Why, What, & How

Ezra 6:21 (NIV) says, “So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate [the Passover], together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.” This verse tells us that the Israelites, in order to seek the LORD, had separated themselves from the unclean practices of the Gentiles.

The way some preachers present the Gospel, you could think that the only distinction between believers and unbelievers is to be found in the heart, where, of course, it cannot be found by human eyes. But this verse in Ezra states plainly, what can also be found throughout the whole of Scripture, that there must also be a distinction in practice. In other exhortations, I have endeavored to clarify and illustrate this basic principle – “The attitude of the heart affects the action of the hand” (as I put it), or “Theology flows out your fingertips” (as Pastor Douglas Wilson puts it), or “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (as our Lord Jesus Christ puts it: Matthew 15:19).

So, between those who are the people of God and those who are not, distinctions must be maintained not only in the why but also in the what (not only in the heart but also in the practice). The afore-mentioned preachers, even though their preaching may not always clearly yield this perception, will generally concede this truth, at least, to some extent; although, I still doubt that such concession is as comprehensive as it ought to be. But even less is the extent to which they will concede the following: that there also needs to be a noticeable distinction in the how (the way that we do what we do). We must have Christian reasons for what we do; we must do Christian things; and we must do them the Christian way.

From the New International Version of Deuteronomy 12, we observe the following: In verses 2 and 3, the Holy Spirit inspires Moses to command the people to destroy everything associated with heathen worship upon conquering the promised land. Then, in verse 4, he says, “You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.” (emphasis mine) So with that, let’s begin an investigation of the Holy Scriptures for evidences of this principle of distinction, specifically as it applies to worship.