From the start it has mattered to God how we worship. Spirit and truth requires both and Cain didn't get it. Worship generally reveals what we think about God and Cain's worship indicates that he thought just any old worship would do, Abel's reveals he wanted to give God his best, because he knew that God had given him His best. An attitude of gratitude is important in worship.
Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, an act of worship and love dying on a cross. We are called to be living sacrifices, dying to self, rising to life in Him, taking up our own cross and following Him. The journey is the laying down of life and taking up the cross, the destination is heaven after our death and Christ-likeness before then. We know we won't attain that level of perfection in this life but we are called to move in that particular direction.
Relativism says that the particulars don't matter, all roads lead to God and all are equally desirable, so we should just choose whatever works for us. That was Cain's problem. It was always a temptation to God's people throughout the OT and it is a temptation today as well. John 14 says that God hasn't changed His mind about how many ways are right. That only feels judgmental because we are accustomed to choices. It is actually just simple, He gives us one way and all we have to do is that one thing. Why is that so controversial?
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