In the book of John we find Jesus and the Samaritan woman discussing the topic of worship and location. Samaritans believed one should worship in one location and the Jews believed they should worship in another location. Samaritans thought worship should be on Mount Gerizim and the Jews believed that worship should be in Jerusalem.
This is what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem” (John 4:21).
Jerusalem had been the correct place of worship, but Jesus told the Samaritan woman that a totally new order was about to be installed in which the place of worship would not matter and would have no significance at all.
The point Jesus was making was that God may be worshipped anywhere and within four years all the regulations about how to worship God in Jerusalem were replaced by the new covenant.
So as we gather together to worship God either in our homes or in man-made buildings, it makes no difference to God as long as we worship him.
Jesus said, “For where two or there are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
If you want to worship with your head bowed and on your knees or with your hands lifted up high, praise be to God!
Resource(s): Personal Bible study from the (NIV) Bible
