In the Old Testament God was very jealous about praise, and we know with certainty that to this day He still is. God has never changed in His holiness, His righteousness, or His expectations regarding how He is to be approached. He desires holiness in praise, reverence in worship, and obedience in everything that is offered before Him. Scripture consistently teaches us that worship is not something casual or improvised, and that we are not free to add to it whatever we think is appropriate. The book of Leviticus chapter 10 tells us a somewhat obscure story, but at the same time it powerfully reveals how zealous our God is concerning worship. Let us examine what happened to the sons of Aaron.
1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Leviticus 10:1-2
This passage confronts us with one of the most sobering accounts in the Old Testament. The death of Nadab and Abihu is shocking, especially because they were not pagans or unbelievers. They were priests, sons of Aaron, men who had been called to minister before the Lord. Their position did not protect them from judgment, nor did their lineage excuse their disobedience.
We take these verses as an illustration, but not without first emphasizing the gravity of what took place. What was the problem with Nadab and Abihu? Their mistake was not accidental, nor was it a minor detail. Their great error was doing something that the Lord God had never commanded. They offered “strange fire” before God.
This phrase is crucial to understanding the text. The Scripture says clearly that they offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. There are two key points here that must not be ignored: first, the fire was strange, meaning unauthorized or foreign; second, God had not commanded it. Worship was not rejected because of lack of sincerity or effort, but because it was not according to God’s revealed will.
God had given precise instructions regarding how sacrifices and offerings were to be presented. Nadab and Abihu ignored those instructions and substituted God’s command with their own ideas. In doing so, they treated holy things as common and approached God on their own terms rather than His.
This account speaks powerfully to the present-day church. Many of the praises that are sung today are completely unbiblical. Others may sound impressive musically, filled with piano, drums, and emotional intensity, but when we examine the content carefully, we do not find the God of the Scriptures. We find vague language, human-centered themes, and concepts that do not align with biblical truth.
Just as Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, many artists today are producing what could be described as strange fire in modern worship. It may look appealing, sound professional, and draw crowds, but when its content is examined, there is little or nothing that exalts God according to His Word. Instead of reverence, we find performance. Instead of holiness, we find entertainment.
It is alarming to see how easily worship can be shaped by cultural trends rather than by Scripture. Many worship leaders feel pressured to innovate, to keep up with popular styles, or to appeal to younger audiences. In doing so, they risk offering something God has not commanded. Worship becomes centered on human experience rather than divine revelation.
Brothers, there is something very important that we must all understand: everyone who has been called to ministry must be subject to the Word of God. This applies to artists, pastors, teachers, worship leaders, and anyone who serves publicly in the church. No one is exempt from submission to Scripture.
Our ministries do not belong to us; they belong to God. Therefore, all of our ministries must revolve around the Word of God. Scripture is not a suggestion or an optional reference—it is the foundation. When we attempt to include elements that go beyond or contradict Scripture, we are repeating the sin of Nadab and Abihu.
Adding human creativity where God has not given freedom is dangerous. God is not opposed to beauty, excellence, or creativity, but He is opposed to disobedience and irreverence. Worship must be regulated by God’s Word, not by human preference or innovation.
Worship is something very delicate and sacred. It is not merely a musical moment or an emotional experience; it is a holy encounter with the living God. That is why Scripture repeatedly warns us to approach God with fear, reverence, and humility. We must pray earnestly that God would allow us to do only His will in worship, not ours.
The story of Nadab and Abihu reminds us that God takes worship seriously. Their death was not arbitrary or cruel; it was a clear demonstration that God will not accept worship that disregards His commands. Holiness is not optional in worship—it is essential.
In a time when worship is often measured by excitement, volume, and outward expression, we must return to a biblical understanding of praise. True worship leads to repentance, humility, obedience, and awe before God. It bends the knee before it lifts the hands.
We conclude with this sobering statement by Pastor David Wilkerson, which captures the heart of this issue: “I am tired of music that makes young people jump instead of bending their knees.” This statement challenges us to examine whether our worship produces reverence or mere excitement, repentance or entertainment.
May the Lord grant us discernment, humility, and obedience so that our worship is not strange fire, but a pleasing offering before Him—holy, biblical, and centered entirely on His glory.