“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
Jesus spoke these words to a Samaritan woman by a well in regards to the proper place of Worship. Samaritans believed this was Mount Gerizim in Samaria, and of course the Jews believed it to be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This difference was just one of the reasons there was so much hostility between Jews and Samaritans during Jesus’ day.
Jesus makes the point, that the Worship of God is not contingent on a locale or a building but on one’s focus on God and His truths. Wherever Christ is proclaimed as Lord, there is truth. God’s Word is truth and when we extol His Holy Word we draw near to Him in worship for it is through Scripture that His Spirit works to create, sustain and strengthen faith. St. Paul would later remind the Corinthian Church, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Holy Spirit lives in you?” I Corinthians 3:16
I know we all miss worshiping the Lord in our beautiful sanctuary which draws our hearts and minds to God through the architecture and beautiful ornamentation. And yet, the worship of God has continued as people have gone to their Bibles and utilized the gifts of prayer, even joined us virtually for Sunday Worship and Bible classes. Wherever God’s Word is to be found, there we find Jesus and His truths. The early Christians worshiped outside by rivers and lakes, in upper rooms of homes, even in the catacombs, and as they did, God met them each time in a special way because they extolled His Holy Word.
We will have the great joy of Worshiping together soon, but until then, we continue to lift up Holy hands drawn together as Christ unites us in His Word!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian