十二：因為知道神是那位高高在上
何人？何處？何時？為何？我們時常問很多問題才會了解某一個狀況，某一件事情。我們可用這個方法理解一個專題，那就是“敬拜神”這個題目。無論您是不是基督徒，我想您很喜歡對“敬拜神”稍微清楚一點。譬如，誰要敬拜神？在哪裡敬拜神？什麼時候敬拜神？為什麼敬拜神？
誰要敬拜神呢？簡單的答案是基督徒都要敬拜神。比較完整的答案是全世界上的人都要敬拜神。所有被造之物都要讚美、敬拜神。聖經詩篇寫道：“願天和地都讚美他，願海洋和海中一切生物都讚美他”（詩篇69:34）。又說：“應當充滿感恩進入他的殿門，滿口讚美進入他的院子；要感謝他，稱頌他的名”（詩篇100:4）。
基督徒都要敬拜神。耶穌基督受到撒旦魔鬼的試探時，耶穌引用聖經舊約的話說：“撒但，走開！經上記着：‘當拜主你的 神，單要事奉他’”（馬太福音4:10：請參看申命記6:13）。幾年之後，第一世紀的基督徒聽到這句話：“我們不可放棄聚會，好像有些人的習慣一樣；卻要互相勸勉。你們既然知道那日子臨近，就更應該這樣”（希伯來書10:25）。人人都要敬拜神！
在哪裡敬拜神？神是無所不在的，所以神不受時間和空間限制。因此，任何地點都可以作為敬拜神之地。基督徒時常在家裡面敬拜神。基督徒有時候在公園或野地敬拜神。第一世紀的基督徒，因為受社會上一些人的逼迫，所以，他們甚至在山洞和墓窖里敬拜神。新約基督徒馬可的母親，馬利亞，有一群人在她的家裡聚會，禱告、敬拜神。新約書信中提到一對夫妻名叫百基拉和亞居拉。他們曾經住過羅馬和哥林多，而在兩個地方都有家庭教會。新約聖經並不把基督徒敬拜聚會或其他的活動局限於教堂。事實上，第一世紀根本沒有教堂這回事。今天，您也可以在家裡、在公園、在餐廳、在教堂里、在差不多任何地方都可以敬拜天上的天父，創造我們的神。
另外一個問題是何時敬拜神？回答這個問，我們要把它分為兩個答案。1）一般來說，隨時都可以敬拜神。白天、晚上，中午、半夜；周日、周三，時時刻刻都可以敬拜神。2）但是，如果要領用主餐，在新約聖經里這種聚會局限於星期天。從使徒行傳我們得知第一世紀的教會是在“七日的第一日、我們聚會擘餅的時候” （使徒行傳20:7和合本）。因此今天的基督徒也應當每一個星期天吃主餐，紀念主耶穌。聖經把星期天稱為“主日”之所以是因為耶穌基督復活的日子就是星期天（啟示錄1:10）。因此，每周日基督徒舉行主日敬拜神聚會。唱詩、禱告、讀經、聽道、奉獻、領用主餐都包括在內。請隨時隨地敬拜天上之父！
最後一個問題是為什麼要敬拜神？這個問題也有幾個答案。1）神創造了我們，神每時刻與我們同在，所以我們敬拜稱頌感謝他。2）耶穌基督用他的寶血拯救了我們，所以我們敬拜感謝他。3）我們內心深處空虛無力，需要向神表達信心，從神獲得能力。4）我們本來就應該敬拜神。
敬拜他是對唯一創造宇宙萬物之神當有的反應；世人應該敬拜神。榮耀神的名字是世人最高級的目的和動作。基督徒要“…使[神]恩典的榮耀得着頌讚”（以弗所書1:6）。以賽亞描述他敬拜神的經歷；他說：“我看見主坐在高高的寶座上…”。就在那時候以賽亞把自己看透；他說：“我有禍了，我滅亡了！因為我是個嘴唇不潔的人…，又因為我親眼看見了大君王萬軍之耶和華”（參看以賽亞書6:1-13）。
我們敬拜神時我們也看見那位高高在上者，同時也把自己看透，承認我們嘴唇不聖潔，心裡骯髒，雙手犯了罪。在神的面前我們悔改，求神赦免。這就是敬拜神的真諦。
每當主日，請您與當地的基督徒一塊做禮拜，讚美主，敬拜神。或者，自己在家中開始家庭聚會，家庭敬拜，把親朋好友請來，“用心靈按真理敬拜他[神]” 。
Why Christians Attend Worship Every Sunday
12: The Who, Where, When and Why of Worship
By Edward Short
Who? When? Where? Why? We ask questions in order to understand a thing or situation. We can also use this same method to understand a subject—in this case, the subject of worship. Regardless whether you’re a Christian or not, I believe you’d like to know a little more about Christian worship. For example, Who should worship God? Where God should be worshiped? When should God be worshiped? Why is God worshiped?
Who should worship God? The short and simple answer is that all Christians should worship God. A more complete answer is that everyone throughout the world should worship God! All of creation should praise and worship God. It’s written in the Bible, in the book of Psalms, “Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them” (Psalms 69:34). Again it’s written, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).
All Christians should worship God. When Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament portion of the Bible; he said, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him’” (Matthew 4:10; see also Deuteronomy 6:13). Years later, Christians in the first century heard this statement, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Everyone should worship God!
Where should God be worshiped? God is omni-present, so he’s not bound by time and space, thus God may be worshiped anywhere and at any time. Christians often worship God in their homes. Sometimes Christians go to parks or other scenic areas to worship God. During the first centuries, because they were persecuted, Christians worshiped God in caves and catacombs. The New Testament records that a group of Christians assembled, worshiped and prayed in the home of Mary, the mother of Mark. The New Testament also tells about Aquila and his wife Priscilla. This couple first lived in Rome and later in Corinth, but in both places, churches met in their home. The New Testament doesn’t limit Christian worship or other Christian activities to church buildings. The fact is that church buildings were unknown in the first century. Today, our mutual Father in heaven may be worshiped in homes, parks, restaurants, church buildings or practically any other place.
Another question is when should God be worshiped? The answer to this question has two parts. 1) In general, God can be worshiped at any time. Daytime, nighttime, noon, midnight, Sunday, Wednesday; God may be worshiped anytime. 2) However, if the Lord’s supper is included as part of the worship experience, in the New Testament such an assembly is limited to Sunday. We see in the book of Acts that in the first century the church worshiped on Sundays and ate the Lord’s supper as part of that assembly: “on the first day of the week, when we met together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7). Hence, Christians today should partake of the Lord’s supper in memory of the Lord every Sunday. The New Testament calls Sunday “the Lord’s day” because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on Sunday (Revelation 1:10). Consequently, each Sunday Christians assemble together and worship God. This assembly includes singing, prayer, Bible reading and study (or preaching), contribution, and the eating of the Lord’s supper. Otherwise, worship God anytime!
Finally, the question, Why should people worship God? This question also has several answers. 1) God created us, and God is always present in our lives, so we worship, praise and thank him. 2) Jesus Christ shed his blood to save us, so we worship and express our gratitude. 3) Deep down within ourselves we’re empty and weak, thus we need to express to God our faith in him, and to receive strength from him. 4) Finally, worshiping God is simply the right thing to do.
Worship is the correct response to the God who created the universe and all things; all people should worship God. Praising God is the highest goal and greatest thing that mankind can do. Christians live “to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). Isaiah described the experience he had when he worshiped God. He said, “…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty…” Then Isaiah saw himself as he really was, and said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips… yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:1ff).
Whenever we worship God, we too see God for what he really is, the high and lofty one in heaven, and we see ourselves for what we really are. We confess that our lips are unclean, our hearts are filthy, and our hands are sinful, and we ask God to forgive us. This is true worship.
You are invited to assemble for worship with the Christians in your area each Lord’s day, and worship and praise God. Otherwise, begin a worship service in your own home, and invite your friends and relatives to worship God “in spirit and truth” with you and your family.