In religion today, the common sentiment is that it does not matter what we believe and practice, as long as we are sincere about the way we choose to worship. Some believe there is a certain amount of truth and error in every religion; and we can accept the truth and reject whatever error might be taught and still be pleasing to God. In other words, we can worship any way we like, or no way at all, and that will be acceptable. That brings us to the question posed in the title of this article--does God care what we believe and practice in religion?

The question is not "Does it matter to me?" but "Does it matter to God?" We can know what pleases God. The Holy Spirit revealed God's mind to the apostles, who wrote it down for us to know (1 Corinthians 2:13; Ephesians 3:3-4). We do not have to guess or be led astray; we can know, by reading and studying His word, if we are pleasing God. The Bible also teaches that we cannot know how to please God without His assistance. Proverbs 14:12 teaches, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Jeremiah wrote, "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." (Jeremiah 10:23) These verses teach us the folly of trying to decide for ourselves what pleases God.

In this article we want to notice some Bible passages that clearly and forcefully teach that God does care about how we worship and serve Him. We will also notice that He did not accept some religious people, who may have been sincere in their false worship, simply because they were sincere.

Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. He accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's (Genesis 4:3-7). We know, from Hebrews 11:4, that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith; that is, he offered it in accordance with God's word (Romans 10:17). Cain may have been sincere. He may have offered the best from his garden, but God rejected it. Of Cain's offering, the Bible says, "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:12) Obviously, it mattered to God!

The Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments illustrate the exclusive nature of worship. God regulated worship. He told the Israelites what was and was not acceptable. He placed blessings upon obedience and curses upon disobedience. In Exodus 20:2-6, God stated that idolatry was wrong and not acceptable. He specifically commanded them not to bow down to idols and to direct their worship to Him and Him alone. There was no right way to worship an idol!

In several Old-Testament passages, God used the terms harlotry and adultery to refer to those who departed from Him to serve idols. He also used these terms to refer to those who tried to serve both idols and Him (Ezekiel 16 and 23). Mature adults clearly understand these expressions. We all want our spouses to be faithful, and we would be highly upset if they claimed to love us dearly, but played the harlot with others. God will not accept anything less than whole-hearted, faithful service. "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3).

The example of Nadab and Abihu should impress upon our minds that God does not accept all worship (Leviticus 10:1-3). Worship may be directed toward Him. His children may direct it, and at the proper times as directed by Him, but if it is not offered as God commands, He will not be pleased, and He will not accept it. God regulates worship, and He restricts it to that which He has specified. Nadab and Abihu, as part of the priesthood, were the right people to offer sacrifices to God. But Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, or we can say profane fire, on the altar. This means the fire they offered was not consecrated or holy. It was not the fire authorized by God; therefore, it was strange fire, and God did not accept it. He burned into the minds of the Jews a lesson--He is holy and those who come before Him must also be holy (Leviticus 10:3,4). If our worship does not glorify God, we worship in vain!

A prime example of true religion's exclusiveness is that of Elijah and his Mount Carmel contest with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). God, through His prophet Elijah, called for this contest (1 Kings 18:1). In this contest between the prophets of Baal and Elijah, we see what appears to be very sincere Baal worshippers. They called upon their god for many hours, leaped about and cut themselves, as was their practice (1 Kings 18:26-29). Then Elijah called upon the Lord God, and God answered with fire. As the Law of Moses required (1 Kings 18:40), Elijah ordered the execution of the prophets of Baal. These prophets may have been very sincere, but their sincerity did not change the fact they were wrong, and God did not overlook it. There is but one true God, one right way to worship Him, and He has given that way. When men, no matter how sincere they may be, deviate from God's standard, He does not accept their worship. God does care about what we do in religion.

Naaman went to Elisha, a prophet of God, to obtain a cure for his leprosy (2 Kings 5). The prophet instructed Naaman to dip in the Jordan River seven times (2 Kings 5:10). At first, Naaman was insulted by such a command. It did not live up to his preconceived ideas, so he went away in a rage. His servants convinced him to obey the simple command, and when he obeyed, God cleansed him of his disease (2 Kings 5:13,14). Before his servants spoke with him, Naaman suggested other ways that he might have been cleansed (2 Kings 5:11-12). Could Naaman have been sincere and dipped in any other river? Could he have been sincere and dipped any less than seven times? Obviously, he could have, but his sincerity would have had no effect on God's command. Why not just obey God's simple command? The uncomplicated reasoning of the servants is something for all of us to emulate in our lives. What mattered to God, as far as Naaman was concerned, was humble obedience. He needed to have the faith and trust in God to heal him, which is evidenced by obedience. God wanted to heal Naaman and provided the means for that healing, but in order to receive the blessings God had for him, Naaman had to comply with His command. It was Naaman's choice to accept or reject the blessings.

If sincerity is the only criteria for acceptance by the one true God, then why, under apostolic guidance and command, did the first-century Christians meet on the first day of the week, observe the Lord's Supper, pray, give as they prospered, preach, and sing praises from their hearts (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 2:42)? Why did the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul's pen, command that we do all things by Christ's authority (Colossians 3:17)? Why did the Holy Spirit command us to speak only as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11)? It does matter to God, and anything that teaches to the contrary is a lie from Satan. Don't believe it! Study and learn God's words; then do it His way (Acts 17:11). God wants those in His family to be Christians-nothing else (Acts 11:26). Simple isn't it?