👉(“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24)
👉There are millions of people that go to church and join with others who believe they are worshipping God. Those who are seeking Him in spirit and truth are doing just that and bear the fruit of that. Of those who went to church, though, there is a staggering large number of people who are worshipping the God they have created in their own image, and hence, lack both the "spirit" and the "truth" aspect of worship. Without it you can likely get the same results by singing along to an old Beatles song or the latest top 40 country hit. The return would be the same as attempting to worship God on our own terms.
👉In the Old Testament the Israelite tribes camped around the Tabernacle in the wilderness, and the presence of God was said to appear visibly over its inner sanctuary in the form of a cloud by day and fire by night. Moses sometimes spoke to God "face to face" in this sanctuary, also called the Tent of Meeting. Aaron and his sons ministered inside the Tabernacle, offering burnt sacrifices outside the Tent of Meeting and attending a golden incense altar in the inner sanctuary. The sacred Ark of the Covenant was also kept in the Tabernacle, in the "Holy of Holies. "This "sanctuary" experience of then is our experience of worship today. The tearing of the temple curtain (Matt 27:51) symbolized “the end of the old covenant of atonement through animal sacrifice and the beginning of a 'new covenant'” The veil being torn in two speaks of the body of Jesus Christ being broken on our behalf to make access to Him possible. It literally means that the barrier between us and him has been removed.
👉Now back to Bannister's question about Muslims, the question is better asked "Can Muslims and Christians worship the same God?" The answer is yes. Anyone can...as the veil was torn. Do they? If they come before God in spirit and truth then yes...otherwise it is not successful and the answer is, hence, a resounding "no." It remains then, that they worship a faux construct of God. Unfortunately, there are a great number of people who claim to be Christian who also worship a faux construct of God.
👉Though many try and often believe they enter that place, It is the holy of holies and only the truly committed ever really enter there. Seeking the face of God in worship is a life changing experience and something that should not only be done on Sundays but whenever we can. You will be blessed that you did