David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 18:12-17

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, ¹³ saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” ¹⁴ But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. ¹⁵ But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” ¹⁶ And he drove them from the tribunal. ¹⁷ And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Stained Glass in the Cathedral of the Assumption | Kalocsa, Hungary | April 2024

Few people today worry whether we or anyone else are worshiping God according to the law. But this was the concern of the Jews in Paul’s day – in a pagan culture, no less. They accused him saying that he was persuading people to worship God contrary to the law. Aside from the so-called Worship Wars those kinds of accusations seem distant and unimportant.

Sadly, however, there are those who engage in such arguments even in our own tribe. Questions about contemporary and traditional worship come to mind. In my ministry I’ve always stressed that these are preferences. We can worship God in Spirit and in Truth in a highly liturgical service, or in a very contemporary setting. We can also – sadly – fail the Spirit and Truth test in either mode of worship. The mode carries the message, or it doesn’t. The people engage from the heart or they don’t. The truth is foundational or not.

There are those who say one mode or another is the only proper manner of worship fall dangerously close to a Roman Catholic understanding of the 16th century (hopefully not taught today!), that the mere saying of the right words is all that matters. It’s called, ex opere operato, a Latin phrase meaning “by the work of the work.” Just say the words. Just do the thing. No one has to engage. They just have to be present.

Jesus says we should worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I see the Trinity there” God, the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus who is the Truth incarnate. We don’t make our worship acceptable by any means. But when in faith we call upon God, gathering in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and his truth is foundational, the worship we offer and the sacraments we celebrate are truly God-pleasing. He is glorified. We are edified. Thank God for those who serve us in this manner!