Editorial January 29, 1927 ISSUE

True Worship

Albert F. Gilmore

Jesus ' memorable statement to the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar contains valuable information as regards true worship. For this woman, who in common with all Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim, he defined true worship. He denied the authenticity of the Samaritans' form of religious observance, declaring that they knew not what they worshiped. "We know what we worship," he asserted, adding, "Salvation is of the Jews," and, "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

In these terse sentences, Christ Jesus set for all time the true standard of worship. "In spirit and in truth" must true devotees look to God, if they are to partake of the heavenly blessings the bountiful Father has provided for all. To gain the full significance of Jesus' words, it must be recalled that while the Samaritans had taken over the letter of the Jewish religion, had adopted its outward rites and ceremonies, they had not attained its deeper meanings. Their concept of God was far different from that which Christ Jesus held. They adhered to the Jehovistic idea of God as endowed with magnified human traits, attributes, and characteristics. Since Jesus knew their concept of God to be false, he could declare that the worshipers in Gerizim knew not what they worshiped; that is, had no adequate concept of Deity. But with the understanding of God as Spirit, a concept of Deity which Jesus was the first to gain and reveal, came the possibility of true worship, based upon knowledge of God's real nature.

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