’s not going to bring you into eternity having separate relationships with each of you since you can’t get along with each other, like estranged brothers showing up to the family reunion on different days to avoid each other.
So, He doesn’t want us worshiping Him if we’re hanging onto grudges with each other.
Worship is all-encompassing
What we do together on Sundays is not ever a matter of checking a box God has given us in order to punch our ticket to heaven, with no regard to how it gets done. No, it’s something we do for Him, and as such we have to do it in His desired way.
So, as Sunday approaches, take stock: are you ready to give God your best, or would He want the gates closed on you? Are you right with your brother? Or would He want you to set your offering down and go make amends first?
Worship is too important for us to offer it on our terms. It has to be done on His terms, or not at all.
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Notes
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