The Teacher of Ecclesiastes reminds us that we need watch our steps when we come to God’s house. We do this by thinking carefully and humbly about the God we have come to meet. 

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God;
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2).

Nadab and Abihu did not write Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, but given the chance, they would certainly have added their hearty approval to the words. These infamous brothers were struck down by the consuming, holy presence of God for offering up profane (unauthorized) fire before the Lord. You can read about it in Leviticus 10. As bizarre as it may seem, this text has instructed the Church for millennia about how to think about approaching God’s house in worship. If you think we can consign this truth to the dusty annals of the Old Testament, think again. Even though no one (except maybe Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5) in the New Covenant came to an end like Nadab and Abihu, the holy God remains a consuming fire to this day (Hebrews 12:29).

Have you ever thought about this when hurrying into church on Sunday, hopefully before the service begins? The Teacher of Ecclesiastes reminds us that we need watch our steps when we come to God’s house. We do this by thinking carefully and humbly about the God we have come to meet. By way of the following three questions, I would like to present some basic principles that inform what I believe is a biblical approach to worshipping in God’s house: what are we doing in worship; why do we worship; and how should we engage in worship?

The last year has sparked a new kind of worship war in our nation. Is worship essential or non-essential? Is “livestream” a suitable substitute for being in person? Some governors have even had the audacity to tell their citizens how to worship, one in particular saying “You don’t have to sit in the church pew for God to hear your prayers.” So which is it? What are God’s people actually doing in worship? The Word of God answers this question with a simple but profound phrase: in worship, God’s people draw near.

The most devastating consequence of man’s Fall was God’s driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden and away from His holy, life-giving presence (Genesis 3:23-24, cf Psalm 16:11). Mankind has been wandering in spiritual exile ever since. But bless God! He has provided a way for the redeemed to draw near to Him through the blood of Christ in corporate worship on the Lord’s Day! In these times He uniquely provides refreshment for thirsty souls (Psalm 36:8), strength for weary pilgrims (Psalm 84:7), and most notably a foretaste of heavenly glory (Hebrews 12:22-24). It is ultimately irrelevant whether they draw near together in catacombs or cathedrals, shabby buildings or breath-taking structures, fields or prisons. The physical structure is secondary, but drawing near together in physical proximity is absolutely necessary.

The Psalms pulse with desire to draw near to God. Those who dwell in His house are blessed (Psalm 84:4), for they find their deepest desires satisfied (Psalm 27:4). No earthly privilege is worth comparing to approaching this God (Psalm 65:4), and no spiritual judgment is more fearful than being forced to depart from Him (Psalm 139:19, cf Matthew 25:41). In fact, we can identify the fullness of New Covenant blessing by the bold and bloodless entry the Father grants to believers through His Son (Hebrews 10:19-22, cf Ephesians 2:18). Many would count you blessed if you were given an invitation to dine with a governor, or enjoy a private tour of a professional sports facility, or given backstage passes at a great concert; how much greater is the blessing to draw near Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day to the Triune God of glory!

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