The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Tabernacle and Worship Today

John,

Sorry, methinks your "devil's advocate" argument is like those false worshippers you are referring to. (cf. Jer 2:13) The reverence and awe outwardly displayed was proper and not dependent upon the object of it. Remember, the "visible Church" always had and always will have unbelievers among the people of God. And the proper demeanor in approaching the Almighty is to be expected regardless of who comes before Him. Contrariwise, even those who have true faith and don't exhibit a sense of reverence and awe are liable to being temporally chastised by God and their worship rejected.

On your second point, there are instances when the people were challenged, e.g., we read:

Deuteronomy 10:14-17 (ASV) "Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward."

In His grace,