Author: Gary Witcher

Questions from Malachi - 3

     The second chapter of the book of Malachi contains a discussion that is as important to the religious world today as it was to the Jews who first heard the words of this prophet.
     "And this is another thing you do," we read in verse 13, "you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand."
     The following verse contains the question that these people ask of God.
     "Yet you say," the verse records, "'For what reason?'  Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant."
     This discussion about a husband and wife can be taken literally.  But it can also be taken figuratively, since the relationship between God and His people is often compared to a marriage.  Notice that this passage refers to a single relationship.  Remember, too, that this is a prophetic book.  So, much of the language is to be taken figuratively.
     The people are crying and feeling sorry for themselves because God is not accepting their acts of worship.  "Why not?" the people ask of God.
     Years later, Jesus would provide the answer to this question.
     "God is Spirit," Jesus informs the Samaritan woman He meets at a well, "and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
     Looking back at the first part of Malachi chapter 2, we find that the Jewish people were in fact not worshiping God in truth.  That is, they were not practicing the kind of religion that God had prescribed.
     "And now, this commandment is for you, O priests," the chapter begins.  "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name, then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and, indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart."
     "My covenant with him was one of life and peace," God continues in verses 5-9, "and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me, and stood in awe of My name.  True instruction was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity.
     "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.  But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi.
     "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways, but are showing partiality in the instruction."
     So the priests are condemned for not practicing truth in their teaching.  But we are no longer living under the Old Law.  So we no longer have Levitical priests.  How can we apply this message to us today?
     "You, also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood," Peter writes to all Christians in 1 Peter 2:5, "to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ."
     "But you are a chosen race," verse 9 adds, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession..."
     If all Christians are to be priests, how can the message of Malachi be applied?  How can we be guilty of not worshiping God in truth?  How can we be practicing a religion other than the one prescribed by God?
     "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" Jesus asks in Matthew 15:3.
     "This people honors Me with their lips," He adds in verses 8-9, "but their heart is far away from Me.  But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men."
     According to 1 Corinthians 4:6, we become arrogant and fail to worship God in the right way when we exceed what is written.  2 John 9-11 informs us that we do not have God when we go too far and no longer abide in the teaching of Christ.
     Galatians 1:8,9 pronounces a curse on anyone who preaches a gospel other than the one that Paul preached.  1 Corinthians 14:37,38 refuses recognition to anyone who does not accept the Lord's commandments through Paul.
     "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith," we read in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, "paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own consciences as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."
     In 1 Timothy 6:3-5 we learn that anyone who advocates a different doctrine, one that does not agree with the sound words of Jesus and the doctrine conforming to Godliness, is conceited and understands nothing.
     "Retain the standard of sound words," Paul urges in 2 Timothy 1:13.
     The entire third chapter of Second Timothy elaborates on this problem.
     "But realize this," the first verse warns, "that in the last days difficult times will come."
     Verse 13 states that evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
     "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of," Paul advises in verses 14-17, "knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
     "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
     Paul tells Timothy in the last chapter of his second letter that the young preacher is to preach the word, being ready in season and out of season, since a time would come when people would no longer endure sound doctrine.  Instead, they would search for teachers who would say the things they wanted to hear.  They would want to have their ears tickled.
     Titus 1:10-16 describes rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, who would teach things they should not teach.
     "They profess to know God," the last verse observes, "but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed."
     "But as for you," Paul writes in the first verse of the second chapter, speak the things that are fitting for sound doctrine."

     True religious practice includes much more than just the times we meet together for worship, but departures from biblical teaching are sometimes most evident at such times.  Malachi 2:3 refers to the Jewish feasts, the times when they met together.  Verses 10-12 mention the sanctuary, the place of worship, and the offering, the central act of worship.
     Turning to 1 Corinthians 11:17-29, we are made aware of the importance of practicing New Testament worship in the right way.  The problem here involves the right manner of partaking of the Lord's Supper.  In verse 22 Paul accuses the Christians in Corinth of despising the church because of their conduct during the Lord's Supper.  Verses 27-29 contain even more frightening warnings.
     "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner," verse 27 states, "shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord."
     "For he who eats and drinks," verse 29 adds, "eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly."
     In addition to our worship, true religious practice would involve teaching on subjects such as obtaining and maintaining salvation, authority in religion, organization and function of the church, and Christian living.  If you are not sure what the Bible teaches on these doctrines, it's your responsibility to find out.  Contrary to popular belief, ignorance will not be an acceptable excuse on Judgment Day.
     We have examined the danger of false practice in religion, but this is only half of the picture.  Remember that Jesus said we must worship God in spirit and truth.  We've seen the truth, what about the spirit?
     "Then I will draw near to you for judgment," God warns in Malachi 3:5, "and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien, and do not fear Me."
     Is our attitude as important as our practice?  Does it do any good to have the right form if our hearts are not right?
     Jesus answers this question in Matthew 5:21-26 when He says it does no good to present our offering to God if things are not right with our brother.
     "What is the outcome then?" Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 14:15.  "I shall pray with the mind and I shall pray with the spirit also; I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also."
     There are two dangerous roads being traveled by much of the religious world: false practice and false attitudes.  But those who would worship God must do so with the right practice and the right attitudes: those found in the Bible.  For true religion consists of true practice and true attitudes.  And only the truth will set us free.
Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."