Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. [Malachi 2.13]
How do people know God pays no attention to their offerings and doesn't accept them with pleasure?
Look at verse 14:
You cry out, “Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.
Interesting. We see why the LORD doesn't accept the offerings/worship but are given no indication of what it is that signals that they have not been accepted. How did they know their worship was not accepted?
There was something obvious that occurred that let the people know when God accepted their worship. There was some way they could tell that they were in fellowship with God or not - something that God did or did not do that represented His acceptance or rejection of their worship.
What was it?
I can think of a couple instances in the Bible that may give some insight. One was when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Fire from God consumed Elijah's offering but the prophets of Baal received no such indication of acceptance of their offering. This fire from God was a miraculous manifestation of literal fire consuming the sacrifice with no intervention of any man.
Another instance of God's acceptance of worship occurred when Solomon dedicated the Temple. There was a tangible cloud that appeared that represented God's presence.
I think these instances should give us pause today before we claim, "God was present" in our worship gatherings. Here is the most compelling reason I say this: tears, weeping, and groaning evidently mean nothing. Tears, weeping and groaning are manifestations of man's emotions, but not necessarily of God's presence! So, just because we get emotional does NOT mean God was present!
Instead, we should consider the evidences described by the Bible that actually indicate God's presence - fire from heaven or a cloud of His presence.
How else might we know God was present in any particular setting (if our emotions are disqualified as indicators)? Let's just look at Jesus. How do we know Jesus showed up in particular situations and circumstances? Well, He turned water into wine, for starters. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He fed thousands with only morsels. He calmed a storm. He walked on water... And we know from Scripture that God was pleased with Jesus!
My conclusion is that our emotions tell us nothing of God's presence or absence. Our emotions are simply indicators of how we feel. Period. When God shows up, on the other hand, there are supernatural manifestations. I am not making this up - it is found from cover to cover in the Bible, Old and New Testaments.
Okay, so the elephant has now entered the room! What does this say about all our claims that "God showed up" in our particular gatherings? Well, if we are honest with ourselves, it most likely says that we have mistakenly contented ourselves that our emotions (tears, weeping and groaning) mean God was present - when they do no such thing!
When God shows up, things change. When we experience tears, weeping and groaning, it just means we have a good cry. Unless something changes - something miraculous and un-explainable happens - we really have no authority to claim, "God was present."
The problem with emotions is that we can control them. We cannot however control God. Emotions are too closely tied to human "self" concerns including pride, entitlement, and self-preservation.
Bottom line: we need to know when God has shown up by something other than our own emotions!
A scripture comes to mind from Paul's writings:
They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [2 Timothy 3.5]
Emotions or power? We need, and the world needs to see, God's power. The world doesn't care if we cry.
Father, once again, I have completely painted myself into a corner - I have implicated myself as one who is emotional but not necessarily Godly. Forgive me for my contentment with my own emotions that are void of Your power.
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