Though the video above is humorous, it strikes a convicting chord because it points out our tendency to forget and marginalize God. We fill our lives with so many people, so many events, and so many things that we have no time left over for God. Even for those of us in full time ministry, it is a constant battle to not substitute the work of God for actually spending time with God. Even so, the Scripture is very pointed on how God feels about “competitors.” Please consider the following verses:
Deuteronomy 4:23-24
23 “So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. 24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
(Heb 1:6) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
As far as I can remember, I have always viewed this verse as speaking of a future event.
But I have noticed that for some “reason”, some among our ranks have now changed their minds and see this verse as talking about the birth of Christ; and I simply can’t see why!!
The following is my reasons:
Now the context that I speak of is ‘The worship of Christ’ as shown in verses such as
Matt 2:2,8,11; 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 20:20, 28:9,17;
Mark 5:6, John 9:38, etc.
The meaning of the word “worship” in relation to Christ using the words ’shachah/proskuneo’ has been nicely explained in articles such as
HTML clipboardThen Jesus said him, “Begone Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10 - NASB)
John Wilson was a printer and author, born in Scotland in 1802. He later moved to America and was a staunch defender of Unitarianism. His work on “Scripture Proofs and Scripture Illustrations of Unitarianism” is a great source of Biblical knowledge concerning the unity of God. For a short biography of John Wilson you can go to: http://www.famousamericans.net/johnwilson1/ . His other Unitarian publications comprise “Scripture Proofs and Scripture Illustrations of Unitarianism” (1833; 3rd ed., London and Manchester, 1846; abridged, Boston, part i. ; new ed., New York, 1847); “The Concessions of Trinitarians” (Manchester, 1842 ; Boston, 1845) ; ” Unitarian Principles Confirmed by Trinitarian Testimonies” (Boston, 1855-57). The following is a paragraph that summarizes the topic that only the Father was the one whom the apostles worshipped.
What Does the Bible Mean by the Term “worship”? by Carlos Jimenez (Xavier)
Jason D. BeDuhn, Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament, University Press of America, 2003, pp. 41-49.
Ancient Mediterranean societies tended to be very hierarchical. It was a world where everyone knew their place in relation to countless superiors and inferiors. Those who neglected or forgot this stratification of rank would be readily reminded by those around. In the highest place stood God or the gods. Below that in the Roman Empire ranked the emperor, followed by senators, governors, and a very complex system of local officials, priests, and landowners. The very bottom was occupied by slaves who might be owned by the lowliest of peasants.
